Falling behind on payments is stressful, but it’s also common and fixable — and you never have to face it alone or pay for help. Free, confidential debt advice can stop things spiralling and set out your options.
Get free advice first
Charities like StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice, and the government-backed MoneyHelper, give impartial debt advice and can deal with creditors for you. Never pay a company for something these services do for free.
Which debts come first
Not all debts are equal. Priority debts — rent or mortgage, council tax, energy, and court fines — carry the most serious consequences if ignored, so they come first. Credit cards, overdrafts and personal loans are non-priority: still important, but they can’t take your home or cut off your energy. A debt adviser will help you work out a realistic plan.
Breathing space and solutions
The government’s Breathing Space scheme gives most people 60 days of legal protection from creditors — pausing interest, charges and enforcement — while you get advice (with longer, ongoing cover if you’re in mental-health crisis treatment). Depending on your situation, a debt adviser might suggest a Debt Management Plan, a Debt Relief Order, an Individual Voluntary Arrangement, or in some cases bankruptcy. Lenders also have to treat you fairly under FCA rules and consider options when you’re struggling.
What to do next
Speak to a free debt adviser today. If the wider issue is affording essentials, our Help for households pages cover benefits, energy and cost-of-living support.
Sources
MoneyHelper; StepChange; National Debtline; GOV.UK (Breathing Space — Debt Respite Scheme); FCA. Reviewed: 3 September 2026.