A promise to pay is a short‑term agreement where you confirm that you’ll pay a specific amount on a specific date in the near future, usually to catch up on a payment you’ve missed or know you cannot make on the original due date.
What happens when you have a promise to pay
We agree on an amount and date with you. You confirm how much you will pay and on which date (normally within the next 30 days), and whether you’ll pay by Direct Debit, card or bank transfer.
We send confirmation and a reminder. Once set up, we’ll send you a confirmation and then a reminder shortly before the promised date so you know what is due and when.
Some collections contact may pause while your promise is active. While there is an active promise to pay, we may limit certain outbound collections activity, but your account can still move through normal arrears paths if payments are not made.
Arrears and interest can still build until you pay. A promise to pay does not freeze interest or stop arrears from building if you have already missed your contractual payment; you must still make the agreed payment to bring your account back on track.
Your credit file can still show a missed payment. The promise itself is not normally reported to credit reference agencies, but any missed or late instalments may still be reported and could affect your ability to obtain credit in the future.