Are you among the 1 in 3 who can't bear to open bills?

Research by Debt Advisory Centre reveals that one in 10 people regularly ignore important letters, risking falling behind with bills and as a consequence, damaging their credit history.

Almost a third of people admitted to ignoring bills because they don’t expect the letters to “contain good news”. A further 60% of people put letters in a drawer, under a pile of newspapers or anywhere else they can’t see them because they “have a good idea what they will contain” and would prefer to avoid them.

Around a quarter of people do have good intentions to read their bills and statements, but the pressure of busy work and family commitments mean they simply forget, until they begin to be chased by lenders or utility companies.

Bank statements top the list of unopened financial mail, with 9% of people ignoring them. Credit card statements and utility bills rank as second and third, with 12% of people leaving them unopened. Letters about taxes or benefits come in next on the list of mail we’d rather not receive.

And it seems that the gradual move towards ‘paperless’ billing is not helping matters. Around 30% of the 2,000 people questioned said they find online bills and email statements easier to ignore than traditional post.

Even though many of us make payments automatically by Direct Debit, it’s still worth checking every bill or statement you receive for anything you will need to deal with, such as a change of tariff for your gas bill or items on your bank statement you don’t recognise.

It’s an even more serious problem for people who don’t check their mail because they know they have a financial problem. With a third of households now struggling to make ends meet, and a fifth feeling worse-off now compared with 12 months ago, it is understandable that so many people are tempted to kick letters under the door mat or put them straight into the bin.

Many people with problem debts don’t read their post, as it makes them feel stressed. Almost 40% of those with debts say their mental health has been impacted.

Unfortunately, avoiding post won’t help to tackle the problem. Ignoring financial difficulties can actually allow them to get worse – as lenders will continue to add interest and may add extra charges if you are late with payments. They may also begin recovery proceedings against you. Burying your head in the sand could also damage your credit history, which might stop you getting a mortgage, a mobile phone or even a job.

The best approach is always to tackle the problem head-on - read all of your bills, find out what the situation is and get help as soon as possible to avoid things becoming worse.

Debt Advisory Centre: 0161 871 4881