★ Jolly Good Guide Information only — not financial advice Free help · 0800 138 1111
Step 01

I'm worried about repayments

You have debts but you are worried you might miss a payment, or you have already fallen behind. You need to understand your options and who can help.

Who this is for: People who are struggling to meet monthly payments, who have already missed a payment, or who can see they are going to struggle soon. The sooner you act, the more options you have.
Step 02

First things to check

  • 01 Work out which debts are most urgent. Secured debts (mortgage, secured loans) and priority debts (council tax, rent, utilities, court fines) should come first — missing these can have more serious consequences than missing an unsecured loan.
  • 02 Contact your lenders directly and explain the situation. Many lenders have hardship teams and will agree a payment plan, temporary pause or reduced payment rather than immediately defaulting you.
  • 03 Check whether you are entitled to any benefits, tax credits or emergency support that could reduce your outgoings.
  • 04 Do not use one credit product to pay another. Using a credit card to pay a loan, or taking a new loan to meet a credit card payment, usually makes the total debt larger, not smaller.
Step 03

Know the risks

⚠ Before you proceed
  • Ignoring debt letters or missing calls from lenders can escalate a manageable problem into a CCJ or enforcement action
  • Missing secured loan or mortgage payments can eventually lead to repossession of your home or vehicle
  • Taking out more credit to cover existing repayments almost always makes the underlying situation worse
  • Commercial debt management companies sometimes charge fees for services that free charities provide at no cost
Step 04
Read these guides first
01 high risk
Debt Consolidation Loans: A Plain-English Guide

A plain-English UK guide to debt consolidation loans. Covers what they are, when they may help, the risks, what to compare, and where to get free debt help.

8 MIN →
02 low risk
How To Get Financial Advice: When & Where

A complete UK guide to how to get financial advice: when & where. Plain English, no affiliate links, no financial advice.

6 MIN →
03 low risk
Early Loan Repayment: Evaluating the Pros and Cons

A complete UK guide to early loan repayment: evaluating the pros and cons. Plain English, no affiliate links, no financial advice.

6 MIN →
Step 05

Use a tool or checklist

Tool
Borrowing Affordability Checklist
A structured checklist to run through before applying for any loan — to make sure you have considered the risks.
Open →
Tool
Debt Consolidation Worksheet
Comparing the total cost of your current debts against a consolidated loan to see whether consolidation saves money.
Open →
Tool
Simple Budget Planner
Understanding how much you have left after essential outgoings to safely commit to a loan repayment.
Open →
Step 06

When to get free help

Important

If you are already missing payments, contact a free debt charity today — do not wait. StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice all offer free, confidential support. Acting early gives you more choices.

Useful terms to know

CCJ (County Court Judgement) A court order issued in England and Wales when you fail to repay money you owe. … Debt consolidation Combining multiple debts into a single loan, usually to simplify repayments or r… Default A default is recorded when you fail to make repayments for a sustained period — …
Free help

Struggling with debt? Free charities are ready to help.

These organisations offer free, confidential, impartial advice — no referral fee, no catch. They help thousands of people every week.

StepChange

Free debt advice charity

0800 138 1111
National Debtline

Free, independent debt advice

0808 808 4000
MoneyHelper

Free money guidance (govt-backed)

0800 011 3797