What happens if you ignore your bills or can’t afford to pay? Here’s how to get help

Bills for water, council tax and more are set to rise in April and, if you’re struggling to afford them, it can be tempting to ignore letters and bills. 

Experts explain, however, that ignoring bills and letters can get you into further debt, whereas reaching out for help can ensure you find the support you need with rising bills, late payments and debt. 

Ignoring bills you need to pay could lead to fines down the line, which only increases the total amount you need to pay – so it’s important to be honest about your financial situation and seek help as soon as possible. 

Here, experts explain the potential consequences of ignoring certain bills and how you can get help with paying instead. 

What happens if you ignore bills?

Each bill is different, but in general, ignoring bills could mean having fines imposed, which can mean paying more money in total. Ignoring bills and letting them stack up could also affect your credit score, meaning it might be more difficult to rent or buy a home, or get another energy contract. 

Gas and electricity

The government service Money Helper explains that gas and electricity bills are known as “priority bills”, so the consequences of not paying them are higher than other bills. This means ignoring them could leave you with even more to pay in late fees and charges.

Money Helper explains that if you simply stop paying your bills “your supplier will report any missed payments to credit reference agencies, which will lower your credit score and is likely to affect your ability to get credit in the future.”

Some of the actions gas and energy suppliers are allowed to take include passing your debt to a debt collection agency; apply to the court to take money out of your wages or benefits; force you to go onto a pre-payment meter; or stop providing energy to you as a last resort.

While this sounds worrying, it’s important to note that taking action is better than ignoring your bills, and reaching out to an organisation like StepChange or Citizens Advice could help you to manage your payments.

Council tax

Council tax is another “priority bill”, meaning the consequences of ignoring bills are higher.

Citizens Advice explains that if you miss a payment, you will be “in arrears, which means you owe money to your council. You should contact your council straight away. Don’t wait for them to contact you”.

The organisation lays out several stages which occur after you miss a council tax payment. You will receive a reminder from the council two weeks after a missed payment, then if you don’t pay after seven days of the reminder, the council will send you a “final notice”.

If this is unpaid after seven days, your council will usually apply to the courts for permission to collect the debt. This could involve sending a bailiff to take items from your home or taking a fixed percentage from your pay. If you still can’t pay your council tax debt, you could go to prison for up to three months – but this is rare.

There are actions you can take if you’re struggling to pay your council tax bill. You can apply for “breathing space” which might give you more time to pay the money you owe, you can check if you meet the eligibility criteria to pay less council tax, or you can seek help from an organisation like StepChange.

Read more: 

• Benefits, water bill hikes and TV licences: All the tax year changes in April 2026 you need to know
• Water bills are going up – again. Will they merely ‘prop up a crumbling system?’
• How to get out of debt: Simple steps to go from red to black

TV licence

If you haven’t paid for your TV licence and have been watching TV without one, you may receive warning letters in the post and could receive a fine of up to £1,000, plus any legal costs or compensation you may be ordered to pay. If you’re struggling to pay, TV licence has a “simple payment plan”, which helps households with financial difficulties pay for the license.

If you know you can’t afford a TV licence ahead of time, you can let TV licensing know that you won’t need one, and just watch TV on catch-up instead. You won’t be able to watch live TV or BBC iPlayer, but you will save on the cost of a licence.

“Lower priority bills”

If you’re struggling to pay any of your bills, debt organisations explain that you should sort your bills into “high priority” and “lower priority” and always pay the high priority bills first.

StepChange explains that high priority bills and debts are ones that can impact your home and health, cause legal problems, or lead to more debt. These include gas and electricity bills, council tax, rent or mortgage, court fees, child maintenance or tax.

Lower priority bills or debts are those which are not linked to an asset like your home, and can include credit cards, overdrafts or money owed to family and friends. It’s still important to tackle these debts or bills, and organisations like National Debtline or StepChange could help you organise them and figure out a payment plan.

“If you ignore a priority bill – which may then become a priority debt – there can be risks for you,” Simon Trevethick, head of communications at StepChange, told Big Issue. “If that’s your rent or mortgage, it could mean placing your home at risk. For council tax, if you miss a single payment then the bill can quickly spiral to a full year’s charge.

“Even for other types of credit, ignoring the problem can lead to arrears, default notices, damage to your credit file and, in some cases, enforcement action. In any situation, reaching out to your lender is the first step.

“There may be hardship funds, payment arrangements or other forms of support available, but these are much harder to access if you do not make contact.”

What should you do instead?

Experts explain that instead of ignoring bills and letters, you should reach out for help if you feel like you can’t afford your energy bills, council tax or other cost.

Simply ignoring an expensive energy bill for example could land you in hot water, but if you can’t afford your bills and you’re honest with your provider, your energy supplier has an obligation to help, as regulated by Ofgem. They might be able to create a payment plan for you, and you can ask for emergency credit if you use a prepayment meter and can’t top up.

“Opening bills or letters about money can feel overwhelming, especially if you are already struggling, but ignoring them can make the situation much worse,” said Trevethick.

“The earlier you engage with the issue, the less likely your finances are to suffer further. Contacting your lenders as soon as possible and explaining your circumstances can seem daunting, but they have a legal duty to help you and will work with you to find a way for you to pay back what you owe in a way that’s affordable to you. Remember, you do not have to deal with your worries alone – taking that first step can relieve a huge amount of pressure.”

Where to reach out for help

If you are struggling to pay your bills, you are far from alone. Research from the National Debtline in 2025 found that seven million adults are behind on at least one household bill. There are steps you can take if you’re worried about being able to afford your bills. 

Charity Turn2us has a grant searcher, which can help see if you’re eligible to access funds which could help you afford the cost of living. There are also plenty of grants listed from energy companies themselves which could help you to pay.

You could be entitled to benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. According to Turn2Us, people who are found to be eligible through its benefits calculator receive, on average, an extra £5,000 a year. To check what benefits you’re entitled to, use a free benefits calculator. There are several available if you search online, including via StepChange, entitledto or Policy in Practice.

StepChange also has an emergency funding page, which offers information on what to do if you need emergency help with money and food. 

Trevethick advised: “With household bills rising, it is more important than ever to be proactive. Start by checking whether you are eligible for any discounts or reductions, such as council tax support, single person discount or other local schemes. Many people miss out simply because they do not realise what they are entitled to.

“If you are worried about paying, contact your local authority or provider as soon as possible to ask about spreading payments or accessing support funds. Putting together a clear budget will also help you have a constructive conversation about what you can realistically afford.

“If the pressure is building or you are juggling multiple bills, speaking to a free debt advice charity like StepChange can help you regain control. Getting advice early can prevent the situation from escalating and give you practical steps to manage rising costs with confidence.”

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. 

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