Not sure where to go to discuss your money worries? Fortunately, the internet is brimming over with free debt advice services and resources. The trick is knowing where to look (and we’ve already done the hard work for you).

Where can I get free debt advice?

If you are in debt, don’t try to deal with the problem on your own. In the UK there are a number of free debt advice services available for you to access. 

You can get advice:

1. Online - using email or a chat service
2. By talking to an advisor face-to-face
3. By calling a debt advice line

Whichever option you choose, you’ll be able to speak to an adviser who’ll make your debt easier to handle.

Remember: the person you speak to will be there to help you regain control of your financial situation - not to judge you. 

Online debt advice

Fortunately, you can get free advice round-the-clock by accessing one of many free online services. We’ve listed two to help you get started - but this list is not definitive.

Click on a debt advice link to go directly to that organisation or company’s site to learn more about what they do.

Financial Wellness Group

Who is it for?

Financial Wellness offers free debt advice and personalised support plans to help people take control of their spending and realise financial independence. 

The service is 100% online and available throughout the UK and Wales - but not in Scotland.

How does it work?

Customers need to sign up and create an account first. Afterwards, they’ll be able to get advice from qualified experts on a range of debt-related topics.

Financial Wellness offers debt advice across a broad range of areas, including:

How to use an  Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) to spread repayments

Debt management plans designed to help lower your spending

Bankruptcy solutions to write-off your unsecured debts

Other services are available too, so use the debt advice link above to learn more.

Benefits at a glance:

1. Advice and support across most debt topics
2. Track your debt online & watch it decrease
3. Annual reviews to check your progress
4. Free blog with hints and tips
5. 100% free debt advice service

Telephone Debt Advice

National Debtline

Who is it for?

Anyone in England, Wales, or Scotland can access this free charitable debt advice service - which is owned and run by the Money Advice Trust. The service is 100% confidential and has a demonstrable track record of success.

How does it work?

The website comprises a range of resources for anyone keen to become debt free - including:

1. Fact sheets that provide free advice about debt-related topics, which are divided into clear categories.
2. Free budgeting tools to help you take control of your monthly spending and reduce your overdraft and credit lines.
3. Sample letters you can send on to lenders - just fill in the blanks and pop the document in the postbox.

You can also chat to an expert using the site’s built-in chat system - or call directly if you prefer.

Benefits at a glance:

1. Letter templates to help you get better outcomes with lenders
2. Free tools to help with budgeting and debt reduction
3. Knowledge library covering a range of useful topics
4. Online or telephone access to experienced advisors 
5. 100% free service with no hidden catches 

Payplan

Who is it for?

Payplan offers free debt advice and solutions to individuals and self-employed people in the UK and Scotland. The service is available online or via telephone.

How does it work?

Anyone who signs-up to PayPlan can tap into free advice across a range of topics - including Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), Debt Management Plans (DMPs), and Trust Deeds (the Scottish equivalent of an IVA).

The service is simple to use. Use the site’s online form to answer some questions and get a call from a member of the PayPlan team - who’ll devise a customised debt solution for you.

Not everyone feels comfortable talking to lenders. If you’re one of those people, let PayPlan know and they’ll take care of all the communication for you.

Benefits at a glance:

1. Submit an online form and get a tailored debt plan
2. Get debt advice from an experienced advisor
3. Free advice on IVAs, DMPs, and Trust Deeds  
4. Advisors can interact directly with creditors
5. 100% free service - online or via telephone

Stepchange Debt Charity

Who is it for?

Stepchange is a free debt advice service available to anyone in the UK. It provides comprehensive debt solutions and ongoing support until you’ve reached an amicable outcome with your lender.

How does it work?

Complete a short form and Stepchange will create a tailored plan for you. You’ll  need to provide information about your existing debts, income, and household expenditure - so have this information to hand when completing your application. 

Solutions and support are freely available across a spectrum of debt related topics, including:

1. Debt Arrangement Schemes (DAS) for residents of Scotland who need to rearrange their debts into affordable monthly repayments.
2. Advice about Equity Release schemes, which could allow you to release tax-free cash from your home if you needed to.
3. Information about Debt Release Orders (DRO) that, under certain circumstances, could allow debt to be written off.

Stepchange can advise on other topics too, so visit their website to view the entire list.

Benefits at a glance:

1. Free telephone-based debt advice for people in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the UK
2. Access a library of articles full of hints and tips about a range of topics
3. Tailored debt solutions fully supported by a team of qualified experts
4. Solutions and support covering most debt-related problems

Debt Advice Foundation

Who is it for?

The Debt Advice Foundation is a telephone-based not-for-profit advice service covering all aspects of debt management. It offers a broad range of solutions - as well as a library of easy-to-use tools to help its customers solve their debt problems.

How does it work?

There’s no need to complete any forms. If you need debt advice, simply call the foundation’s helpdesk and an expert will take time to understand your problem and find a solution.

Advice is available on any debt-related topic - including bankruptcy, debt management, and debt relief orders. 

Online tools and resources available include:

1. An online debt analyser that works out how much will be left each month to pay your lenders after living costs and other obligations have been deducted.
2. A link to free credit rating agencies,  should you want to find out what information is held on file about you.
3. A free budget planner designed to help you manage your monthly finances and avoid overspending.

Benefits at a glance:

1. A collection of useful and easy-to-use debt management tools
2. Free debt advice and tailored solutions from experienced advisers
3. Solutions spanning all imaginable debt-related issues 
4. Free callback service if lines are too busy

Face-to-face debt advice

If you’d prefer to speak to an expert in person, your best course of action is to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). There is no fee for using the CAB to get debt advice - and the service is available throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

If your enquiry is urgent, you can contact your local CAB team by phone or email.

Other free face-to-face advisory services:

1. Christians Against Poverty - offers emotional support to those struggling with money.
2. National Debtline -  advice is available by phone and online

Taking the next step

Learn more about how we can help by visiting Salad Money.