Where to get help with debts
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland
If you're worried about debt, your local Shelter advice centre may be able to help. Many of our local services provide specialist help with debt and welfare benefits issues as well as housing. Use our directory to find your nearest service.
What help can I get from Shelter advice services?
Many Shelter advice services offer specialist debt advice services for people on low incomes who qualify for legal aid. You may qualify for legal aid if you claim benefits such as income support, jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance or pension credit, or your income is assessed as being low.
Shelter debt advice services may be able to help you with debt problems including dealing with:
- rent arrears
- mortgage arrears
- utility bill debts – gas, electricity and water
- debt collection companies or creditors
- hire purchase, credit card or loan arrears.
If you are a homeowner with mortgage arrears or facing repossession you can use our directory to find an adviser in your area.
What other services can I contact?
As an alternative to contacting Shelter, you can call:
- the National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 (Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm and Saturday 9.30am to 1pm)
- the Consumer Credit Counselling Service on 0800 138 1111 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm)
- the Debt Advice Foundation on 0800 043 4050 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm)
- Community Legal Advice on 0845 345 4 345 (Monday to Friday 9am to 6.30pm)
- Community Money Advice
These agencies all provide free services and their websites have useful information about what to do if you get into debt. Their specialist debt advisers can make a full financial assessment and help you work out a plan to clear your debts and cover your living expenses.
You can also get face-to face debt advice from agencies such as Citizen’s Advice Bureau and independent advice agencies if you can’t find a local Shelter service to help you. You can use our directory to find your nearest alternative service.
How can an adviser help me?
The best option for dealing with your debts will depend on your personal circumstances. A specialist debt adviser may be able to help you to:
- manage your income and expenditure and work out your options
- explain the reasons for your financial problems to your lender (and/or insurer if you have an endowment mortgage)
- explain the steps you have taken to keep your debts to a minimum
- produce a detailed summary of your finances to show that you have very little money available to repay the debt
- negotiate with the lender in order to make the debt more manageable
- organise and prioritise payments of any other debts you have.
Can I get help online?
The Consumer Credit Counselling Service offers Debt Remedy a free, confidential debt counselling service that enables you to deal with debt problems online.
What about loans that are advertised on television or on the internet?
Some advertisements by private companies sound too good to be true... and they usually are! Companies that offer an immediate, easy solution or target customers aggressively should be avoided. Their loans usually involve very high interest rates. You could be asked to secure these loans against your home - putting your home at risk if you can't keep up the payments.
Can I sell my home and then stay on as a tenant?
Most so-called private mortgage rescue schemes (where you sell your home and rent it back) are also very risky, and you could end up losing your home. Always get independent financial advice before agreeing to anything.
A Government mortgage rescue scheme might be an option for some people.
You should talk to an independent adviser before committing to any scheme. Use our directory to find one in your area.
