Free, confidential debt advice from a UK charity

Debt Advice Foundation is a registered national debt advice and education charity offering free, confidential support and advice to anyone worried about loans, credit and debt. Because we're a debt charity, you can be sure that the advice we provide is impartial and based solely on what is best for you.

If you have a debt problem, Debt Advice Foundation can help you understand which options are available to you and will recommend the debt solution that is right for your situation. Our aim is to help you regain control of your finances by:

Reducing monthly repayments to a realistic and affordable level
Stopping creditors taking enforcement action against you
Protecting important assets such as your home

If you are struggling to keep up with credit card, loan or debt consolidation repayments, have arrears or are facing legal action from lenders as a result of being unable to repay your unsecured or secured debts, our debt helpline advisors are standing by waiting to help.

We advise on the full range of debt solutions including Bankruptcy, Debt Relief Orders, Free Debt Management Plans, IVAs, Trust Deeds, LILAs, Debt Arrangement Scheme, Administration Orders and Debt Consolidation.

If you need to talk to someone in confidence about your options, there's no need to wait or book an appointment, our free debt advice helpline is open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm on 0800 043 40 50.

Read what others have said about their debt advice helpline experiences.

Debt Advice Foundation is a registered debt charity (1148498) and is licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority (Interim Permissions number 650721).

The charity holds the Advice Service Alliance’s Advice Quality Standard (AQS) and is listed by Money Advice Service as an accredited, free provider of debt advice on its online debt advice locator page (the Money Advice Service is an independent service set up by government to help people manage their money).

The charity is a member of AdviceUK, the UK's largest support network for free, independent advice centres and all of the charity's advisers are members of the Institute of Money Advisers, a charitable body that aims to promote free money advice and develop professional standards.

Financial Education

DebtAware is the name of our financial education and information work.

We believe that many people find themselves in serious debt because they have never been taught how to manage money.

We take financial education into the heart of primary schools, because young people should be given the chance to learn money skills at the earliest opportunity.

Find out more at www.debtaware.org.

If you're in debt, see how we can help you

We're raising debt awareness and helping prevent debt through education

We're tackling the underlying causes of debt through research

Debt Advice Resources

Debt Solutions

Find out more about your options

Bankruptcy

All your qualifying debts are forgiven

After 12 months (typically) you are discharged from bankruptcy

The court can enforce an ‘Income Payments Order’ for a further three years

Your home is at risk

IVA

50% to 60% of debt is typically written off

Interest is frozen

Legally protects you and your home from your creditors

Lasts for 5 years and fees are payable

You will have to keep to a fixed monthly budget

Debt Management

A single, affordable monthly repayment

Some of your creditors will agree to freeze interest

It is not legally binding

Some companies charge 15% of your monthly payment

You are required to repay the debt in full

Debt Consolidation

Lower monthly repayment

Easier to manage one monthly payment

Credit rating less likely to be affected

The repayment period will increase

The total amount that you owe is likely to increase

Debt Relief Order

Typically debts are discharged after 12 months, there's no need to go to court, debts must not exceed £15,000 and assets must not exceed £300.

Case Studies

An Unexpected Illness

My husband and I are in our late fifties and both had jobs that gave us security and financial independence. Unfortunately, I became ill and had to give up work. We began to miss payments on our loans, credit cards and even our mortgage. The fees and charges stated to stack up. Our unsecured debts had grown to £25,000 and it didn't seem like the banks were really on our side. We contacted a debt advice company that negotiated with unsecured lenders directly on our behalf.