Urgent debt problems · 4 min read
Priority vs non-priority debts: which should you pay first?
When you can't pay everything, the order you pay in matters. Priority debts carry the most serious consequences, so they come first.
Priority debts
- Mortgage or rent arrears — risk of losing your home
- Council tax — risk of bailiffs or deductions
- Gas and electricity — risk of prepayment meters or disconnection
- Court fines — risk of bailiffs or, in rare cases, prison
- TV licence — criminal offence if unpaid
- Income tax and VAT owed to HMRC
- Child maintenance
Non-priority debts
Credit cards, personal loans, overdrafts, catalogues, payday loans and buy now, pay later debts are non-priority. They still matter, but creditors have fewer immediate powers.
Putting it into practice
Work out a budget, cover essentials and priority debts, then share what's left fairly between non-priority creditors. A debt solution can manage this for you.
This article is general information only and may not reflect your circumstances. Rules and limits can change, so always check the details with an authorised provider before making a decision.
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Why do we ask this?
Your total debt amount helps us match you with solutions designed for your level of borrowing.
