Start dealing with your debts
Debt can happen to anyone. If you find it hard to make ends meet, or your debt is increasing each month, ask for help. Ignoring it will only make it worse. There are many options for free debt advice and support to help reduce how much you pay each month. Increasing your income, even by small amounts, can make a big difference to your situation.
If you are struggling to pay your debts, don’t panic! Follow these simple steps to help you deal with your debt:
- work out a personal budget
- deal with your most urgent debt first
- don’t forget to deal with your non-priority debts
- make sure you have considered all the available options to deal with your debts
If you would like to speak to one of our partners who specialises in debt advice; please contact: Citizens Advice.
Always avoid loan sharks
Illegal money lenders take advantage of people struggling who feel they have nowhere else to turn. If you are offered money with little paperwork but high charges, always say no and get free help from a debt advice charity.
Useful contacts
Help and advice with debt and money management
- Bankruptcy guide on GOV.UK. – information on what bankruptcy means for individuals
- Breathing Space – scheme to get up to 60 days respite from interest, fees and court action on your debts
- Citizens Advice debt and money – information on debt, mortgage and rent problems and creditor action
- Citizens Advice – Universal Credit debt and rent arrears – help with debt and rent arrears for Universal Credit customers
- Money Adviser Network – provides debt and budgeting advice
- Money Helper – impartial money advice, tools and calculators for budgeting
- National Debt Relief – support for clearing and managing your debt
- National Debtline – provides debt advice
- Stop Loan Sharks – advice about how to avoid illegal money lenders and how to report them
- What you can do when a bailiff visits (GOV.UK)
Savings and bank accounts
- Money Matters Community Bank – covers postcodes LU1 to LU7, and offers an alternative to High Street Banks
- Credit Union – a financial co-operative which provides savings, loans and a range of services to its members
- Help to Save on GOV.UK – a government savings account for certain people entitled to Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit to get a bonus of 50p for every £1 they save over 4 years
