Outstanding household bills

Your gas, electricity and water bills are priority debts.

If you can’t pay your bills in full, you will need to work out a repayment plan to address any outstanding debt. You should contact your utility suppliers to let them know you’re having difficulties paying, as well as presenting a plan to repay the debt.

Gas and electricity

If you have problems dealing with your gas and electricity supplier, you can contact the consumer watchdog, energywatch. They can give you free advice.

• Helpline: 0845 9060 708
• Or visit the energywatch website

Once you’ve paid the money you owe you should compare prices and see if you can save money by switching to a cheaper supplier on uSwitch.com.

Water rates

Like your other debts, you will need to work out how you are going to pay for your water and contact your supplier to let them know your intentions.

If you don't use a lot of water, you may benefit from switching to a meter, which only charges you for what you use. Check whether you could save with a water meter on uSwitch.com.

Home phone

If you use your phone for work purpopses, then you should make it a priority debt.

Once you have settled your debt, you can compare home phone prices and see if you can save money by switching to a cheaper supplier on uSwitch.com.

Gas and electricity suppliers follow a code of practice that stops them from cutting your supply if you agree to, and follow, a payment plan. This could be either weekly or monthly instalments, or using a pre-payment meter. With a pre-payment meter you pay for your supply as you use it.

Your water supplier should come to an agreement for how you will pay your bill. If you’re having problems negotiating with them, contact the Office of Water Services (Ofwat).

• Telephone: 0121 625 1300 / 1373
• Or visit the Ofwat website

Your gas, electricity and phone suppliers can stop your service. In the case of gas and electicity this will mean you have no lighting or heating.

Fortunately, your water supplier cannot cut your supply if you don’t pay. But if you don’t resolve the issue, they could take you to court.

Did you know that switching suppliers for your gas and electricity and your home phone could result in a combined saving of up to £529 a year?

What are you waiting for? Start making savings today with uSwitch.com.