Free, regulated debt help is available to everyone in the UK from StepChange, National Debtline, Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper. They will look at your whole situation, deal with your creditors, and tell you honestly which option fits, from a simple payment plan to a Debt Relief Order or bankruptcy. You never need to pay a company for debt advice, and you should be wary of any that asks you to.
This page has no affiliate links. Nobody pays us when you contact these services.
Where to get free debt advice
| Service | How to contact | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| StepChange Debt Charity | stepchange.org, or call 0800 138 1111 | Online advice any time; free debt management plans; England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland |
| National Debtline | nationaldebtline.org, or call 0808 808 4000 | Phone and webchat advice, sample letters to creditors, self-help packs |
| Citizens Advice | citizensadvice.org.uk (England and Wales), cas.org.uk (Scotland) | Face-to-face help, benefits checks, housing and court problems at the same time |
| MoneyHelper | moneyhelper.org.uk, or call 0800 138 7777 | Government-backed guidance and a locator to find free advice near you |
Phone numbers checked November 2026. Calls are free from UK landlines and mobiles.
Two other places are worth knowing:
- Your local council often has a money advice team, and may be able to help with council tax arrears or hardship funds.
- Specialist charities such as Business Debtline (for the self-employed), Shelter (housing debt) and Mental Health and Money Advice.
What happens when you contact them
- They look at your income, essential spending and all your debts, usually through an online tool or a call. Have recent bank statements and a list of what you owe ready, but do not let missing paperwork stop you getting started.
- They tell you which debts are priorities (rent, mortgage, council tax, energy, fines) and help you protect your home first.
- They explain every option you qualify for, with the pros and cons, and recommend one. You decide.
- They can contact creditors for you, apply for Breathing Space, and set up the solution.
Advisers are trained not to judge. They hear from people in every kind of situation, including people earning good salaries who have simply fallen behind.
Breathing Space: protection while you get advice
If you live in England or Wales, a debt adviser can put you in Breathing Space (the Debt Respite Scheme). For up to 60 days, most creditors must pause enforcement, stop contacting you about the debt, and freeze most interest and charges. If you are receiving mental health crisis treatment, a separate crisis breathing space lasts for the length of the treatment plus 30 days (checked November 2026).
Only a debt adviser can apply, which is another reason to start with a free service. You need to keep paying ongoing bills like current rent and council tax during it. Our step-by-step guide to paying off debt covers Breathing Space in more detail.
Your debt solution options explained
Advisers will usually start with the least drastic option that works. Here is the full menu for England and Wales.
1. Paying creditors yourself, with reduced payments
If you just need breathing room, an adviser may help you write to creditors offering affordable payments and asking them to freeze interest. National Debtline has template letters. This costs nothing and does not involve any formal process.
2. Debt Management Plan (DMP)
- What it is: an informal agreement to pay your non-priority debts (cards, loans, overdrafts) in one affordable monthly payment, shared between creditors.
- Cost: free through StepChange and some other charities. Commercial DMP firms charge fees that come out of your payments.
- Good for: people who can afford to repay their debts in full, just more slowly.
- Downsides: creditors do not have to accept it or freeze interest (though many do). There is no fixed end date and no legal protection. Defaults are often recorded on your credit file.
- Flexibility: you can stop or change it at any time.
3. Debt Relief Order (DRO)
A DRO is for people with low income, few assets and relatively low debts. It freezes your included debts for 12 months, after which they are written off. Eligibility in England and Wales (checked November 2026 on GOV.UK):
| Rule | Limit |
|---|---|
| Total debts | Under £50,000 |
| Spare monthly income (after essential costs) | Under £75 |
| Assets | Under £2,000 |
| Vehicle | No vehicle worth £4,000 or more |
| Home | You must not own your home |
| Residence | Lived or worked in England or Wales within the last 3 years |
| Previous DRO | None in the last 6 years |
| Fee | None |
You apply online through an approved intermediary, usually a free debt adviser. The DRO stays on your credit file for six years and you are on the public Insolvency Register until three months after it ends. While it is in place you face restrictions, such as needing to tell lenders if you borrow £500 or more.
Northern Ireland has its own DRO rules and limits, so check with Advice NI or StepChange if you live there.
4. Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)
- What it is: a legally binding agreement to pay a set monthly amount, usually for five or six years. At the end, the remaining included debt is written off.
- Who sets it up: a licensed insolvency practitioner. Their fees are taken from your payments.
- Approval: creditors vote; it goes ahead if creditors owed at least 75% of the debt (by value) agree.
- Good for: some homeowners with a steady income and significant unsecured debt, who want to avoid bankruptcy.
- Downsides: it is a long commitment. If your income drops or costs rise and you cannot keep up, it can fail, leaving you with the debt, the fees paid and possibly bankruptcy. You may be asked to release equity from your home in the final year. It stays on your credit file for six years.
An IVA can be the right answer for a minority of people. It is rarely the right answer for someone who has been cold-called or targeted by an ad, which brings us to the warning below.
5. Bankruptcy
- What it is: a legal process that usually writes off most of your debts, typically after 12 months.
