You can contact Horsham Debt Advice Service on 01403 258040 and ask for an appointment. We will then be able to provide you with good advice tailored to your individual circumstances.

Alternatively you can e-mail us on advisor@hdas.co.uk

Horsham Debt Advice Service (HDAS) provides a free and confidential advice service to anyone experiencing personal (not business) financial problems. Clients phone us on 01403 258040, or email advisor@hdas.co.uk and make an appointment to see an advisor. At that meeting and, if necessary, at subsequent meetings a full review is undertaken of a clients financial situation. Wherever possible, a budget is drawn up and an affordable repayment plan is agreed with the client's creditors. Alternative solutions are also explored. This is to fulfil our responsibility to consider all potential solutions to debt problems, although debt management plans are by far the most likely for most people.

Our help is available to anyone experiencing personal financial difficulties, regardless of the level of debt or financial status..

Advisors are on duty at various times from Monday to Friday. Contact us by using our phone number 01403 258040, leaving your details on our answer phone service if necessary. Or email advisor@hdas.co.uk

Phone us on 01403 258040, or email advisor@hdas.co.uk and we will arrange a convenient appointment for you to see an Advisor at our offices. If the phone is unattended then please leave your name and phone number on our answer phone service and we will then contact you as soon as possible.

The most important thing is to ensure that wherever possible you maintain payments to your priority debts. Priority debts are so called because non-payment can result in severe consequences, such as loss of your home, liberty or essential goods and services. They should always be paid before anything else. The following debts fall into this category:

• Mortgage/2nd Mortgage/Rent
• Secured loan/secured overdraft
• Council tax
• Court fines
• Inland Revenue/VAT
• Gas/electricity/other fuel
• TV licence
• House and contents insurance
• Hire Purchase
• CSA/Maintenance Orders
• Existing County Court Judgments

Other debts are called non-priority debts. You should contact each non-priority creditor informing them you have an appointment booked with the HDAS. If a payment is due and you cannot afford what they are asking, make a payment of what you can afford. This demonstrates that you are committed to repaying the debt and can be as little as £1 per creditor.

We cannot give advice about consolidation loans or obtaining further credit. If you are considering one of these courses of action because you are having difficulty maintaining your contractual payments to your creditors, we suggest you arrange an appointment with us so that we can review your overall financial situation. This will help you make the right decision.

For the majority of people the house is their most important possession and needs to be given top priority. Contact the lender and explain your situation. Try to reach an agreement to pay something extra each month to clear the arrears and which you can afford. Ensure that you are not paying unsecured creditors such as bank loans and credit cards instead of the mortgage. We also advise that you contact us for an appointment to discuss your overall financial situation. You can call us on 01403 258040. If legal action has commenced for repossession of your home, then you must see a solicitor without further delay.

Non-payment of Council Tax can have severe consequences. So if you are behind with your payments, it is important that you contact your Council Tax office as soon as possible and try to come to an arrangement to repay the arrears and in a way you can afford. Ensure that you are not paying unsecured creditors such as bank loans and credit cards instead of the Council Tax. We also advise that you contact us for an appointment to discuss your overall financial situation. You can call us on 01403 258040.

If you are in arrears with your gas, electricity or phone bill you can be disconnected, although you should be notified in writing before this happens. You should contact the company and try to come to an arrangement to repay the arrears. Gas and electricity companies must take notice of customers in need and should allow you to pay back what you owe at a rate you can afford. We also advise that you contact us for an appointment to discuss your overall financial situation. You can call us on 01403 258040.

As this is largely dependent on each individual's circumstances, you are advised to contact your local Citizens Advice or local council welfare rights office who will be able to examine your circumstances in detail and offer advice accordingly.

A Financial Statement is a simple and effective way to show you your income, expenses, priority and non-priority creditors. Your Advisor will work with you to compile this statement and from it will calculate the amount you can afford to pay your creditors after giving consideration to your priority debts - mortgage, utilities, council tax etc and day-to-day living expenses. Please note this can only be compiled with an Advisor. To organise an appointment please call us on 01403 258040.

Some may continue to charge interest but we receive excellent cooperation from many creditors and this can have a significant impact on your ability to clear your debts. However, you should be aware that they are not legally obliged to do so.

No, they don't have to accept the offer - but we will have prepared a budget with you that should demonstrate that you are paying your creditors what you can reasonably afford. They will also receive details of payments being made to all the creditors to show they are all being dealt with fairly.