Debt recovery planner — prepare for your MABS appointment
Walking into a MABS appointment with a written list of debts saves time, lowers stress and gets you better answers. Print this page and fill it in by hand.
For each debt, write down
- Creditor name (bank, lender, utility, family member).
- Type (credit card, overdraft, personal loan, mortgage arrears, utility arrears, informal).
- Balance outstanding today.
- Monthly minimum payment.
- Interest rate (approximate is fine).
- Whose name is on the account (yours alone / joint / guarantor).
- Any arrears or court letters received.
Income and outgoings
- Take-home income per month.
- Rent or mortgage.
- Utilities (electricity, gas, water, broadband, phone).
- Food and household.
- Transport.
- Insurance.
- Childcare.
- Everything else.
Bring with you
- Three months of bank statements (if possible).
- Recent payslips or social welfare statements.
- Any letters from creditors, especially anything mentioning court action.
- A trusted person, if it helps.
After the appointment
MABS may write to creditors on your behalf. Keep copies of everything. If a statutory option (DRN, DSA, PIA, bankruptcy) looks right, MABS will refer you to the appropriate Approved Intermediary or Personal Insolvency Practitioner.