Our fact sheet library
Using our fact sheet library
Our fact sheets give advice and information on a wide range of debt issues and options to deal with your debt. They are useful if you want to read more information on a specific topic. Our fact sheet library shows our full list of fact sheets. They have been separated into categories to help you.
- Choose the country where you live at the top of the page to find the right fact sheets for you.
- Click on the headings to reveal the list of fact sheets in each category or use the search box if you need to find something specific.
- Business debts
What to do if you have ceased trading and have business debts. Advice for people who are no longer trading.
- Council tax arrears
Help to understand what a council can do to recover council tax arrears | Free council tax bailiff advice.
- County Court bailiffs
How to stop bailiffs coming into your home and what to do if you receive a warrant of control. Free advice on dealing with County Court bailiffs.
- High Court enforcement
Advice on what to do if you are visited by a high court bailiff. Help on dealing with debts enforced by the High Court.
- Magistrates' court fines
Fines are a priority debt because the magistrates' court has the power to send you to prison for non-payment | Free court fine advice.
- Penalty charge notices
Penalty charge notices (PCN) for parking explained. Free help and advice on parking fines from National Debtline.
- Bailiff complaints
How to complain about a bailiff. What to do if you have a complaint or a dispute with a private bailiff.
- Claims management companies
Dealing with claims management companies. Advice on who they are and what they do.
- Complaining about your lender
How to complain about your lender, including banks, payday lenders and debt collection agencies | When to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
- Credit agreements - getting information
Know your rights when asking for information about your credit agreement. Advice on how to ask for the information and how your creditors must behave.
- Dealing with fraud
Advice on how to deal with fraud and how to prevent it | Information on different types of fraud | What to do if you have been the victim of a scam
- Harassment by creditors
Are you being harassed by your creditors? Find out how to deal with harassment and how to complain about a creditors behaviour.
- Persistent debt
Persistent debt is when a person has paid more in interest, fees and charges, than they have towards paying off their credit card, store card, or catalogue account
- Statute barred debts
Statute barred debts | Time limits for recovering debts
- Administration orders
Advice on county court administration orders and their advantages | Free administration order advice from National Debtline
- Attachment of earnings orders
What is an attachment of earnings order? | Free advice on attachment of earnings orders in the county court.
- Charging orders
A charging order is a court order that secures a creditors debt to your home. They can only do this if they already have a CCJ against you.
- County Court bailiffs
How to stop bailiffs coming into your home and what to do if you receive a warrant of control. Free advice on dealing with County Court bailiffs.
- Defending a CCJ
How to defend a county court claim if you do not owe the money being claimed. Advice on defending a CCJ.
- Help with court fees
Work out whether you are entitled to help with paying court fees | How much will I have to pay? Can I pay in installments?
- High Court enforcement
Advice on what to do if you are visited by a high court bailiff. Help on dealing with debts enforced by the High Court.
- Hire purchase debt
Help with hire purchase and conditional sale agreements. What to do if you cannot keep up with your hire purchase payments and face repossession.
- Interest on a CCJ
There are different ways that creditors can add interest to a county court judgment (CCJ). Free advice on when this can happen.
- Magistrates' court fines
Fines are a priority debt because the magistrates' court has the power to send you to prison for non-payment | Free court fine advice.
- Pre-action protocol in the County Court
The pre-action protocol describes how all parties are expected to behave, and the actions you should take, before a money claim is started.
- Replying to a County Court claim
You have just over two weeks to reply to a County Court claim, you can make an offer to repay in installments, pay in full or dispute the debt.
- Setting aside a CCJ
Free advice on setting aside a County Court Judgment (CCJ) including how to complete an N244 court form.
- Time orders for mortgages
Advice on asking the court for more time to pay your mortgage or secured loan | Time order | National Debtline
- Time orders on hire purchase
Advice on asking the court for more time to pay your hire purchase agreement | Avoiding repossession of your vehicle
- Time orders on unsecured debt
Advice on asking the court for more time to pay your unsecured credit.
- Varying a CCJ
How to vary payments on a county court judgment when you can't afford to pay. Guide to stopping enforcement. Free advice on budgeting.
- Credit agreements - getting information
Know your rights when asking for information about your credit agreement. Advice on how to ask for the information and how your creditors must behave.
