One in four in the North West have ignored utility bills they couldn't afford to pay

For some people, feeling dread at the sound of the bills landing on the doormat is a common occurrence.

It seems that around a quarter of us in the North West have shared this feeling. According to research by Debt Advisory Centre, 26% of us have 'ignored' a utility bill for some time after receiving it because we couldn't afford to pay it. When compared with the population of the North West in 2011, that's just over 1.8 million people!

This percentage is echoed in the rest of the UK, where 26% have ignored a bill - that's around 13 million people when compared with the population of the UK.

For some people in the UK, the situation is a little more serious. Some people are in debt to their water, gas or electricity providers (5%, 4% and 4% respectively). This means that they have either missed their payment altogether or only managed to make a partial payment.

Debt Advisory Centre has these tips for anybody in the North West (or beyond) struggling with their utility bills.

• Get in touch with your supplier. Most suppliers have dedicated teams to help you if you're struggling. 
• Offer your supplier as much as you can afford to pay each month. They are unlikely to cut you off if you offer them payment - however small.
• Find out whether there are any energy poverty charities that could help you. 
• Consider getting a prepayment meter fitted. It is slightly more expensive than paying by Direct Debit - but it turns you into a 'pay-as-you-go' customer, meaning your energy company will know that you're paying for everything you use, so they should stop contacting you. Your energy supplier can also load your arrears onto the prepayment meter so you can chip away at them as you go. 

Your utility bills are a 'priority' monthly payment (like your mortgage), which means you should ensure that you pay them before considering unsecured debts like credit cards and personal loans. If you are struggling with debt, though, getting the right help can free up some more room in your budget to help you stay on top of your bills - and deal with your arrears too.