If you can't pay a bill this month, call before the due date, explain briefly, and ask for a specific temporary arrangement. That's the core of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's advice for credit card trouble, and it works for most bills. The hard part is finding the words while your heart is racing. So here they are: nine scripts you can read out loud, plus what to say if the answer is no.
BEFORE YOU DIAL: THE 4-NUMBER NOTE
- What you can pay now: $_____
- What you can pay each month for the next 3–6 months: $_____
- When you expect things to improve: ________
- The arrangement you're asking for (lower payment, pause, due-date change): ________
The CFPB suggests exactly these points when you contact a card issuer: why you can't pay, how much you can pay, when you'll resume, and the temporary amount and length you're asking for.
Three rules for every call
- Call early. Before the due date you have more options than after it.
- Write everything down: date, name, what was agreed. Ask for it in writing.
- Only promise what you can keep. A smaller plan you stick to beats a big one you break.
The script library
1. Credit card company: asking for a hardship plan
"Hi, I'm calling because I'm having a temporary financial hardship and I can't make my full minimum payment this month. My income dropped because [reason]. I can pay $___ now and $___ a month for the next ___ months. Do you have a hardship or payment program that could lower my payment or interest rate for that period?"
If they say no: "Is there anyone else I can speak to about hardship options? And can you confirm in writing what happens if I pay $___ this month?" Then consider a nonprofit credit counselor, as the CFPB recommends.
2. Credit card company: asking for a lower APR
"I've been a customer since [year] and I've always paid on time. With rates rising, my APR of ___% is making it hard to pay this balance down. Could you review my rate? I'd like to keep this card and pay it off."
If they say no: "Thanks. Could you note that I asked, and is there a promotional offer on my account?" Then focus extra payments on this card if it's your highest rate. See what the Fed hike means for your card.
3. Electric or gas utility: before a shutoff notice
"I'm calling because I won't be able to pay my full bill by the due date. I don't want to fall behind. Can I set up a payment arrangement or a budget billing plan? I can pay $___ today. Also, are there any assistance programs I should apply for?"
If they say no: ask about your state's energy assistance. LIHEAP is a federally funded program run by the states that helps lower-income households with heating and cooling bills, including crisis help after a shutoff notice, as AARP explains. Contact your state or local LIHEAP office for current rules.
4. Hospital: asking about financial assistance
"I received a bill for $___ and I can't pay it in full. Before I set up a payment plan, I'd like to apply for financial assistance. Can you send me your financial assistance policy, the application form and the plain language summary? Please also put a hold on collections while my application is reviewed."
Why this works: nonprofit hospitals in the US must have a written financial assistance policy covering emergency and medically necessary care, and must make the policy, application and a plain language summary widely available, including free paper copies, according to the IRS.
5. Hospital or doctor: asking for an itemized bill
"Could you please send me a fully itemized bill with the billing codes for each charge? I'd like to review it before I pay."
Why: it lets you check for duplicate charges or services you didn't receive, and compare with what your insurer says it paid.
6. Landlord: asking for a short rent extension
"I want to be upfront: I'll be short on rent this month because [reason]. I can pay $___ on the 1st and the remaining $___ by [date]. Would that work for you? I'm happy to put it in writing."
If they say no: ask what late fee applies and the latest date they'd accept full payment. Local rules on late fees and notices differ by state and city, so check your local tenant resources.
7. Car loan or personal loan: asking to defer a payment
"I've had a temporary drop in income and I'm worried about my next payment. Do you offer a payment deferral or extension? If so, how would it affect my interest and the length of the loan?"
Ask before agreeing: whether interest keeps building during the deferral, and whether it's reported to credit bureaus.
8. Phone, internet or insurance: lowering the bill
"I'm reviewing my budget and need to lower this bill. What's the lowest plan that still covers ___? Are there any discounts or low-income programs I qualify for?"
Tip: say clearly what you need, not what you have. It's easier to drop extras than to negotiate the price of a plan you don't need.
9. Family: when you can't lend or give this year
"I love you and I wish I could help with money right now, but I'm catching up on my own bills. What I can do is [help with something non-financial]."
More kind-but-firm wording is in how to say no when family asks for money.
Asking for help with a bill isn't failure. It's what organised people do before a problem gets expensive.
Red flags: who not to call
The CFPB warns about debt settlement companies that tell you to stop talking to your card issuer or stop making minimum payments, or that promise to make your debt disappear. Those are warning signs. A nonprofit credit counselor should explain any fees up front.
If several bills are due at once: the order to call
| Priority | Bill | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rent / mortgage | Keeps a roof over your head |
| 2 | Utilities | Heat, light, water; assistance programs exist |
| 3 | Car loan (if you need the car for work) | Protects your income |
| 4 | Insurance (especially health) | Prevents a much bigger bill later |
| 5 | Credit cards, medical bills, other unsecured debt | Call to arrange plans; hardship options exist |
Our guide to financial priorities when your salary can't do everything explains this order in more depth, and if the bills started with a job loss, see our 30-day money plan for an uncertain job market.
Hard calls are easier when you've already planned your bare-bones month. Layoff-Ready: The Income Shock Playbook (digital PDF) includes bills-and-debt triage, a bare-bones budget and scripts for lenders, landlords and family.
And if just opening the envelopes feels impossible, start smaller: the free 7-Day Money Anxiety Reset journal and our article on avoiding your bank account when money is tight.
Sources
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, What should I do if I can't pay my credit card bills?
- Internal Revenue Service, Financial assistance policies (FAPs)
- AARP, Energy bill assistance (LIHEAP)
- InsuranceNewsNet, What the Fed's recent rate hike means for your money (2026)
KEEP THESE SCRIPTS CLOSE
Layoff-Ready: The Income Shock Playbook
A 30-day plan for when income drops: your runway number, a bare-bones budget, bills triage and word-for-word scripts.
- 100% digital PDF - no physical book is shipped
- Download right after purchase
- Print at home or use it on your phone, tablet or computer
- One-time purchase - no shipping fees
Get Layoff-Ready (digital PDF) →
Start with the free 7-Day Money Anxiety Reset →
Educational content only. Not personalised financial advice.