Published in Debt Advice Features on Friday, March 30 2007

Usually it is only unsecured debts that can be included into a debt solution to help resolve your financial difficulties. As secured debts are to gain an asset, they have slightly different rules and you may lose what ever it is you are paying for if you do not keep up your repayments.

Unsecured debts include loans, credit cards, overdrafts, store cards, catalogue accounts, door step collection debts. Also you can normally include benefit overpayments as long as you are no longer in receipt of the benefit, utility bills if you are no longer with that supplier or have moved property, rent arrears from a previous property, and council tax bills from the previous financial year, although this can be complicated.

If you have a shortfall from a secured debt, say for example if your car was repossessed and there was finance outstanding that the sale of the car didn’t clear, this can also usually be included.

Sometimes student loans can also be included. Generally not included are items such as mortgage repayments, car finance payments, court fines, CSA repayments and debts to an employer.