Debt and borrowing

Taking control of debt, getting free debt advice, and how to borrow affordably

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Before you borrow

Find out if you need to borrow money and whether you can afford it. Learn how to work out the true cost of borrowing.

  1. Do you need to borrow money?
  2. How to work out the true cost of borrowing
  3. Debt test
  1. Borrowing and credit basics
  2. Compare the cost of borrowing £1,000
  3. Avoid high fees and hidden borrowing costs
  4. Compare the cost of borrowing £5,000
  5. Loan calculator
  6. Should you borrow from family or friends?
  7. Taking out a joint loan: what you need to know
  8. Secured and unsecured borrowing explained
  9. Good debt versus bad debt
  10. Working out a repayment plan for your borrowing
  11. How much can you afford to borrow for a mortgage?
  12. Can you afford to borrow money?
  13. Rent to Own – what the FCA announcement means for you
  14. What happens when a payday lender goes into administration?

Taking control of debt

Where to get free debt advice, how to speak to the people you owe money to, and tips to help you pay back your debts in the right order.

  1. Where to go to get free debt advice
  2. How to prioritise your debts
  3. Help if you’re struggling with debt
  1. Best ways to pay off your debts – England and Wales
  2. Options for clearing your debt – Northern Ireland
  3. Options for clearing your debt – Scotland
  4. How to reduce the cost of your credit and store card debt
  5. How to reduce the cost of your personal loans
  6. Prioritise and deal with late payment letters
  7. What is a County Court Judgment (CCJ)?
  8. Dealing with the debts of someone who has died
  9. What is an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)?
  10. What is a Debt Management Plan (DMP)?
  11. What is an Administration Order?
  12. What is a Debt Relief Order (DRO)?
  13. How to declare yourself bankrupt

Mortgage and rent problems

Help if you're struggling with your mortgage or rent payments and information on government support if you can't pay your mortgage.

  1. Mortgage arrears or problems paying your mortgage
  2. Help with rent arrears and problems with paying your rent
  3. Negative equity: what it means and what you can do about it
  1. Government help if you can’t pay your mortgage
  2. Sale-and-rent-back schemes
  3. How does remortgaging work?
  4. Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI)

Help with loans

Learn about how personal loans work, better alternatives to payday loans, and help when borrowing from a credit union.

  1. Personal loans
  2. Second charge or second mortgages
  3. Payday loans advice
  1. Alternatives to payday loans
  2. Refused credit or refused a loan – what you can do
  3. Loan calculator
  4. Credit brokers and payday loans
  5. Borrowing from a credit union
  6. Loan sharks
  7. Pawnbrokers – how they work
  8. Home credit or doorstep lending
  9. Logbook loans
  10. Problems paying back a payday loan
  11. Payday loans – what you need to know
  12. Borrowing through a Peer to Peer Platform
  13. Debt consolidation loans
  14. Budgeting Loans and Budgeting Advances
  15. Rent to Own – what the FCA announcement means for you
  16. What happens when a payday lender goes into administration?

Credit cards and credit ratings

Find out how to manage a credit card, how to check your credit report, and tips on how you can improve your credit rating.

  1. Refused credit or refused a loan – what you can do
  2. A guide to store cards
  3. Credit card calculator
  1. Credit card cheques
  2. Credit card and debit card protection explained
  3. Charge cards
  4. How to choose and apply for a credit card
  5. Reclaiming unfair credit card charges
  6. Paying off your credit card
  7. In-store credit and hire-purchase
  8. Cashback credit cards
  9. Should you transfer your credit card balance?
  10. How your credit rating affects the cost of borrowing
  11. How to check your credit report
  12. Deciding on the best type of credit for you
  13. How to get credit for the first time
  14. How to improve your credit score
  15. A simple guide to credit cards
  16. How to find the right credit card
  17. Managing your credit card account
  18. Credit, debit and other cards
  19. Catalogue credit or shopping accounts
  20. How do you increase your credit limit?
  21. Recurring payments for payday loans
  22. Help if you’ve been contacted about your credit card and persistent debt