Finance Debt counselling could be the answer to your personal financial problems. Maybe you've lost your job through ill health or been made redundant - the bills keep mounting up and you've no money to pay them. • The longer you leave the problem, the worse it is likely to get • Unopened bills don't disappear STEPS TO TAKE • Cut down on any overspending • Prioritise your debts • Get specialist help • Don't ignore your creditors - try to negotiate terms with them • Work out what you can afford to repay LOANS • Consolidation loans may help - but they are expensive • Your bank may also help you DEBTS TO PAY FIRST • Mortgages - to avoid repossession • Council tax - failure to pay can lead to a court summons and prison MORTGAGE ARREARS • Even if you are in arrears it may be possible to get a remortgage • This may well be expensive - but better than losing your home REPOSSESSION • If the lender sells your home for less than you owe them they have several years to start chasing you for the balance - between six and 12 years • It is possible to negotiate a reasonable repayment plan