FAQs

About Debt Advice Foundation

What is Debt Advice Foundation and how does it work?

Debt Advice Foundation (UK registered charity number - 1095705) was established in 2002 (see History). At the heart of the charity’s philosophy is the prevention and cure of consumer debt problems in the UK. To help us achieve these broad aims, our work focuses on five main areas (see charity’s objectives.)

Our debt advice is based on the Debt Advice Foundation Ethical Debt Advice Charter.

People can reach us via our free phone helpline 0800 043 40 50, which is open 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday, or by completing an online form.

Where are you based?

We’re based in Darwen in Lancashire. Our address is 1 Anchor Court, Commercial Road, Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0DB.

About the Debt Advice Foundation Money Diaries

What are the Money Diaries?

The Money Diaries project is a series of books that explores key financial concepts, such as affordability and appropriateness, in a way that doesn’t feel like learning. There will be five books in the series, each aimed at a different age group. As the target age of the books increases, more complex financial concepts are tackled.

Working in conjunction with Southlands School in Lancashire we have produced three Money Diaries books to date: Money Diaries Birthday Blues for upper primary age, Money Diaries Price of Fame for lower secondary age and Money Diaries University Challenge for middle secondary age. A fourth book is currently being written.

Are the Money Diaries books available for free?

Debt Advice Foundation has funded the production and distribution of copies of the Money Diaries to primary and secondary schools throughout Lancashire in order to trial the project and gain feedback to the books.

Both of the books are available download for free on our website. To download our latest money guidance books – click on the book title: Money Diaries Birthday Blues for upper primary age, Money Diaries Price of Fame for lower secondary age and Money Diaries University Challenge for middle secondary age.

About the Debt Advice Foundation helpline

Is the Debt Advice Foundation helpline for individuals or businesses?

The Debt Advice Foundation helpline is here to help any individual (including sole traders and partnerships) who is struggling to repay their personal debts. It is open to anyone who wishes to contact us to discuss their financial situation in confidence. Anyone with limited liability debts should contact Business Debtline, a government funded specialist business helpline.

What type of advice and support can you offer?

Debt Advice Foundation helpline councilors are able to offer immediate advice and support. Their first task is to fully understand your financial situation so it is a good idea to gather a few details together before you call.

They will also discuss opportunities to reduce your spending, and will work with you to ensure that you are receiving all benefits you are entitled to.

Our Advisors will then enter your details into Debt Advice Foundation’s advice system, which will recommend the most appropriate and least drastic solutions for your situation.

Do you provide the debt solutions?

Debt Advice Foundation advises on the full range of available solutions.

Our Advisors provide full support and advice to clients considering bankruptcy or self-managed solutions. If a client wishes to opt for a Debt Relief Order, we will refer them to Citizens Advice Bureau, which is licensed by the Insolvency Service to provide this solution.

For Debt Advice Foundation IVAs and Debt Advice Foundation DMPs we work with Payplan, one of the UK's largest providers of free debt solutions. With over 17 years experience, Payplan has helped over 1m people deal with their debt problems.

In Scotland we work with KPMG, Europe’s largest integrated firm of accountants.

In Northern Ireland we work with McCambridge Duffy, NI’s longest established firm of insolvency practitioners.

How do people know about the Debt Advice Foundation helpline?

For the many people who are struggling with problem debts in the UK today, it is important that people know that charities like the Debt Advice Foundation are available to provide free and impartial guidance and support.

Like other charities and bodies in our sector, we promote our service via offline and online listings; which are generally focused around the type of words people search for when they are seeking debt advice. For example, debt charity, debt advice, bankruptcy, debt management or IVA advice.

We are regularly mentioned as a source of help and advice in the media and we also encourage relevant advice groups to link to our site or to pass on our details. Both our helpline service and Personal Debt Analyzer Tool are listed within the FSA (Financial Services Authority) Money Made Clear website which provides a range of guidance for people on various matters relating to money.

Funding

How is Debt Advice Foundation funded?

Debt Advice Foundation was established in 2002 (see History) and since this time the charity has received the majority of its funding from a major high street bank. In 2007 the charity trialed a debt advice service which looked to combine expertise from across the industry and which delivered advice independently of any one party to the debt problem. The charity received donations in relation to this trial.

Going forwards, the charity will be funded and supported by the credit industry (the major lenders, e.g. banks and building societies) in the same way as other charities in the sector are. This enables Debt Advice Foundation to provide its services free to consumers, as well as continuing its education and research projects.

We anticipate that many of the people who contact the charity will be recommended to do so by their creditors and also by advice agencies, other charities and community groups.

Charity Name

Why are there two names, Debt Advice Foundation and Debt Advice Foundation Ltd?

Debt Advice Foundation is the name of the charity which was agreed in 2007. Debt Advice Foundation Limited is what is described in accounting terms as the trading subsidiary of the charity. Trading charities must have trading subsidiaries as part of their accounting procedure to protect the donated assets of the charity.

The charity was previously called Debt Advice Trust, does it still operate under this name?

In 2007 the charity’s name was changed from Debt Advice Trust to Debt Advice Foundation. Debt Advice Foundation is not linked in any way to Debt Advice Trust, which is an entirely separate organisation.