Act before the next missed payment if possible
Tell your trustee what changed, when it happened and what you can currently afford after essentials. Explain if the problem is temporary or if you do not yet know how long it will last.
Do not borrow to conceal a shortfall or omit essential costs to make the payment appear affordable. A realistic budget is necessary to assess the situation.
What to send
A short, factual explanation is a useful starting point:
My circumstances changed on [date]. My income or essential costs have changed by approximately [amount]. I am concerned about the payment due on [date]. Please tell me what evidence you need and whether the contribution or arrangement can be reviewed.
This is a communication prompt, not a legal notice or an agreed payment change. Replace the placeholders in your own message to your trustee; do not send personal details to this website.
What might happen?
The trustee will need to consider your evidence and the terms of the arrangement. A revised contribution or period may be relevant. No payment break or reduction should be assumed until the position has been confirmed.
Failure to pay or cooperate can have serious consequences, including refusal of discharge and possible bankruptcy action. Money already paid is not automatically refunded if the arrangement does not complete.
Circumstances beyond your control
Current AiB guidance recognises a process for early discharge in qualifying extenuating circumstances where obligations cannot be resumed before the end of the contribution period.
It is not a general cancellation right. Evidence and the statutory process matter. Unemployment alone does not normally establish that route. Ask the trustee to explain whether the provisions could apply in your particular case.
Keep a written record
Save the explanation, supporting documents, replies and any revised payment agreement. After a telephone call, ask for written confirmation of what was agreed and when it takes effect.
If you receive a refusal-of-discharge notice or another formal decision, obtain advice promptly. Review or appeal deadlines can be short. A complaint about service is not a substitute for meeting a legal deadline.
If you cannot get a clear response
Ask for the firm’s complaint procedure and contact an independent Scottish debt adviser. The complaints guide explains how to organise the issue and find official escalation information.
Continue to tell the trustee about your position. Silence leaves them without the evidence needed to distinguish an unavoidable problem from non-cooperation.
Sources & further reading
Sources checked for this guide on 6 September 2026. Follow the original guidance for full detail.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 where indicated by the source. No government endorsement is implied.