An honest answer: paying less than the agreed instalment amount without our prior agreement is treated as a missed payment, not a partial contribution. The arrangement is based on the specific amount agreed, and a lower payment does not keep the plan current.
What to do instead:
- Contact us before the payment is due. If you know you cannot make the full instalment this period, the best course is to tell us in advance. We can discuss whether a one-off adjustment is possible, or whether the plan needs to be revised more broadly.
- Request a review of the arrangement. If the agreed amount has become genuinely unmanageable — not just for this period but going forward — you can ask us to review the arrangement. Use the Request a Payment Arrangement form to propose new terms.
- Consider a hardship assessment. If your circumstances have changed significantly and even a reduced amount is difficult, a formal hardship assessment may lead to a more appropriate arrangement. See the articles under Hardship & support.
What we want to avoid is an arrangement that fails silently. Paying a token amount without agreement and without contact does not protect you — it can cause the account to fall into default and prompt escalation. Contact is always the right first step.
Was this article helpful, or still not sure? Our team is happy to talk it through.