You can ask for time to pay when you respond to the charge for payment. If accepted, you will be allowed to pay back the money you owe through a series of monthly instalments rather than all at once. Not only does this make it easier for you to repay the money, doing this also protects you from any further action from that creditor. Should the amount you owe to this creditor be lower than £5,000, you have the right to request additional time to pay at any point. This is done through the ‘simple procedure’ process.
It is important to remember, however, that agreeing to a time to pay arrangement only protects you from further action from the creditor who served you with the charge for payment; any other creditors you may have will still be able to chase you for payment or initiate legal proceedings of their own against you.