Financial Difficulties

Mortgage Arrears Team - 02890 821853 (Lines open Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm) or email us at mortgagesupport@theprogressive.com.

Alternatively you can contact any of our local branches.

Losing someone close to you can be devastating. We understand that you’ll be grieving and sorting out financial matters will be the last thing you’ll want to think about at such a difficult time.

Visit our Bereavement Support section for support.

What is financial abuse?

Financial abuse is the mistreatment of someone in terms of their money or assets, such as property.

Taking many different forms, financial abuse might be financial control, sabotage or exploitation and can occur within different relationships – partners, family, friends or carers.

Signs of financial abuse:

• Unusual or inappropriate transactions on your bank statements.
• Feeling pressurised into giving money to others, leaving you without money to pay for essentials.
• Losing money, cash or sum from your account without explanation.
• Feeling forced into making changes to your financial plans or withdrawals from your accounts by others.
• Unable to access money via your banking or income sources.

It is important to highlight if you, or someone you know, may be experiencing financial abuse help and support is available. Progressive Building Society, like other financial service providers, can offer help by talking you through the different ways to help and protect you. Our trained team will deal with your concerns privately, in a sensitive manner.

Make the first step by contacting us:

Telephone - 028 9016 0949 (lines open Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm)

Visit one of our 11 local branches – we will offer a safe place for you to speak with one of our team privately, in person.

Ways to help protect yourself and your finances:

• Change login details: If you believe someone has access to your account details without your permission, change your password and login details. Only YOU should have access to account passwords.
• Receiving post: If you are worried someone is opening your account letters and statements, arrange to change the postal address to ensure letters are delivered to a trusted friend or family member.
• Joint Accounts: If you are concerned that money is being withdrawn without your permission, set up the account so that both parties have to sign off and agree to any withdrawals.
• Debt: If you’re having difficulties paying debt because of an abusive situation, get in touch with us.

If you do not wish to speak to us, there are a number of organisations specifically trained to help with financial abuse, good at listening and giving advice - Women's Aid NI and Men's Advisory Project NI  Other sources of help can be found by clicking Free Debt Advice Services below.

Household finances can be a struggle, as the cost of living continues to rise, impacting all of us.  If you’re worried about your budget, use the MoneyHelper budget tool to help you take more control of your money.  

Budget Planner | Free online budget planning tool | MoneyHelper

If you’ve had a change in circumstances which has impacted your finances or debt position, please contact us and we’ll help to find a solution that works for you.

• Discuss the problem with you
•  Help you find a solution that works for you, based on your individual circumstances and financial situation and which is sustainable. We have signed up to the Mortgage Charter (a government incentive introduced in June 2023) which allows us to consider options such as changing your mortgage to interest only or part interest only for 6 months, or extending your mortgage term (terms and conditions apply). Other options we can discuss include making reduced or partial mortgage payments, or deferring your mortgage payment for a period.
•  By simply contacting us to discuss your options will not impact your credit file, and neither will taking up the Mortgage Charter (if available), however if we agree a temporary payment arrangement with you to help you through a period of financial difficulty, your credit file will be impacted as we will report the temporary payment arrangement to the credit reference agency.
• Tell you what you need to know, so you can make an informed decision on how to proceed
• Point you in the direction of other agencies who can help you during this time, such as Citizens Advice or free debt advice services

What we offer you, will depend on your personal, individual circumstances.  We encourage you to engage with us as soon as possible and tell us about your financial circumstances to help us provide an individual, tailored and sustainable payment plan.  Our team will discuss the options available to you and if we can’t help, we’ll tell you why and we’ll recommend trusted organisations who may be able to do so.

• Contact us as soon as you’re having problems repaying your mortgage or if you think that you might experience problems in the near future. The sooner you get in touch, the sooner we can agree a solution for you. Simply contacting us to discuss your options will not impact your credit file.  
• If you’ve someone acting a guarantor on your mortgage, tell them about your circumstances
• Seek free, independent and confidential debt advice for help with managing your finances (see the section below on ‘Other sources of help’)
• Check whether you can get any state benefits, which could help to increase your income
• If you have insurance policies, such as income protection, check whether they would help with your payments
• Keep to the payment plan we agree with you or tell us if there is a change in your circumstances that may affect the payment arrangement
• Tell us if you change address or there is a change to your circumstances.

Debt advisers are organisations who can offer independent, confidential and free debt advice. 

They can help you work out your income and expenditure and complete your household budget.  They can help you find out if you’re entitled to extra income such as benefits and help to make sure the most important debts are paid first.

Below you will find some useful links.

• Christians Against Poverty 
• Advice NI 
• Citizens Advice 
• MoneyHelper
• The Money Advice Service 
• Macmillan Cancer Support
• Marie Curie
• Alzheimer’s Society
• Action Mental Health
• Cause Carers

Companies may contact you offering payday loans and similar products that may offer a short-term solution to debt concerns. These may not be the best long-term option, however, so please contact a debt advice service before taking out any additional loans.