- Credit reference agencies
A guide to credit reference agencies and credit reports. Credit scoring explained, how long your information is held, and how to get it removed
- Breathing space
Breathing space will give you time to seek debt advice and try to find a debt solution. See if it’s a good option for you.
- Credit agreements - getting information
Know your rights when asking for information about your credit agreement. Advice on how to ask for the information and how your creditors must behave.
- Credit reference agencies
A guide to credit reference agencies and credit reports. Credit scoring explained, how long your information is held, and how to get it removed
- Debts after death
What to do if someone dies and has debts? Who to tell and how to deal with the creditors of someone who has died.
- Payday loans
Find out what to do if you cannot pay your payday loan. How to cancel your continuous payment authority with your bank or payday loan lender
- Persistent debt
Persistent debt is when a person has paid more in interest, fees and charges, than they have towards paying off their credit card, store card, or catalogue account
- Refused offers
What to do if a creditor refuses your offer of payment. Help if your creditor has refused to freeze interest and charges.
- Safe bank accounts
What is a safe bank account and how can I get one? Advice on safe bank accounts and basic bank accounts and how to open one.
- Statute barred debts
Statute barred debts | Time limits for recovering debts
- Administration orders
Advice on county court administration orders and their advantages | Free administration order advice from National Debtline
- Bankruptcy
Advice on bankruptcy and whether it is the right option for you. Advice on the bankruptcy process including costs and the impact on your assets.
- Bankruptcy and foreign issues
Can I make myself bankrupt in England or Wales if I live abroad? Advice on bankruptcy when living abroad.
- Debt consolidation
What is debt consolidation? Should I get a loan to consolidate my debts? Advice on what to look out for if you want to consolidate your debts.
- Debt management plans
Debt management plans (DMP) help you to manage your debts by making one payment to all of your debts at a rate you can afford. How to get a free DMP.
- Debt relief orders
Debt relief orders. A debt relief order (DRO) may help you if you do not own your own home, have few assets and little available income to pay to your creditors.
- Equity release
Free advice on equity release | Understand the advantages and disadvantages of equity release and the things you should consider | National Debtline
- Full and final settlement offers
Advice on how to make a full and final settlement offer to your creditors. Making lump sum offers to your debt.
- Help from charitable organisations
Information on charities and trust funds that will help you to clear some your debt. Advice on organisations that can help you to clear urgent debts
- Individual voluntary arrangements
Individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) allow you to pay some of your debt over 5 years with the rest being written off. Is this the right option for you?
- Pension freedoms and debt
Information and advice on pension freedoms and debts. Find out how tax and benefits could be affected by taking money from your pension pot.
- Selling assets to clear debt
Should you sell assets to clear debt? | Advice on clearing debt on a low income | Information on when you don’t have the right to sell an asset
- Ways to clear your debt
Ways to clear your debt · Find the best option for you · Negotiating with your creditors · Free debt management plan (DMP) · Individual voluntary arrangement (IVA).
- Write off debt
Free advice on writing off debts. Find out what circumstances mean you can ask a creditors to write off your debts, and how to go about it.
- Benefit overpayments under the Universal Credit System
Advice on what a benefit overpayment under the Universal Credit System is, how the overpayment can be challenged and how the debt can be recovered.
- Bill of sale
If you miss payments on your logbook loan your vehicle can be repossessed. Free advice on dealing with logbook loan debt.
- Business debts
What to do if you have ceased trading and have business debts. Advice for people who are no longer trading.
- DWP benefit overpayments
Advice on what a DWP legacy benefit overpayment is, how the overpayment can be challenged and how the debt can be recovered.
- Hire purchase debt
Help with hire purchase and conditional sale agreements. What to do if you cannot keep up with your hire purchase payments and face repossession.
- Housing Benefit overpayments
Advice on what a Housing Benefit overpayment is, how the overpayment can be challenged and how the debt can be recovered.
- Mortgage shortfalls
Money you still owe to your mortgage or secured loan lender after your property has been sold, is called a 'mortgage shortfall'. Free debt advice
- Parking charge notices
What to do if you have received a parking ticket or parking charge notice for parking on private land.
- Payday loans
Find out what to do if you cannot pay your payday loan. How to cancel your continuous payment authority with your bank or payday loan lender
- Penalty charge notices
Penalty charge notices (PCN) for parking explained. Free help and advice on parking fines from National Debtline.
