Financial difficulty

Struggling with monthly policy payments? Managing your money can be tricky business, and that's why we're here to support you.

We've pulled together some FAQs below surrounding financial difficulty, with helpful information and resources.

If you're having financial difficulties, we can help you review your levels of cover, change your payment dates or offer a payment deferral.

A payment deferral means putting off your payments for a short period. When you start paying again, the amount that has been "missed" gets spread over the remainder of the agreement. Whether or not we'll be able to offer a payment deferral will depend on your individual circumstances.

We will not charge you any additional interest, so the total payable won't increase as a result.

Payment deferrals should only be used when absolutely necessary. The full credit agreement balance will still be due, but will be paid for over a shorter period.

Agreed payment deferrals will not have a negative impact on your credit score.

People across the UK are struggling with the increased cost of living. If you're having financial problems and are struggling with your monthly insurance payments, please call us and we'll see what we can do to help.

Please don't cancel any payments or Direct Debits through your bank as this may affect your policy, credit rating or your ability to borrow.

You can also find free and impartial money advice here:

The UK Government cost of living support page

Money Helper's money navigator tool

The Business Debt Line

To ensure you do not remove any covers you need, please get in touch to discuss your policy. You can remove covers you no longer need from your policy provided they are not deemed by us as a core cover, and you haven't made any claim(s) in the current period of insurance.

We will refund any premium paid for the remaining period of your insurance contract, and no administration fees will be charged.

Equally, if you need to make any amendments to your policy, no administration fees will be charged.

If you're facing difficulty paying for your cover, please contact us as soon as possible as it gives us the best chance of providing support.

We're not able to freeze policies, but we can offer payment options if you find that you can't pay for your policy this month. Please contact us as soon as possible to discuss the options available.

For example, we may be able to support you by:

  • Discussing your levels of cover
  • Changing your payment date
  • Offering a payment deferral

A payment deferral means putting off your payments for a short period. When you start paying again, the amount that has been "missed" gets spread over the remainder of the agreement. Whether or not we'll be able to offer a payment deferral will depend on your individual circumstances.

We will not charge you any additional interest, so the total payable won't increase as a result.

Payment deferrals should only be used when absolutely necessary, the full credit agreement balance will still be due, but will be paid for over a shorter period.

Agreed payment deferrals will not have a negative impact on your credit score.

Direct Line business insurance policies were not included in the FCA's test case and are not impacted by the outcome of The Supreme Court ruling on business interruption. Our standard commercial policies provide cover for business interruption for a list of specified diseases. In addition, any claim for denial of access requires there to have been physical damage to property in order for the policy to provide cover. As regards any potential claims for closure by a public authority there is an exclusion for infectious or contagious disease. Consequently, irrespective of the Supreme Court ruling, there is no cover for business interruption for the Covid-19 pandemic.

The FCA website has useful information on the outcome of the FCA Test Case and Supreme Court ruling on Business Interruption.