What Happens If You Miss a Bill Payment in the UK?

Missing one bill payment is common, and for most bills one late payment can be put right quickly. What happens next depends on the type of bill, how long it goes unpaid, and whether you get in touch with the company. This guide covers the main household bills in England.

The most useful thing you can do is contact the company early. Every source below says the same: problems are easier to sort out before they build up.

Council tax

Councils follow a set sequence. Newham Council’s page is a typical example:

1. Reminder. A reminder is sent when you fall behind with your instalments. Newham issues up to two in a financial year.
2. Final notice. If you fall behind a third time, a final notice is issued. At this stage your instalment facility is withdrawn and the full remaining balance for the year has to be paid.
3. Summons. If it is still unpaid, the council applies to the magistrates’ court, and costs are added to your bill.
4. Liability order. The court can grant a liability order, which lets the council take further enforcement action and adds more costs.

Paying in full before the hearing stops the process. If you cannot pay, GOV.UK says your council can help, for example by spreading payments over 12 months instead of 10. Citizens Advice lists council tax arrears as a priority debt.

Gas and electricity

Citizens Advice says that if you are struggling, your supplier has to help you come to a solution, and when agreeing a payment plan it must take into account how much you can afford. Give them details of your income, outgoings and other debts. Ofgem says you can also ask your supplier for a payment break or reduction, a review of your payments, and access to hardship funds.

If you cannot agree a plan, or do not keep to one, Citizens Advice says the supplier might try to install a prepayment meter. It says only in very rare cases might a supplier threaten disconnection.

Rent

Rent arrears are a priority debt. Citizens Advice says a landlord might evict you if you do not pay, but they first need a possession order from a court. Talk to your landlord as soon as you know a payment will be late.

Phone and broadband

Citizens Advice says your provider can cut off your phone or internet if you do not pay. These count as priority debts when the service is really important to you, for example for work, job-hunting or a disability.

Credit cards, loans and buy now pay later

On credit accounts, a missed payment is usually recorded with the credit reference agencies. National Debtline (England and Wales) says this information stays on your credit report for six years, and an account in default stays for six years from the date of default. A default is usually recorded after roughly three to six months of missed payments.

Buy now pay later agreements taken out on or after 15 July 2026 with a separate lender are regulated by the FCA. The FCA says that if you miss a repayment, the firm needs to contact you to let you know and explain what this means. Our buy now pay later guide covers the rules.

What shows on your credit report

National Debtline’s England and Wales guide says:

• missed payments on credit accounts stay on your report for six years;
• arrears can still be recorded even if a lender has agreed you can pay less for a while, though the lender can add a marker showing the arrangement;
• details of council tax debts are not kept by credit reference agencies.

What to do after a missed payment

1. Check what was missed. Which bill, how much, and the date.
2. Pay it if you can, straight away.
3. If you cannot, contact the company this week. Explain, and ask for a plan you can afford.
4. If several bills are behind, deal with the priority ones first. Our guide to which bills to pay first explains the order.
5. Get free advice from Citizens Advice, StepChange or National Debtline. Avoid any company that charges for debt help.

Stop it happening again

Most missed payments come from a date nobody noticed. Keep every bill with its due date in one list and set a reminder a few days before each one. A bill tracker like Billo reminds you 3 days before every bill and again on the day. Our guide to never missing a bill shows a simple system.