- Persistent debt
Persistent debt is when a person has paid more in interest, fees and charges, than they have towards paying off their credit card, store card, or catalogue account
- Tax credit overpayments
Advice on what a tax credit overpayment is, how the overpayment can be challenged and how the debt can be recovered.
- Time orders on hire purchase
Advice on asking the court for more time to pay your hire purchase agreement | Avoiding repossession of your vehicle
- Council tax arrears
Help to understand what a council can do to recover council tax arrears | Free council tax bailiff advice.
- Dealing with high gas and electricity bills
Find out how you can deal with rising gas and electricity bills.
- Gas and electricity arrears
What to do if you owe money to your gas or electricity suppliers. Advice on the powers your supplier has and how to come to a payment arrangement.
- Hire purchase debt
Help with hire purchase and conditional sale agreements. What to do if you cannot keep up with your hire purchase payments and face repossession.
- Mobile phone debt
Free advice on dealing with mobile phone debt. How to get a better deal on your mobile phone and what to do if you fall behind with your bill.
- Mortgage arrears
Your home can be repossessed if you have mortgage arrears. Free advice on what to do if you have missed any payments.
- Negative equity
If your home is worth less than the balance of your mortgage you have negative equity. Advice on what to do in this situation.
- Rent arrears - England
Advice on how to deal with rent arrears. Help for different types of tenancies including housing association, council housing and private sector renting.
- Rent arrears for secure occupation contracts - Wales
Advice on dealing with rent arrears - Wales
- Rent arrears for standard occupation contracts - Wales
Advice on dealing with rent arrears - Wales
- Water arrears and trust funds
Free advice if you are struggling to pay your water bill. Find out if a trust fund can help pay your water debt. How to negotiate with your supplier.
- Mortgage arrears
Your home can be repossessed if you have mortgage arrears. Free advice on what to do if you have missed any payments.
- Mortgage shortfalls
Money you still owe to your mortgage or secured loan lender after your property has been sold, is called a 'mortgage shortfall'. Free debt advice
- Rent arrears - England
Advice on how to deal with rent arrears. Help for different types of tenancies including housing association, council housing and private sector renting.
- Rent arrears for secure occupation contracts - Wales
Advice on dealing with rent arrears - Wales
- Rent arrears for standard occupation contracts - Wales
Advice on dealing with rent arrears - Wales
- Time orders for mortgages
Advice on asking the court for more time to pay your mortgage or secured loan | Time order | National Debtline
- Administration orders
Advice on county court administration orders and their advantages | Free administration order advice from National Debtline
- Bankruptcy
Advice on bankruptcy and whether it is the right option for you. Advice on the bankruptcy process including costs and the impact on your assets.
- Bankruptcy and foreign issues
Can I make myself bankrupt in England or Wales if I live abroad? Advice on bankruptcy when living abroad.
- Debt relief orders
Debt relief orders. A debt relief order (DRO) may help you if you do not own your own home, have few assets and little available income to pay to your creditors.
- Individual voluntary arrangements
Individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) allow you to pay some of your debt over 5 years with the rest being written off. Is this the right option for you?
- Statutory demands
Advice on what to do if you have received a statutory demand. How to set aside a statutory demand and what to do if you are running out of time.
- Advice if you are worried about losing your home
Free advice on what to do if you are homeless or worried about losing your home | National Debtline
- Debt and mental health
Free advice on how debt and mental health can affect each other. What options do you have if you are in debt and have a mental health problem?
- Debts after death
What to do if someone dies and has debts? Who to tell and how to deal with the creditors of someone who has died.
- Making the most of your money
Find out how you can save money on your essential bills and make the most of your money
- Repaying student loans
Work out when you might have to pay your student loan. Advice on when your student loan may be written off.
- Saving money
Work out the best ways to save money and how to reach your savings goal | National Debtline
- Student money and debt
How to manage your money when you are a student. How to work out a budget and choose the right bank account.
- Mortgage shortfalls
Money you still owe to your mortgage or secured loan lender after your property has been sold, is called a 'mortgage shortfall'. Free debt advice
- Statute barred debts
Statute barred debts | Time limits for recovering debts