Help Paying Bills With A Pay Cut
Mira's story
It was difficult enough accepting a pay cut from her employer, but after the first month Mira realised her income no longer covered her outgoings. So the credit card repayments she'd budgeted for suddenly looked impossible to pay without missing other bills like her rent and Council Tax.
As a single mother, Mira was becoming more and more concerned that she would have to start making cuts on the things her kids were used to. With life at work now going from bad to worse, she couldn't even plan ahead. By this point:
- Mira was fast approaching her credit limit trying to cover the weekly shop
- she didn’t want to borrow more, but she felt like there was no alternative
- panicking, she had stopped opening her credit card bills
Meanwhile, rumours at work suggested Mira might soon be out of a job altogether. She'd always been very careful with her finances, but she hadn't foreseen losing her income like this. She had no idea what to do next.
How Barclaycard helped
Mira was beginning to dread her bills, and soon she knew the phone would start ringing with lenders chasing payments. Not knowing where to turn or what to do, she rang us and got through to one of our support team, John.
- John gave Mira time to explain things in her own words and wasn't judgemental or demanding, as Mira had feared
- Together they created a plan for Mira to make affordable payments while she looked for a different job. John explained what information he needed, as well as how it would affect Mira's credit score and what could be done to help
- He checked that Mira knew she could access her Barclaycard account online or via the Barclaycard app to make debit card payments, change payment due dates and, when she could afford to, set up a Direct Debit
- He also advised that there is free help and advice available to her (we’ve included links in the ‘Other ways to get help’ section below), and that she should also check out the government website for information and guidance on the following:
Having never been in this situation before, Mira was embarrassed and didn't want to contact Barclaycard at first. But after speaking to John, she felt like she was getting back in control of her finances and that things wouldn't be so bad.
Does your story sound like Mira's?
A sudden change in your financial situation can make you feel like you’ve lost control, even if you’re trying your best and have done nothing wrong. Jobs and income can change at any time – usually without warning, and can have serious financial consequences.
But you’re not alone.
You're not alone - we're here to help
We know your debts aren't going to disappear on their own, but we really can help. If you get in touch, we'll ask you about your income and outgoings so you can feel confident you're only repaying what you can really afford. And your priority payments – Council Tax, rent/mortgage repayments and household bills – will always come first.
It's probably the last thing you want to do, but giving us a call won’t make anything worse. We won't spring any surprises on you; our advisers are here to listen, understand and agree a solution with you – not demand payments you can’t afford.
You can rest assured, we’ll ask your permission before we do anything and check how you feel about your other finances.
We'll try to provide you with help that’s clear, practical and easy to understand. Also, we'll advise you where to find free and independent help.
Get in touch to find out how we can help
Talk to us on the phone
As soon as you think you might be facing financial difficulties, give us a call. It could make things much easier.
Before you pick up the phone, it’s a good idea to jot down some notes about your income and spending. And set some time aside – we’ll want to understand your situation in detail, so you might be talking for a while.
Worried you’ll miss a payment?
Call us on 0800 056 1411.
Missed a payment and want to catch up?
If you’ve missed a payment on your Barclaycard, you might be able to pay it using the Barclaycard app.
Alternatively, call us on 0800 161 5205.
Both lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 9pm.
Calls to 0800 numbers are free from UK landlines. Mobile charges may vary. Find out more about call charges.
You can also:
Use the Barclaycard app
Send us a message from the 'Help' section of the Barclaycard app. It's secure and You don’t have to wait for our reply, just log back in when you’re ready to see if we've replied.
You need to be 18 or over to use the app. T&Cs apply.
Other ways you can get help
If you're struggling with a few different debts or money worries in general, there are organisations that may be able to help:
StepChange is the UK's largest provider of genuinely free independent debt advice and managed solutions, helping almost 600,000 people a year resolve problems, repay debts and rebuild lives.
The National Debtline offers free independent support for advice on how to deal with your debts, including live online webchat with a National Debtline advisor.
MoneyHelper provides a range of free and impartial money advice over the phone and online, including tools and calculators to help you manage your finances.
Are you receiving all your benefits?
Find out if you're getting all the money you could be entitled to.
Visit entitledto and use their free benefits calculator to understand if financial support is available.
Get local debt help
Contact Citizen's Advice Bureau for a list of debt counsellors in your area.
To protect the privacy of our customers, we have used photographs of actors and fictitious names, but they are based on real situations.
How close are you to a Debt Problem?
If you're worried that you need help with your finances then you can try StepChange Debt Charity's 60-second debt test. By answering a few simple questions they'll be able to tell you if you need debt advice.
