Debt advice

Useful organisations

If you are finding it difficult to manage financially, there are a number of organisations that may be able to help. 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. The scheme gives 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:

• phone 0800 144 8848
• 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:

• phone 0808 808 4000 
• visit National Debtline

Other useful organisations

Advice UK

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

• phone 020 7469 5700
• visit the Advice UK

Crosslight Advice

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

• phone: 0300 373 1180
• email [email protected]
• visit Crosslight Advice

MoneyHelper

Independent advice service set up by the government:

• phone 08000 113 797
• visit MoneyHelper 

Nucleus Legal Advice

Local advice centre with specialist debt counsellors and money advisers.

• phone: 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:

• phone 08003 161 833
• visit Payplan

Shelter

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

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

StepChange

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

• phone 0800 138 1111
• visit StepChange