Stop constant fees, safeguard council tax and utilities, and roll overdrafts + other debts into one affordable plan (DMP · IVA · DRO) where suitable.
✅ Start Free CheckConstant overdraft fees can turn a manageable shortfall into a monthly struggle. If your balance never seems to recover, transactions are declined, and you’re worried about council tax debt or energy bills falling behind, you’re in the right place.
At Fresh Start Debt Support, we help people across the UK bring bank overdraft debt under control—reducing pressure, setting one affordable payment where suitable, and making sure essentials like council tax and utilities are protected first.
Search intent solved: learn how to freeze/stop charges, include overdrafts in a plan, open a basic bank account, cancel Continuous Payment Authorities (CPAs), handle right of set-off, and prioritise essentials.
Start Free CheckNew here? See what we do and browse practical steps on our Blog.
Overdrafts are sold as flexible buffers, but repeated fees and interest can trap you below zero. Each month’s charges reduce your next month’s spending power, making it harder to keep up with essentials and nudging you toward more borrowing—cards, catalogues, payday loans or loans.
Switch day-to-day banking to a basic bank account, cancel any CPAs draining funds, and move non-priority debts into one structured offer. These steps reduce fees, ring-fence essentials, and cut contact pressure.
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See My OptionsUseful reads: Clear Debt Fast and Stop Debt Collectors.
When banks or agencies are chasing overdraft arrears, learn how the process works at What is debt collection? and use practical steps at Stop Debt Collectors to communicate clearly and calmly.
Start with essentials—housing, council tax, utilities, food and travel. Then see what’s genuinely left for non-priority debts using our Debt Calculator.
Depending on your income, assets and total debts, you may benefit from a flexible informal plan or a formal arrangement. Compare routes here:
Compare OptionsOr read: Compare Solutions (DMP vs IVA vs DRO).
Bringing all your non-priority debts—overdrafts, credit cards, catalogues and loans—into one payment often works best. It reduces charges, cuts admin and adds predictability.
Overdrafts are typically non-priority and can sit alongside cards, catalogues and loans in a plan. Priority debts (rent/mortgage, council tax, utilities) must be safeguarded first.
Check EligibilityOverdrafts are normally non-priority. That means you should first protect essential living costs and priority bills such as council tax debt, rent/mortgage, and utilities. Once essentials are safe, you can share a fair, affordable amount across non-priority debts via a structured plan.
Move income and core bills to a basic account to stop fees swallowing essentials before they’re paid.
Protect EssentialsIf you’re juggling multiple creditors, consolidating your efforts into one affordable payment can make a huge difference. We regularly help clients include:
Plans work best when all non-priority debts are included and paid pro-rata. This often increases creditor support for freezing or reducing charges.
Combine DebtsBanks sometimes pass overdraft arrears to collection agencies or solicitors. It’s stressful, but you still have rights and options. Start with the basics:
What is debt collection? · Stop Debt Collectors
We’ve also written about many well-known firms to help you understand how they work and how to respond:
Lowell · Cabot · Moorcroft · Advantis · Link Financial · Capquest · Wescot · Resolvecall · Hoist Finance · Robinson Way · Fredrickson International · Moriarty Law · Drydensfairfax · PRA Group
Learn rights, stop harassment, and offer a fair, affordable amount via one plan where suitable.
Help Me RespondIf your overdraft is modest and income steady, a bank may accept a staged repayment plan. This can help—but if other debts keep eating your budget, a direct plan may prove hard to sustain.
Combining all non-priority debts into one affordable payment is often simpler and fairer for everyone. Explore DMP, IVA and DRO, or compare at Compare Solutions.
Always protect essentials and priority bills first—especially council tax debt and utility arrears. Then share a fair amount across credit cards, catalogues and overdrafts.
Find My RouteDifferent lenders have different policies, so it helps to know how they operate. See our lender pages: Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds, Capital One.
Add them into the same plan. Learn about credit cards, loans, catalogues, and BNPL like Klarna.
Fluctuating income needs flexible planning. If your business cash flow is involved, see Business Debt. We’ll shape a route that can handle ups and downs.
Get Tailored HelpIt can be included in formal solutions. For example, in an IVA, remaining eligible unsecured debt may be written off at successful completion. In a DRO, qualifying debts are frozen for 12 months and then written off if circumstances don’t improve.
Write-off is never automatic—it depends on your full picture (income, assets, household costs and total debts). Review the trade-offs at Compare Solutions.
Check Write-OffStress from money worries affects sleep, focus and relationships. We combine clear steps with steady support. Prefer to explore privately first? Try:
Every charge avoided or contact deflected helps your balance recover and your headspace return.
Get Calm HelpOur aim: protect essentials, reduce charges, and make every month more manageable than the last.
Begin My PlanOften, yes. Overdrafts commonly sit alongside cards, catalogues and loans in a DMP or a formal IVA. Which route fits depends on your income, assets and total debts—compare at Compare Solutions.
Many creditors freeze or reduce interest/charges in a DMP, but it isn’t guaranteed. A formal IVA is legally binding and usually freezes interest and charges across included debts.
No. Protect essentials first—council tax and utilities are priorities. Then offer a fair amount to overdraft and other non-priority debts through a plan.
That’s scary, but there are “basic” bank accounts available even if you’ve had a DMP, IVA or DRO. They’re fee-free and designed to ring-fence day-to-day money.
Tell your bank/card provider you withdraw consent before the end of business on the day before payment is due, then notify the firm and keep proof. This helps stop unplanned dips into overdraft.
