Urgent? Start here
Act today if any of these apply to you:
- You've received court papers (a claim form): you usually have 14 days to respond. Don't ignore them — see County Court Judgments.
- Bailiffs (enforcement agents) have written to you or are at your door: find out what they can and can't do — see bailiffs at your door.
- You've been told to leave your home or have an eviction date: call Shelter free on 0808 800 4444 and read eviction and rent arrears.
- Debt is affecting your mental health: call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time, day or night. In an emergency, call 999. If you're receiving crisis mental health treatment, you may qualify for a mental health crisis Breathing Space, which pauses creditor action for as long as your treatment lasts, plus 30 days.
A standard Breathing Space can also pause most creditor action and freeze most interest and charges for up to 60 days while you get advice. You apply through a free debt adviser.
Choose your debt problem
County Court Judgment (CCJ)
Received a claim form or a CCJ? How to respond in time, make an offer, and get a CCJ removed or set aside.
Bailiffs at my door
Your rights with enforcement agents: entry rules, what they can take, the fees they can charge and how to stop a visit.
Council tax arrears
What happens after a missed payment, liability orders, getting back on instalments and discounts you may be missing.
HMRC tax debt
Setting up Time to Pay online or by phone (including debts over £30,000), interest, and HMRC's enforcement powers.
Eviction & rent arrears
How eviction works in England, the Renters' Rights Act changes, and how to keep your home or get council help.
Attachment of earnings
Money being taken from your wages for a CCJ or council tax? How deductions are set and how to change them.
Freezing interest on debts
How to ask creditors to freeze interest and charges, a template letter, and what to do if they refuse.
Statute-barred debt
Contacted about an old debt? How the 6-year rule works, what not to do, and a letter to send.
Which debts should I deal with first?
Deal with priority debts first — the ones where not paying can cost you your home, your energy supply or your liberty, or lead to bailiffs. Non-priority debts like credit cards and loans matter too, but the consequences of falling behind are less severe.
Priority debts
- Rent and mortgage arrears
- Council tax
- Gas and electricity
- Income tax, VAT and other HMRC debts
- Court fines and child maintenance
- Hire purchase on goods you need, such as a car for work
Non-priority debts
- Credit and store cards
- Personal loans and payday loans
- Overdrafts
- Catalogue and buy now, pay later debts
- Money owed to friends and family
Once your priority debts are covered, a free adviser can help you choose a way to deal with the rest — see our overview of debt solutions, including debt management plans, Debt Relief Orders and IVAs, or compare them side by side.
Free helplines
These services are free and won't try to sell you anything. You never need to pay for debt advice.
StepChange Debt Charity
0800 138 1111 — free debt advice, Breathing Space and debt management plans. stepchange.org
National Debtline
0808 808 4000 — free advice by phone and webchat, plus sample letters. nationaldebtline.org
Citizens Advice
Adviceline 0800 144 8848 (England) or 0800 702 2020 (Wales), plus local face-to-face help. citizensadvice.org.uk
MoneyHelper
0800 138 7777 — government-backed guidance and a debt advice locator to find free help near you.
Shelter
0808 800 4444 — free housing advice if you're facing eviction or homelessness. shelter.org.uk
Business Debtline
0800 197 6026 — free advice for self-employed people and small businesses. businessdebtline.org
Samaritans are available free on 116 123, 24 hours a day, if you need to talk. For more options, see our free debt help page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first if I'm struggling with debt?
Make sure you can pay your priority bills — rent or mortgage, council tax, energy and any tax — then contact a free debt advice service such as StepChange, National Debtline or Citizens Advice. They can check your budget, deal with urgent action like court papers or bailiffs, and explain which debt solution fits you.
Can I stop creditors taking action while I get advice?
In England and Wales, a Breathing Space can pause most enforcement action and freeze most interest and charges for up to 60 days. You apply through an FCA-authorised debt adviser. If you're receiving mental health crisis treatment, a mental health crisis Breathing Space lasts as long as your treatment, plus 30 days.
Do these guides apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Mostly not. Our guides focus on England and Wales. Scotland has different debt solutions — such as the Debt Arrangement Scheme, Protected Trust Deeds, sequestration and the Minimal Asset Process — and different court and enforcement rules. Northern Ireland also has its own system. A free local adviser can explain the rules where you live.