In a hurry: 8.1% of mortgage holders missed a utility bill, loan or credit card payment in the month to March 8.
Nearly one in ten mortgage holders have missed a family payment in the last month, a study has found.
Consumer group Which? found that 8.1 percent of mortgage holders failed to pay a utility bill, loan or credit card payment in the month to March 8, marking the third highest level high recorded since records began in April 2020.
Overall, 2.4 million households, or 8.6 percent, missed at least one bill payment and 15.1 million households, or 54 percent, reported adjusting their budget to cover needs. including by cutting back, dipping into savings, selling goods or borrowing money. .
At the other end of the scale, households that own their home saw a decrease in bill payment arrears to 1.6 percent, compared to 2.8 percent in February.
National Debtline, a financial advice hotline, says 64 percent of its callers report struggling to make ends meet each month.
More than six in ten people say they are concerned about not being able to pay a bill in the next six months.
David Cheadle, operations director at National Debtline, said: “This high level of missed payments shows the impossible choices facing millions of people. »
With interest rates still high, households will likely continue to feel the effects throughout this year. predicted.
Rocio Concha, from Which?, said: “We encourage anyone who is struggling to seek advice and contact their lender or landlord. »
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