Fresh Start Debt Support
Compare free UK debt help (PayPlan, National Debtline, Citizens Advice) and routes like DMP/IVA/DRO or Breathing Space—then pick what actually fits your budget.
✅ Start Free Alternatives CheckQuick answer: If you’re comparing options beyond StepChange, look at PayPlan (free DMPs), National Debtline (free charity advice), and Citizens Advice (local free help). Use MoneyHelper to find a free, regulated adviser and to compare solutions like DMP, IVA, DRO and Breathing Space.
Free DMPs IVA & DRO explained Breathing Space Creditor-funded help
Reputable providers make this clear. StepChange is a charity offering free advice and free DMPs. PayPlan also states DMPs are free to set up and run. If it’s a DMP, you shouldn’t be paying monthly management fees to a charity.
MoneyHelper (government-backed) explains solutions neutrally and links to a Debt Adviser Locator for free local/online support. This is a good way to avoid lead-gen firms and ensure you’re speaking to a trusted organisation.
DMP (informal), IVA (formal with legal protections), DRO (strict criteria, low income/assets), or Breathing Space (60-day legal pause). Match the route to your realistic spare income and goals—not to pressure or deadlines.
Rent/mortgage, council tax and energy come first. If arrears are building, get help immediately so any plan you set doesn’t put your housing or utilities at risk.
Written plans stop “he-said, she-said” stress and give you clear terms. If you need time to organise a proposal, ask a free adviser about Breathing Space.
Provides free debt advice and says DMPs are free to set up and run (no client fees). Good for people who prefer app-style or online management.
Registered charity offering free, independent and confidential advice, including online tools and template letters. Great for quick, practical guidance.
Free, impartial help and guidance on debts, benefits and housing, with local bureaux if you prefer in-person conversations.
What it is: Informal, one affordable monthly payment for non-priority debts via a free provider.
Protections: Creditors often consider freezing/reducing interest and charges (not guaranteed).
Good when… You want flexibility, can pay something each month, and income may vary.
What it is: Formal, legally binding plan for a fixed term with an insolvency practitioner.
Protections: Once approved, most enforcement/interest stops; remaining qualifying debt may be written off at completion.
Good when… Debts are higher, income is stable, and legal protection matters to you.
What it is: For low income/low assets if you meet strict limits (debt, assets, spare income).
Protections: Qualifying debts are usually frozen for 12 months, then written off if nothing’s improved.
Good when… You meet the criteria and have little to no spare income.
What it is: 60-day legal pause to get advice and choose a route (longer if under mental-health crisis treatment).
Protections: Most enforcement/interest paused during the scheme.
Good when… You’re under immediate pressure and need time to organise a plan.
Choose the option that protects your essentials and fits your budget for the full term—not just this month. We’ll pressure-test numbers with you.
Compare All Solutions Side-by-SideYes. StepChange is a debt charity offering free advice and free DMPs (no client fees). If someone is asking you for a monthly DMP fee, you’re likely not dealing with a mainstream charity.
Both provide free DMPs and free advice. Decide by service style (digital vs phone), capacity, creditor relationships, and how quickly you can onboard. If you want local, face-to-face, check Citizens Advice.
Yes. Ask for your latest budget/creditor list, then speak to your chosen free provider to transfer or restart a plan. Keep everything in writing and avoid any gap in priority payments.
StepChange and PayPlan run free DMPs; Citizens Advice and National Debtline signpost to trusted options. Use MoneyHelper’s locator to find free, regulated support near you.
Several insolvency practitioners administer IVAs. Use MoneyHelper to find a free adviser first—they’ll sense-check eligibility and explain trade-offs clearly.
Business Debtline is a free, specialist charity for sole traders and small businesses. They can help you stabilise HMRC, suppliers and energy alongside consumer debts.
The Debt Respite Scheme can pause most enforcement and interest while you work with a debt adviser—handy when letters, calls or visits are piling up. Use it to build a realistic plan, not to delay the inevitable.
Your rent/mortgage, council tax and energy are priority bills—protect them first. Then choose DMP, IVA or DRO based on realistic spare income, eligibility and how stable your earnings are.
Send documents promptly, keep everything in writing, and tell creditors you’re working with a free adviser—this usually helps calm contact while your plan is being set up.