- Cost: £680 to apply online in England and Wales (checked November 2026). Some charities can help with the fee.
- What you lose: valuable assets can be sold to repay creditors. If you own your home, your share of it may be sold. You may have to make monthly payments from spare income for up to three years.
- Other effects: some jobs and roles are restricted, you are on the Insolvency Register, and it stays on your credit file for six years.
- Good for: people whose debts are too high for a DRO, with no realistic way to repay, especially if they have no home to lose.
Bankruptcy sounds frightening, but for some people it is a clean, relatively quick fresh start. A free adviser will help you weigh it against the alternatives.
Quick comparison
| DMP | DRO | IVA | Bankruptcy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legally binding | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Typical length | Until paid | 12 months | 5–6 years | Usually 12 months (payments up to 3 years) |
| Debt written off | No | Yes | Remainder, at the end | Most debts |
| Cost to you | Free via charity | Free | IP fees from payments | £680 fee |
| Risk to your home | Low | N/A (non-owners only) | Possible equity release | Can be sold |
| On credit file | Defaults usually 6 years | 6 years | 6 years | 6 years |
If you live in Scotland
Scotland has its own debt laws, managed by the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB). The main differences:
- Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS): a statutory version of a debt management plan. You repay through a Debt Payment Programme set up by an approved money adviser, and once it is approved, interest, fees and charges are frozen and creditors cannot take action against you. It is legally binding, unlike a DMP in England. Free advisers such as StepChange and Citizens Advice Scotland can set it up.
- Protected Trust Deed: Scotland’s closest equivalent to an IVA. You make payments, usually for around four years, through an insolvency practitioner (trustee), and remaining debt is written off. As with IVAs, check carefully before agreeing, and beware of firms advertising “government debt write-off schemes”.
- Bankruptcy (sequestration), including the Minimal Asset Process (MAP) for people with low income and few assets. Scotland does not have DROs; MAP fills a similar role.
- Moratorium: instead of Breathing Space, Scotland has a statutory moratorium that stops creditors taking formal action while you get advice. Your adviser applies for it.
The AiB is consulting on and updating some Scottish eligibility limits, so check the current figures with a free adviser or on aib.gov.uk (checked November 2026).
A warning about paid debt firms and IVA adverts
If you search for “debt help” or “write off debt”, many of the top results and social media ads are not charities. Common red flags:
- “Government-backed scheme to write off up to 80% of your debt.” There is no special government scheme. This is usually an IVA or Protected Trust Deed being marketed.
- Branding that mimics charities or GOV.UK. Debt charities have repeatedly warned about firms imitating their names and logos.
- Pressure to sign quickly or claims that an IVA is your only option before anyone has looked at your full budget.
- Upfront fees or fees for a debt management plan you could get for free.
- Cold calls, texts or social media messages offering debt help.
Many of these sites are lead generators: they collect your details and sell them to firms who make money if you sign up. The FCA has cracked down on “debt packagers” taking referral fees, but misleading ads still appear.
The safe route: type the address directly (stepchange.org, nationaldebtline.org, citizensadvice.org.uk, moneyhelper.org.uk) rather than clicking an ad. Free advisers have no incentive to sell you anything.
What to do today
- Open your post. Find anything with “final notice”, “default”, “court” or “enforcement”.
- Contact one free service from the table above. If you prefer not to speak to anyone yet, StepChange’s online tool works any time.
- Keep paying priority bills (rent or mortgage, council tax, energy) as best you can.
- Do not borrow more to pay existing debts, and do not sign anything with a paid firm until you have had free advice.
Once things are stable, our guides to improving your credit score and budgeting with the 50/30/20 rule will help you rebuild. And if you can afford your debts but want to clear them faster, our debt payoff calculator shows how long it will take.
Frequently asked questions
Is StepChange really free?
Yes. StepChange is a registered charity and does not charge for advice or for running a debt management plan. Every penny you pay into a StepChange DMP goes to your creditors.
Will getting debt advice affect my credit score?
Talking to a debt adviser does not appear on your credit file. Some of the solutions they might recommend do, such as a debt management plan, DRO, IVA or bankruptcy, which typically stay on your file for six years.
Can I get a Debt Relief Order if I rent?
Yes. Renting does not stop you getting a DRO. You must not own your home, and you must meet the limits: debts under £50,000, assets under £2,000, spare income under £75 a month and no vehicle worth £4,000 or more (England and Wales, checked November 2026).
How much does a Debt Relief Order cost?
Nothing. The application fee for a DRO in England and Wales was scrapped, so it is now free. You apply through an approved intermediary, usually a free debt adviser.
Should I trust an IVA company I found on Google or social media?
Be very careful. Many ads that look like charities or government schemes are run by firms or lead generators paid when you sign up for an IVA. Go directly to StepChange, National Debtline, Citizens Advice or MoneyHelper, who will look at all your options for free.
What is the difference between a DMP and an IVA?
A DMP is an informal agreement to pay what you can afford, with no fixed end date and no legal protection, but you can stop at any time. An IVA is a legally binding agreement, usually lasting five or six years, after which remaining included debts are written off; it is set up by an insolvency practitioner and failing it can lead to bankruptcy.