Apacs: More household bills than ever before

While consumers may now receive bills for services such as mobile phone lines and satellite television, research from UK payments association Apacs reveals that the way people pay their bills is also changing.

Although there has been a growth in automated and online payments, those who have previously missed credit card payments, had County Court Judgments (CCJs) or entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) may find that their methods of payment may be restricted.

Utility companies often perform a credit check on customers to decide how to accept bill payments, but a CCJ or IVA may involve long-term effects on a person’s credit rating – with most staying on the official register of CCJs for up to six years.