If your limit was set too high or increased while you were persistently overdrawn, or charges continued despite hardship, consider an affordability complaint to seek a refund of interest/charges.
Banks can sometimes move money from one of your accounts to another you owe with the same bank to reduce arrears. If you’re up to date, they shouldn’t do this. Tell them about essential bills and vulnerability, and consider moving income to a basic account elsewhere.
Banks can demand repayment and may pass the debt to collectors/solicitors. Court action is possible but avoidable—engage early, share a realistic budget, and propose affordable payments.
Ask A QuestionUse the Debt Calculator to set a sustainable ceiling on what you can pay to non-priority debts. Consistency beats over-promising.
Guard council tax, energy/water, and housing first. This avoids escalation and keeps essentials running.
One structured plan is easier to manage than several ad-hoc arrangements. Review DMP, IVA and DRO.
Follow step-by-step guidance at Stop Debt Collectors to communicate on your terms and cut stress.
Every fee avoided helps your balance recover. See Clear Debt Fast and our Blog for quick wins.
Rough guide only — put in your typical overdrawn amount and your bank’s annual interest rate (EAR%).
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Basic bank accounts accept many applicants with poor credit and help you separate daily money from problem debts. They’re fee-free and suitable when you’ve had defaults, a DMP, IVA or DRO.
Yes—contact your bank/card provider to withdraw consent before the end of business on the day before payment is due, and tell the firm too. This helps stop unexpected dips into overdraft.
If your limit was set too high, increased while you were in persistent overdraft, or charges continued despite signs of hardship, you may consider an affordability complaint about overdraft fees.
It allows a bank to move money between your accounts with the same bank to reduce arrears. Consider moving income to a basic account elsewhere and budget for essentials first.
Often helpful: switching stops fees from swallowing income and protects essential bills. A basic bank account is a common first step.
Since April 2020, UK banks must price overdrafts using a single annual interest rate (often shown as EAR) with fewer fixed daily/monthly fees. Headline EARs (e.g., ~39.9%) can look high compared with old blended fees. The key is reducing time spent in the overdraft and moving to one affordable plan.
Right of set-off lets a bank move money between your accounts with the same banking group to cover arrears. To protect priority bills, consider moving wages/benefits to a basic account at a different bank, tell your bank about essential outgoings and vulnerability, and propose a realistic budgeted payment.
Breathing Space (Debt Respite Scheme) can pause most enforcement and contact for up to 60 days while an affordable plan is set. It’s available in England and Wales and can help stop mounting overdraft costs while you reorganise your budget and set one payment.
People with problem debt needing time to stabilise essentials, speak to creditors calmly and build a sustainable plan.
Try Breathing SpaceYou can withdraw consent for a CPA up to the end of business on the day before payment is due. Tell your card issuer, notify the company and keep proof. This helps keep your balance above zero and protects priority bills.
Basic accounts accept many applicants with poor credit or those in a DMP, IVA or DRO. Use them to separate essentials from problem debts and to avoid set-off.
Photo ID and proof of address. Apply online or in branch, then redirect wages and priority bills.
Open Basic AccountIf your overdraft limit was set too high or increased while you were persistently overdrawn, or fees continued despite hardship, you may have grounds to complain and seek a refund of interest/charges. Build a clear timeline, attach statements and show your budget.
If your bank closes an overdrawn account, open a basic account elsewhere, move income and priority bills, and include the negative balance in your wider plan (DMP/IVA/DRO depending on eligibility). Keep paying essentials first and share a budgeted offer on the old overdraft.
Secure New AccountSigns include living in your overdraft all month, borrowing to cover essential bills, and charges wiping out income. The fix: protect essentials, create a realistic surplus, and move non-priority debts (including the overdraft) into one affordable payment.
Ask your bank to reduce the overdraft limit gradually after you switch income to a basic account—this prevents relapse.
Break The CycleMost banking apps now offer categories you can block (like gambling), instant spend alerts and adjustable limits. Use them alongside a basic account and a debt plan to keep balances positive and remove triggers.
Struggling with gambling debt? See Gambling Debts.
Add ControlsTypical steps: default/termination, debt sold or placed with collectors/solicitors, Letter of Claim, then claim issued if no agreement. Acting early with a clear budget and one affordable offer often stops escalation. If you get a Letter of Claim, respond on time with your I&E and an affordable proposal.
Prevent Court ActionWith everything in one place, creditors are more likely to accept your fair offer and freeze/reduce charges.
Build My PackIrregular cashflow needs headroom. Consider weekly budgeting, sinking funds for tax and energy, and a plan that can flex (e.g., DMP with variable payments). If business debts are involved, see Business Debt.
Plan For FluctuationsKnow the terms, then choose a route that protects essentials and simplifies repayments.
Get Plain HelpMany student/graduate accounts offer tiered interest-free buffers for a limited time, then convert to standard rates. If you’re slipping into persistent use after graduation, protect essentials first and move to one affordable plan. Consider switching before your interest-free period ends if a better graduate account is available, or open a basic bank account to ring-fence income while you repay.
If your bank won’t help, you can still build a realistic budget and share an affordable repayment plan across all non-priority debts (including the overdraft).
Graduates: Get HelpThe Current Account Switch Service (CASS) can move payments in 7 working days. Some banks may let you switch an overdraft if they approve you. If not, open a basic account elsewhere first to keep wages and bills safe, then repay the old overdraft via your plan.