Debt Helplines in the UK: Free Numbers and Opening Hours

England and Wales: the main free helplines

These are the services most people use first. All of them are free to call, and the 0800 and 0808 numbers are freephone from mobiles as well as landlines.

Scotland

Scotland has different debt solutions, such as the Debt Arrangement SchemeDebt Help in Scotland and Northern IrelandHow debt solutions and advice differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland, including trust deeds, the Debt Arrangement Scheme, DROs and where to get free help.Read more →, protected trust deeds and sequestration, so it helps to speak to a service that knows the Scottish rules. The Scottish Government lists these free options.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, free debt advice is available through Debt Action NINational InsuranceNational Insurance is a tax on earnings that builds entitlement to benefits such as the State Pension.Read more →, which is part of Advice NI. You can call 0800 915 4604 (freephone), or text ACTION to 81025 and ask for a call back. The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland also lists StepChangeStepChange Explained: What It Does and How It WorksWhat the debt charity StepChange offers, how its free debt advice and debt management plans work, who it suits and what to expect when you contact them.Read more →'s helpline, 0800 138 1111.

Opening hours vary by service, so check the Advice NI website. Our guide to debt help in Scotland and Northern Ireland explains how the options differ.

Self-employed and small business owners

Business DebtlineBusiness Debt Help for Sole Traders and Small FirmsWhere small businesses and the self-employed can get free debt advice in the UK, and the main options, from payment plans to a company voluntary arrangement.Read more → is run by the Money Advice Trust, the same charity as National DebtlineNational Debtline: How It Works, When to CallWhat National Debtline is, who runs it, what it can help with, how to get free advice by phone, webchat or online tools, and what to expect.Read more →. It gives free advice to self-employed people, sole traders, directors of limited companies and small business owners. The phone line is 0800 197 6026, open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, and webchat runs Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

We explain how it works in our guide to Business Debtline, and cover the wider picture in debt advice for the self-employed.

How to choose which helpline to call

All of the services above are free, so the best one is usually the one you can reach. Some things can help you decide.

• You want to talk on a Saturday: StepChange (9am to 2pm) and National Debtline (9:30am to 1pm) both open on Saturday mornings. Citizens Advice's England debt helpline also opens on Saturday mornings.
• You want to speak in the evening: StepChange, National Debtline and the Citizens Advice debt helpline all stay open until 8pm on weekdays.
• You would rather not phone: StepChange says its online advice is available 24 hours a day, and National Debtline has an online service called My Money Steps. Both also offer webchat or other contact options.
• Your problem is wider than debt: Citizens Advice can also help with benefits, housing and consumer problems.
• You live in Scotland or Northern Ireland: use the services listed for your nation above so the advice fits the local rules.

What to have ready before you call

You do not need to be perfectly organised. Advisers speak to people in difficulty every day and can help you work out what is missing. If you can, it helps to have:

• A list of who you owe and roughly how much, including any letters from debt collectors or bailiffs
• Your income, including benefits, and any other money coming in
• Your regular outgoings, such as rent or mortgage, council tax, energy, food and transport
• Details of anything urgent, such as a court date, a bailiff visit or a threat to cut off a supply

What happens on the call

An adviser will ask about your income, your spending and your debts so they can build a picture of your situation. They will then explain the options that could suit you, which might include talking to creditorsHow to Deal with Creditors: Communication and NegotiationPractical advice on communicating with creditors, negotiating affordable repayments, and understanding your rights when dealing with the companies you owe.Read more →, a debt management planDebt Management Plan (DMP)A Debt Management Plan is an informal arrangement to repay unsecured debts at a monthly rate you can afford. Learn how DMPs work, who they suit and what to consider.Read more →, a Debt Relief OrderDebt Relief Order (DRO)A Debt Relief Order is a formal solution for people with low income, low debt and few assets. Learn how DROs work, eligibility criteria and what happens to your debts.Read more →, an IVA or, in some cases, bankruptcy. You decide what to do next. The adviser will not pressure you into anything.

In England and Wales, an authorised adviser can also help you apply for Breathing Space, which gives most people 60 days of protection from creditor action while you get advice. For more on what happens in a call, see our guides to StepChange and National Debtline.

Phone, webchat and online tools

If calling feels like too much, most services offer other ways in. StepChange says the easiest way to start is online, and warns that its phone lines can have longer waits when demand is high. Citizens Advice runs webchat for debt problems during the same hours as its debt helpline. Business Debtline has an online budget tool that is available at any time. If the phone line is busy, try a different channel or a different service rather than giving up.

Make sure the advice is free

Debt advice from a charity should never cost you anything, and the Financial Conduct Authority says free, impartial debt advice is available to everyone. Some companies advertise as debt helplines but are really commercial firms that earn fees from the solutions they sell. Our guide on free versus paid debt advice explains the warning signs and how to check a firm.