BOSS: Red Letter Day
Lesson 12 of 12 in our free Debt & Getting Help guide: a 5-minute money game with the key points below.
Shown for England. Some rules here are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: the lesson shows your nation's version.
Reading is cool. Playing is cooler.
This lesson is a 5-minute game. Free, no sign-up needed.
The story so far
Mo: Five envelopes. Red ink. My heart is doing parkour.
Ronnie Rugpull: Heh. Bet you can't tell which ones are mine.
Nana: Kettle on, letters open, one at a time. We'll sort the real from the rubbish together.
Questions you'll answer
After essentials and priority debts, Mo has £45 a month for non-priority debts: £900 credit card and £450 BNPL. Pro rata, how much goes to the BNPL?
Total £1,350. BNPL is £450 ÷ £1,350 = one third. One third of £45 = £15 to BNPL, £30 to the card.
Final move. What's Mo's best plan?
Report the fakes, sort council tax and energy, offer pro rata on the rest, get free advice. BOSS DEFEATED. Calm, ordered and supported — and a hardship fund chat helps too. Ronnie is shook. Nana is proud.
Quick facts
- Council tax reminder from the council, with the council's official website and phone number → Real & priority. Real and priority. Contact the council to agree a payment plan.
- Energy supplier letter about arrears, offering a payment plan → Real & priority. Real and priority. Take the plan if it's affordable.
- Credit card arrears letter asking you to get in touch → Real & non-priority. Real, non-priority. Offer what you can afford after priority debts.
- 'HMRC' letter demanding payment in gift cards within 24 hours → Fake (Ronnie). No government body accepts gift cards. Pure Ronnie.
- 'Bailiff' letter with no company details, threatening arrest → Fake (Ronnie). No company details plus arrest threats = fake.