Child Maintenance

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Money can be taken from your bank account and/or from your benefits
• Bailiffs can visit you
• You’re at risk of imprisonment

Council Tax

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Money can be taken from your bank account and/or from your benefits
• Bailiffs can visit you
• The debt can be secured against your home
• The local authority can apply for your bankruptcy
• You’re at risk of imprisonment (England only, this doesn’t apply to Wales)

County Court judgment

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Bailiffs can visit you
• The creditor can apply for a charging order which will secure the debt against your home
• Money can be taken directly from your wages
• Money can be taken from your bank account

Gas or electricity

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Your supply can be disconnected
• The supplier can force you to pay through a pre-payment meter
• Money can be taken from your benefits  

Hire purchase or logbook loan

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• The items you bought can be repossessed
• The creditor can apply for a County Court judgment

Magistrates Court Fines

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Bailiffs can visit you
• Money can be taken from your bank account and/or from your benefits
• You’re at risk of imprisonment

Mortgage

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Your property can be repossessed by the lender

Phone

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Your service can be disconnected
• The provider can apply for a County Court judgment

Rent

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• You can be evicted

Secured loan

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• The property you secured the loan against can be repossessed

Tax, VAT or National Insurance

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Money can be taken from your wages
• Bailiffs can visit you
• The HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs) can apply for your bankruptcy
• The HMRC can apply for a County Court judgment

TV licence

• You can be fined