Get help with debt, bailiffs, and money worries

When the bills outstrip the money coming in, the order in which you handle creditors matters. This hub explains the priority-debt hierarchy (mortgage, rent, council tax, utilities, fines, child maintenance, court orders) and the formal options once arrears mount: Breathing Space, Debt Relief Orders, Individual Voluntary Arrangements, Debt Management Plans, bankruptcy, and the planned Statutory Debt Repayment Plan. We cover County Court Judgments and the 30-day removal window, statutory demands, bailiffs and council tax enforcement, credit-file disputes, Section 75 and chargeback claims, and HMRC Time-to-Pay arrangements.

14 guides in this section

Popular guides

View all 14

Breathing Space

The Debt Respite Scheme gives you 60 days of legal protection from most creditor action while you seek debt advice.

Debt Relief Orders

A formal insolvency solution for people with debts under £30,000, minimal assets, and low surplus income.

Council Tax Arrears and Bailiffs

The enforcement process for council tax debt, your rights when bailiffs attend, and vulnerability protections.

Priority vs Non-Priority Debts

Which debts carry the most serious consequences and why you should always pay these first.

Statutory Demands

A formal legal demand for a debt of £5,000 or more — what to do and how to set it aside.

Section 75 Consumer Credit Act Claims

How to make your credit card issuer jointly liable for a seller's breach of contract or misrepresentation.

Step-by-step guides

Follow a guided process from start to finish for common situations.

I Cannot Pay My Debts

5 steps

Compare your options

Debt Relief Order vs Bankruptcy

Prepare with a checklist

Debt Advice Appointment Checklist

All guides in this section

Breathing Space

The Debt Respite Scheme gives you 60 days of legal protection from most creditor action while you seek debt advice.

Debt Relief Orders

A formal insolvency solution for people with debts under £30,000, minimal assets, and low surplus income.

Council Tax Arrears and Bailiffs

The enforcement process for council tax debt, your rights when bailiffs attend, and vulnerability protections.

Priority vs Non-Priority Debts

Which debts carry the most serious consequences and why you should always pay these first.

Statutory Demands

A formal legal demand for a debt of £5,000 or more — what to do and how to set it aside.

Section 75 Consumer Credit Act Claims

How to make your credit card issuer jointly liable for a seller's breach of contract or misrepresentation.

Chargeback Claims

How to claim money back through your bank for debit or credit card transactions that have gone wrong.

Buy Now Pay Later Complaints

Your rights when things go wrong with Buy Now Pay Later purchases and how to complain.

Credit Reference Disputes

How to check your credit report, identify inaccuracies, and get them corrected with the three main agencies.

Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs)

A 5-year formal insolvency arrangement requiring 75% creditor approval, managed by a licensed insolvency practitioner.

County Court Judgments (CCJs)

How CCJs happen, the 30-day window to avoid registration, and how to set aside or satisfy a judgment.

Bankruptcy Basics

The £680 fee, automatic 12-month discharge, and what bankruptcy means for your home, job, and credit.

Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)

How Klarna / Clearpay / PayPal Pay in 3 work, the FCA regulation coming in 2026, Section 75, and what to do when things go wrong.

Statutory Debt Repayment Plan (SDRP)

The planned formal debt-management scheme created by the 2018 Act — current status and what it will offer when launched.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between priority and non-priority debts?
Priority debts are those where failing to pay can have the most severe consequences — including losing your home, having your energy cut off, or going to prison. They include rent or mortgage arrears, council tax, court fines, gas and electricity, child maintenance, and income tax. Non-priority debts such as credit cards, personal loans, and overdrafts cannot lead to those outcomes, though creditors can still take you to court. You should always pay priority debts first, even if non-priority creditors are pressing you harder.
Will debt advice affect my credit score?
Seeking free debt advice from organisations like Citizens Advice, StepChange, or National Debtline does not itself affect your credit score. However, formal debt solutions such as a Debt Relief Order, Individual Voluntary Arrangement, or bankruptcy will appear on your credit file and have a significant negative impact for six years. Breathing Space is not recorded on your credit file by the scheme itself, though individual creditors may note the account status.
Can a bailiff enter my home by force?
Generally no. Bailiffs (also called enforcement agents) collecting most types of consumer debt — including most council tax arrears — cannot force entry on a first visit. They may only enter if you let them in, or if they have already gained peaceable entry and are returning to collect goods they have "controlled". There are narrow exceptions for certain types of debt such as some criminal fines and HMRC debts. If bailiffs behave unlawfully, you can complain to the creditor and the bailiff firm, and take the matter to the county court or a local authority.
What free debt advice services are available?
Several organisations offer free, confidential debt advice in the UK. StepChange Debt Charity (0800 138 1111) provides online tools and phone advice. National Debtline (0808 808 4000) offers phone and online guidance. Citizens Advice has offices across the UK with trained advisers. The Money Advice Service and MoneyHelper also provide impartial guidance. Always use a free, regulated service — claims management companies may charge you for help you can get free of charge.
How long do debts stay on my credit file?
Most negative information — including defaults, missed payments, and County Court Judgments — stays on your credit file for six years from the date the account defaulted or the judgment was entered, regardless of whether you pay the debt during that period. After six years the information is automatically removed. For statute-barred debts (those where the limitation period has expired), creditors cannot take you to court, but the debt still exists and may still appear on your file until the six-year period from default has elapsed.

Explore more

Interactive tools All comparisons All checklists Step-by-step guides Glossary

Disclaimer

This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check official sources and seek qualified help where needed.