An overview of basic tactics to deal with emergency situations

An emergency requires actions to be taken with limited information and time available. Offers must not be made to creditors until the client’s full situation is understood. Therefore, asking for more time is preferable to arranging a repayment scheme a client cannot maintain.

In emergencies, the action by the creditor needs to be halted or delayed. This often involves contacting the creditor to make them aware the client has contacted an agency to request assistance or is seeking assistance from an experienced debt adviser.

An experienced debt adviser has several options available depending on the type of emergency – eg:

•negotiate with the creditor;
•recall a decree;
•apply for an emergency payment;
•arrange a fuel prepayment meter to prevent disconnection;
•apply for time to pay through the court, if appropriate.