Where to get free debt advice

Free advice is not a lesser option. The services on this page are run by charities or by the Money and Pensions Service, and they are there to give impartial advice, not to sell you a particular solution. That makes them a sensible first stop for almost anyone with a debt problem, including people who end up in an IVA.

IVA Helpline is an introduction service rather than a charity: if you use our checker, we can pass your details to a licensed insolvency practitioner or debt adviser. Everything below is free.

Who gives free debt advice?

Opening hours change, so check the website before you call. Calls to all the numbers below are free.

In Wales, Citizens Advice also runs a separate phone line called Advicelink: its website explains how to call it. In Scotland, mygov.scot lists the free debt advice services funded by the Scottish Government. Some councils and housing associations also offer free money advice to residents and tenants.

What can a free debt adviser do?

More than many people expect. A free adviser can:

• go through your income and spending with you and build a realistic budget
• work out which debts are priority debts (such as rent, mortgage arrears, council tax and energy) and deal with those first
• check whether you are missing out on benefits or other help
• explain every option that might fit, not just one
• set up a debt management plan with no fees, through a provider such as StepChange or National Debtline’s partner
• apply for a debt relief order, if they are an approved intermediary. DROs are free, and you cannot apply for one without an approved adviser
• start a Breathing Space, which pauses most creditor action for up to 60 days. Only FCA-authorised debt advisers and council debt advice services can do this
• help you prepare a bankruptcy application, or point you towards charities that may help with the £680 fee
• in Scotland, set up a Debt Payment Programme under the Debt Arrangement Scheme, which DAS-approved advisers cannot charge you for
• tell you whether an IVA looks worth exploring, so you can go to an insolvency practitioner knowing the alternatives.

They can also help with the day-to-day problems: letters from creditors, court claims, and dealing with debt collectors and bailiffs.

How to check a firm is genuine

Anyone giving you debt advice or running a debt management plan must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Before you give a firm your details or agree to anything:

1. Search for the firm on the FCA Financial Services Register.
2. Check that the name, address and website on the register match the firm you are dealing with.
3. Check that it has permission for debt counselling (advice) or debt adjusting (negotiating with creditors), depending on what it is offering.

If you are being introduced to an insolvency practitioner about an IVA, check that the practitioner is licensed. In Great Britain, three bodies license insolvency practitioners: the Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). You can search for a licensed practitioner on gov.uk. Our guide to insolvency practitioners explains more.

How to spot a misleading debt advert

The FCA warns about debt adverts, often at the top of search results or on social media, that lead to firms that are not qualified or not authorised. Its warning signs include:

• it is unclear who you are dealing with, or whether they are authorised
• claims about how much of your debt can be written off
• IVAs promoted without making clear that large fees are involved
• claims that a solution is “government backed”
• firms that look like, or pretend to be, debt charities
• being pushed towards one solution, such as an IVA, because the firm is paid to refer you
• being coached to give certain answers, such as understating your income or overstating your spending.

A few more things to be wary of: promises that creditor calls will stop “today”, words such as “quick”, “easy” or “free” attached to an IVA, and any quiz that suggests everyone qualifies. An IVA is not offered or backed by the government: it is a legal agreement under the Insolvency Act 1986, run by private, licensed insolvency practitioners who charge fees.

If a firm contacts you and you think it is not authorised, you can report it to the FCA consumer helpline on 0800 111 6768.

If you have already signed up with a paid firm

You are not stuck. If you are in a fee-charging debt management plan, you can ask a free provider whether they could take it over. If someone has suggested an IVA instead of a plan, our IVA or debt management plan? guide sets out the trade-offs. If you are in an IVA and struggling, talk to your supervisor, and get free advice before you stop paying, because a failed IVA has serious consequences. Our guides to choosing a provider and what happens if an IVA fails cover this in more detail.

What to do next

1. Pick one service from the table and contact it. You do not need to try them all.
2. Gather what you can: a list of debts, your income, your regular bills and any letters.
3. If creditors or enforcement agents are pressing you, say so at the start, so the adviser can consider Breathing Space or other urgent steps.

For a side-by-side view of the options an adviser will talk you through, see debt solutions compared.