Child Maintenance arrears

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Goods can be taken from your home
• Money can be taken from your wages and/or your benefits
• You’re at risk of imprisonment

Council Tax

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Money can be taken from your bank account, your wages and/or your benefits
• Goods can be taken from outside your home
• The local authority can apply for your bankruptcy
• You won’t be able to sell your home without the creditor’s permission
• The local authority can get an order which means you’ll be unable to sell your home without their permission

Criminal fine

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Your vehicle may be clamped or taken away

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

Decree

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Goods can be taken from outside your home
• The creditor can get an order which means you won’t be able to sell your home without their permission
• Money can be taken from your wages and/or your benefits

Gas or electricity

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Your supply can be disconnected
• Your supplier can apply for a Decree
• Money can be taken from your benefits

Mortgage or secured loan

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 creditor can apply for a Decree

Rent

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• You can be evicted

Tax, VAT or National Insurance

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• Goods can be taken from your home
• Money can be taken from your bank account
• Your PAYE tax code can be adjusted to a higher tax code
• The HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs) can apply for your bankruptcy

TV licence

If you don’t pay what you owe:

• You can be fined