Dealing with difficult money stuff

Eileen's story

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Tips

1. If you have trouble opening your post, ask a friend to open your post for you, with you there.
   

2. If you have trouble opening your post, set yourself a deadline for opening an envelope and stick to it. Then set a deadline for the next envelope.
   

3. You could ask a friend to post you a note so that you have some post that you want to open. You can return the favour and support your friend!
   

4. Take it in stages. First, open your post, then read it, then sort it, then work out how to respond to it.
   

5. Take the same step by step approach to dealing with telephone calls or letters that you have to write about your finances.
   

6. If you have problems communicating by telephone, consider writing letters or asking if you can have a face to face meeting.
   

7. If you are being constantly called by people trying to call in your debt, tell them that you can’t talk now but give them a time you can talk. When that time arrives, be ready to answer the phone, armed with your statements or bills, so you can be in control of the call.
   

8. Don't be tempted to switch to online statements or bills if it means that you will never check them.
   

9. Do consider online statements and bills if you find them less threatening and can set aside times to deal with them.
   

10. When you have dealt with a bill or statement, take time to congratulate and reward yourself, maybe with a cup of tea or watching your favourite TV programme.
    
    
11. How to stop junk mail:

If you would like to stop unsolicited offers of credit that you receive through the post then you can sign up to the Mailing Preference Service (MPS). This is a free service set up 20 years ago and funded by the direct mail industry to enable consumers to have their names and home addresses in the UK removed from or added to lists used by the industry. It is actively supported by the Royal Mail and all directly involved trade associations and fully supported by The Information Commissioners Office.

The MPS Consumer File is a list of names and addresses of consumers who have told MPS they wish to limit the amount of direct mail they receive. The use of the Consumer File by list-owners and users is a requirement of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing administered by the Advertising Standards Authority. It is also a condition under the Code of Practice of the Direct Marketing Association.

The MPS can remove your name from up to 95 per cent of Direct Mail lists. It will not stop mail that has been sent from overseas, un-addressed material or mail addressed to The Occupier. You can expect to continue to receive mailings from companies with whom you have done business in the past. You may also receive mailings from small, local companies. If you wish these mailings to be stopped, you must notify these companies directly. It will take up to 4 months for the Service to have full effect although you should notice a reduction of the mail during this period.

Registering with the MPS is free.  This link will take you to the MPS website.