Debt help: free advice, your options, and where to get support
If debt is causing you stress, free, expert help is available now from FCA-authorised charities and government services. You do not need to pay for debt advice. This page signposts every major free route.
Free debt help — charities and not-for-profits
Every organisation below provides free, confidential, FCA-authorised debt advice. None will charge you for their services.
The UK's largest debt charity. Provides free debt management plans (DMPs), Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), Debt Relief Orders (DROs), and Breathing Space referrals. Covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Over 30 years' experience.
Phone: 0800 138 1111 · Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 8am–4pm · Also online at stepchange.org
Run by the Money Advice Trust. Free debt advice by phone and webchat for people in England, Wales and Scotland, with detailed self-help fact sheets and sample creditor letters. Best for people who want to manage their own debt with guidance.
Phone: 0808 808 4000 · Mon–Fri 9am–8pm, Sat 9:30am–1pm · nationaldebtline.org
Free, impartial advice on debt and a wide range of other issues — benefits, housing, consumer rights. Available in-person at local centres, by phone and webchat across England, Wales and Scotland.
England: 0800 144 8848 · Wales: 0800 702 2020 · Scotland: 0800 028 1456 · Mon–Fri 8am–7pm
Free debt management plans and IVAs, funded by creditors. Assesses your financial position and approaches creditors on your behalf. Phone and webchat service available.
Phone: 0800 280 2816 · Mon–Fri 8am–8pm, Sat 9am–3pm · payplan.com
Free, face-to-face debt coaching at home, available to anyone regardless of faith. CAP debt coaches help people build budgets, deal with creditors and access debt solutions. Available across the UK via local churches.
Phone: 0800 328 0006 · capuk.org
Free, face-to-face debt advice centres across England, Wales and Scotland. Also provides phone and email services. Good option for people who prefer in-person support.
Find your nearest centre at communitymoneyadvice.com
Free and confidential debt advice by phone. Covers all debt types including credit cards, loans, rent arrears and utility debts. Registered charity authorised by the FCA.
Phone: 0800 043 4050 · debtadvicefoundation.org
Government and official routes
The government-backed Money and Pensions Service runs MoneyHelper, which includes a free debt advice locator covering all FCA-authorised debt advice providers in your area. The starting point if you are unsure which service to use.
moneyhelper.org.uk · Phone: 0800 138 7777
A legal scheme that gives you up to 60 days of protection from creditor action — including contact, interest, charges and enforcement — while you access free debt advice. Available in England and Wales. You must apply through a debt adviser, not directly.
Apply via any FCA-authorised debt advice charity listed on this page · gov.uk/breathing-space
The official UK government page listing all FCA-authorised free debt advice providers, with phone numbers and opening hours. An independent, unbiased starting point.
gov.uk/debt-advice
The government agency that oversees formal insolvency procedures including Debt Relief Orders (DROs), Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) and bankruptcy. A debt adviser will recommend these only when appropriate for your circumstances.
gov.uk/insolvency-service
If your debt is to HMRC (income tax, VAT, self-assessment), contact HMRC directly to discuss a Time to Pay arrangement before using a debt charity. HMRC does not charge interest on arrangements set up in advance. Debt charities can also advise on tax debt.
Tax debts: 0300 200 3835 · gov.uk/hmrc
Common mistakes to avoid
- ✗Paying for debt advice. All major UK debt charities are free, authorised by the FCA, and funded directly by creditors. Commercial debt management companies charge fees that slow down debt repayment. Check whether a service is free before signing anything.
- ✗Ignoring the problem. Debt does not go away untouched. Interest and charges accumulate, and creditors can eventually take legal action. Free advice is available now and contacting a debt charity does not affect your credit score.
- ✗Prioritising the wrong debts first. Not all debts are equal. Priority debts — council tax, rent or mortgage arrears, energy bills, magistrates' court fines — can result in losing your home, energy supply or liberty. A debt adviser will help you rank these correctly.
- ✗Taking out new credit to pay existing debts. Consolidation loans or credit cards used to pay off other debts can make the problem worse if the underlying spending is not addressed. Get advice first.
- ✗Missing the Breathing Space window. If creditors are applying pressure, Breathing Space gives you 60 days of legal protection to get advice without enforcement action. Apply through any debt charity listed above — you cannot apply directly.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
No. Calling a debt charity, speaking to an adviser, or using MoneyHelper's debt advice locator does not appear on your credit file and has no impact on your credit score. What does appear on your credit file is entering a formal debt solution (a DMP, IVA, DRO or bankruptcy) — but a debt adviser will always explain the credit file implications before you commit to any solution.
Priority debts carry the most serious consequences if unpaid and should be addressed first, even if the amounts are smaller:
- Rent or mortgage arrears — risk losing your home
- Council tax — bailiff action, magistrates' court
- Energy (gas/electricity) — supply can be cut off
- Magistrates' court fines — risk of imprisonment
- TV licence, child maintenance, income tax
Non-priority debts include credit cards, personal loans, overdrafts and store cards. These are still serious, but the consequences of not paying are less immediate.
Breathing Space is a government scheme (England and Wales) that gives you up to 60 days of legal protection from creditor action — including creditor contact, interest, charges and enforcement action — while you access debt advice. You cannot apply for it directly; a debt adviser from an authorised charity must apply on your behalf. It covers most personal debts and does not affect your credit file for the 60-day period.
Yes. Debt Relief Orders (DROs), Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs) and bankruptcy can each result in some or all of your debt being written off, depending on your circumstances. These are formal solutions with specific eligibility criteria and credit file consequences lasting up to 6 years. A free debt adviser from any of the organisations listed above will assess whether you qualify and explain the implications in full.
For the latest rate changes and money news, see our money news page. This is factual information, not financial advice or a personal recommendation. If you are in debt difficulty, contact one of the free, FCA-authorised charities listed above.