If you can see that this month's payment will not be there, the most valuable thing you can do — by a distance — is tell us before the collection date rather than letting it fail. A payment you flag in advance is far easier and cheaper to handle than one that bounces.
Why early beats late
A failed Direct Debit can cost a bank fee and triggers our missed-payment charge. Contact us first and none of that has to happen — and reaching out for help is never treated as a default or held against future borrowing. See what a missed Direct Debit costs.
The options
Depending on your situation we can move the date, take a partial payment this month, set up a short arrangement, or agree a hardship variation. The request forms on our main site are the quickest route:
- Request a payment extension — a little more time on a due date.
- Set up a payment arrangement — a manageable plan across several collections.
- Ask for a hardship variation — a freeze, reduced payments or longer plan if the company is genuinely struggling.
Collections are paused while a request is open, so getting in early genuinely buys breathing room. See help if you are struggling to make a payment and what if I can only pay part this month.
We lend only to UK limited companies and LLPs, and the loan is to the company with no director personal guarantee. As business finance arranged outside the consumer-credit regime, it is not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or the FSCS, though you can still raise a complaint with us and we will handle it fairly.
See also: My business cash flow is tight this month, Can I request a payment holiday?, Free business debt advice organisations.