Debt advice

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Useful organisations

If you are finding it difficult to manage financially, there are a number of organisations that may be able to help you with essential items. Visit the Help and Advice pages for more information.

    Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space)

    The government has created the Debt Respite Scheme in recognition of the challenges people can face dealing with debt.  It is designed to give you the opportunity to take control of your finances and put them on a sustainable footing. There are two different routes:

    • Breathing Space Moratorium

      Allows a debtor 60 calendar days where no debt recovery action can be taken. The debtor must engage with debt advice. 

    • Mental Health Crisis Moratorium

      Enables protection to the debtor for the period they are receiving mental health crisis treatment, then for a further 30 days, and then for a further 60 days breathing space moratorium.

    Find out more about Breathing Space.

    Citizens Advice

    Citizens Advice offers information on a wide range of issues including money and debt:

    • telephone 0844 826 9708
    • visit Citizens Advice for online advice and details of local services in the borough

    National Debtline

    A national telephone helpline for people with debt problems in England, Scotland and Wales. The service is free, confidential and independent:

    Other useful organisations

    Advice UK

    Advice UK is a UK network of advice and information agencies:

    • telephone 020 7469 5700
    • visit the Advice UK

    Crosslight Advice

    Provides face-to-face debt advice and money education support:

    MoneyHelper

    Independent advice service set up by the government:

    Nucleus Legal Advice

    Local advice centre with specialist debt counsellors and money advisers.

    • telephone: 020 7373 4005
    • visit the Nucleus website
    • use the debt advice line, telephone 020 3727 9300

    Payplan

    Payplan provides a free debt management service to people with debt problems:

    • telephone 0800 716 239
    • visit Payplan

    Shelter

    Shelter offers free confidential advice on housing, debt and welfare benefits:

    • Housing Advice Helpline, telephone 0808 800 4444
    • visit Shelter

    StepChange

    StepChange helps people who are in debt, through free, independent information and advice:

    Last updated: 24 October 2024