It is an attractive site, but I felt rather let down when, on clicking the "immediate cover" option on another insurance policy, I was taken only to the site's shop locator to find the nearest Endsleigh branch office. For the travel insurance, which offers two levels of cover, standard and premium, and for the student possessions' policy, Endsleigh will take credit card payments over the Internet, accepting Visa, Mastercard, Switch and Delta. The court will only order you to pay a monthly amount that you can afford, and they will freeze interest on the debt. The court will send you a form: fill it in, giving all the facts, and always keep a copy of this and any other letters or forms you send or receive. If you've got no money left, ask if they will accept token payments, eg pounds 1 per week. Ask for the interest to be frozen, otherwise the debt will continue to increase. If they don't agree to your offer, they can take action in the county court. This is not a criminal court so you won't get a criminal record or go to prison. Don't worry if you can afford only a very small amount, creditors prefer you to pay this regularly than make an offer you can't afford.

Debts that could mean losing your home or having your gas cut off, etc, must be tackled first But always deal with the whole situation. During November, many solicitors will waive their fees for writing a will in return for a donation to Will Aid, a group of charities.. "Don't ignore the problem: get in touch with your creditors straight away and explain your difficulties. Draw up an accurate and realistic personal budget to work out what you can afford to pay each creditor, and show it to them. Prioritise your debts - don't just pay a creditor because they shout the loudest, look at what they can do to get their money back. Holding individual company shares involves considerable risk which is not in line with May's cautious attitude towards investment.

The proceeds could be used to top up the pension, which would have the effect of reducing May's tax bill, as the contribution would attract tax relief at 23 per cent.Any life assurance plans should be written in trust to ensure that the benefits are used to provide for May's son as intended.Finally, I would recommend that May has a will written, as many problems can arise following a change in circumstance such as this. This should be seen as a medium- to long-term investment, and as Jupiter has a range of funds which can de- monstrate consistently competitive returns, I would expect this investment to do well.As May's only shareholding is in one company, the Woolwich, I would recommend that it is sold in order to diversify. I would recommend the Yorkshire or Dunfermline Building Societies, both of which are still mutual societies, and their returns to date have been very competitive.The Jupiter Ecology PEP should be retained in spite of recent stock market difficulties. A Benefits Agency BR19 form should be completed and returned, to identify any shortfalls in order that action can be taken if necessary.Regarding investments, the existing Nationwide Bonus Saver Account should be kept open, as it pays a very handsome 8.2 per cent gross; provided contributions are maintained for one year. There also remains a chance that the Nationwide could demutualise, resulting in a windfall for May.May should also open a Tessa, even with a small amount, as this is the last year that this can be done. The NPI fund has the potential to outperform but the value will fluctuate over time.As May has not been in continuous employment, her National Insurance record may not be up to date, which could lead to her receiving a reduced state pension. The NPI fund in particular has an excellent performance record since launch in March 1996.