Follow This Plan with a SpecialistEstimate how long it could take to clear unsecured debts on your own (ignoring interest) vs. using an affordable plan—then ask us to pressure-test your budget.
Note: With IVAs, enforcement/interest are typically frozen once approved, and any remaining qualifying unsecured debt may be written off at successful completion (formal terms apply).
Yes—StepChange is a charity with free debt advice and free DMPs (no client fees).
Both offer free DMPs and free advice. The best fit depends on how you like to communicate, who your creditors are, and how steady your income is.
Reputable charities don’t charge you to run a DMP. Fees for formal options like IVAs are disclosed in writing and are taken from your affordable payments once an IVA is approved.
IVAs usually appear for six years from the start date. DMPs can also impact your file where reduced payments or defaults occur. A free adviser will explain the trade-offs for your situation.
Ask about Breathing Space—a legal pause on most enforcement and interest while you organise a plan with an adviser.
You might prefer a different service style (e.g., app-first), need faster responses, or want local support. Switching doesn’t reset your debt—it changes who helps you manage it.
Short answer: many creditors choose to reduce or stop interest and charges on a charity-run DMP, but it’s not guaranteed and it can vary by lender and account age. A clear, defendable budget improves acceptance rates.
Neutral explainers: see MoneyHelper’s DMP guide for how creditor decisions work.
Once your budget and creditor list are complete, a free provider can usually approach creditors quickly. Acceptance can be staggered—some lenders confirm sooner than others. While you organise this, Breathing Space may help pause most enforcement if appropriate.
Expect extra steps: evidence gathering, drafting the proposal, and a creditor vote. Once approved, most enforcement/interest is typically frozen under IVA rules.
Not always—but many do when the budget is realistic and essentials are protected. If a creditor resists, your adviser will normally re-present the case or suggest a different route (e.g., IVA or DRO) if that fits better.
A statutory payment plan where interest/charges are usually frozen once approved and debts are repaid over time. It’s run under Scottish rules and administered by the Accountant in Bankruptcy. See mygov.scot for the DAS overview.
A formal insolvency option (similar in effect to an IVA) where you pay what you can for a set period and remaining qualifying unsecured debt may be written off at completion.
A time-limited pause (“moratorium on diligence”) while you get advice. It temporarily stops most creditor enforcement and gives you space to choose a route.
Business Debtline is a free specialist charity for sole traders and small companies. They’ll help stabilise HMRC, suppliers and energy alongside consumer debts, and explain how a plan interacts with variable cashflow.
Charities can still build a budget and discuss DMP/IVA/DRO suitability. If there’s no sustainable spare income and you meet strict limits, a DRO may be the right conversation.
Use a free adviser to protect essentials first and move contact into writing. If you’re under immediate pressure, Breathing Space (England & Wales) can pause most enforcement while you finalise a plan. MoneyHelper’s guides explain priority debts, court and enforcement in plain English.
Ask About Breathing SpaceYou must work with an approved debt adviser (England & Wales). They apply for you; you can’t start it yourself (except via the mental-health route triggered by a professional).
Standard Breathing Space is 60 days. The Mental Health Crisis variant lasts for the duration of crisis treatment plus 30 days.
Most enforcement and most interest/fees on qualifying debts are paused during the scheme. You still need to pay ongoing priority bills.
England & Wales only. Scotland uses a separate moratorium system; Northern Ireland has no Breathing Space scheme.
These map to questions answered above to match search intent and reduce pogo-sticking.
A 60-day legal pause (England & Wales) that freezes most interest and stops most enforcement while you get advice.
Informal plan making one affordable payment to non-priority debts via a free provider; interest reductions are not guaranteed.
Formal plan with an insolvency practitioner; most enforcement/interest stop once approved; remaining qualifying debt may be written off at completion.
Formal option for low income/low assets with strict criteria; debts are usually written off after a 12-month freeze if circumstances don’t improve.
Statutory payment plan where interest/charges are usually frozen once approved; different to a DMP and only available in Scotland.
We provide free, plain-English guidance and connect you—where needed—to appropriately regulated providers for formal solutions. We’re independent, budget-first, and will never push unaffordable payments.
These links provide neutral definitions, charity status, and “free DMP” confirmations to support claims on this page.
Whether it’s StepChange, PayPlan, National Debtline or Citizens Advice — you deserve free, impartial, regulated debt help. We’ll check your numbers, protect priority bills, and match you to the best option.
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