Free debt advice available to you

At Cabot, our goal is to help our customers reach financial recovery, but we recognise there are times when you might prefer speaking to someone that isn’t us.

We work with a variety of free debt advice organisations and will be happy to deal with them on your behalf. We feel it’s important to have a safe space you can receive impartial advice from.

Free Money Advice services are mostly funded by voluntary donations from financial services companies, alongside government finding, which enables these services to be provided to you for free. 

PayPlan

PayPlan is one of the largest debt help organisations in the UK, offering free advice on debt, benefits and financial wellbeing.

Here are some debt solutions they offer:

• Debt management plans
• Individual voluntary arrangements (IVA) & self-employed IVA plans
• Administration orders
• Debt relief orders
• Bankruptcy 

Here’s how you contact them:

• Call their free helpline: 0800 280 2816*
   Monday – Friday 8am-8pm
   Saturday 9am-3pm
   Sunday and Bank Holidays – Closed

*Calls to this number are free from landlines and mobiles

• Fill out an online contact form: www.payplan.com/contact-payplan/contact-us-new-clients/
You’ll be asked the total amount of your debts, your preferred contact method and a few contact details before an advisor gets in touch with you.

• Talk to them through webchat: www.payplan.com/contact-payplan/contact-us-new-clients/

National Debtline

National Debtline is a free telephone debt advice service for people across the UK. They offer free advice and tools to empower people to have the confidence to reach out to their creditors and resolve their debts.

Here are some of the benefits they offer:

• Advice on priority debts (rent, mortgage, council tax arrears)
• Support if creditors take court action
• Helps people budget better
• Looks for ways to increase your income
• Debt management plans (DMPs)*
• Help with debt relief order (DRO), Individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) and bankruptcy

*Providing you’re able to afford at least £5 to each of your debts every month and you can repay your debts within 10 years, you may be eligible for a DMP with National Debtline.

You can reach out to them using any of these methods:

• Call their free helpline 0808 808 4000*
   Monday – Friday 9am-8pm
   Saturday 9.30am-1pm
   Sunday and Bank Holidays – Closed

*Calls to this number are free from landlines and mobiles
If you’re calling from abroad, please call +44 121 227 4780. This number isn’t free of charge.

• Go online: www.nationaldebtline.org

• Talk to them on webchat: www.nationaldebtline.org/contact-us/
   Monday – Friday 9am-8pm
   Saturday 9.30am-1pm
   Sunday and Bank Holidays – Closed

Business Debtline

If you’re self-employed and worrying about your debts, Business Debtline may be able to help you. They specialise in offering free guidance and help to the self-employed and small businesses.

We know it can be difficult finding time to speak to someone over the phone, which is why they offer flexible contact methods:

• Phone: 0800 197 6026* from the UK or +44 121 227 4788* from abroad
   Monday – Friday 9am-8pm
   Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays – Closed

• Go online: www.businessdebtline.org/contact-us 
   Here you can speak to an advisor through their webchat feature 

• Email: https://tools.businessdebtline.org/email-for-advice/

*Calls to 0800 numbers are free from landlines and mobiles. If you’re calling from abroad, you will be charged.

MoneyHelper (formerly 'Money Advice Service')

MoneyHelper, formerly known as 'Money Advice Service' is a free advice hub for all money matters, providing unbiased help and guidance.

If you’re struggling to keep on top of your finances and looking for help to improve your situation, Money Helper, an organisation backed by the government, can help you get started with a collection of guides and articles.

Here’s what you can expect to find:

• Information for debt advisors
• Support if creditors take court action
• Help on how to budget better
• Help with ways on how to increase your income
• Debt management plans (DMPs)
• Help with debt relief order (DRO), Individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) and bankruptcy
  
  

You can reach out to them using any of these methods:

• Call their free helpline 0800 138 7777* (England) 0800 138 0555 (Welsh)* From overseas: +44 20 3553 2279

                                       
   Monday – Friday 8am-6pm
   Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays – Closed

• Typetalk: 18001 0800 915 4622
• Whatsapp: +44 7701 342744

• Go online: www.moneyhelper.org.uk
   You can contact them using the online web form - they will aim to repsond within 2 working days.

• Talk to them on webchat: www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/contact-us/money-guidance
   Monday – Friday 8am-6pm
   Saturday 8am – 3pm
   Sundays and Bank Holidays - Closed

*Calls to this number are free from landlines and mobiles.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice is a network of charities throughout the United Kingdom that assist with money, consumer and legal issues for customers free of charge.

Citizens Advice can help with:

• Debt and money advice (bankruptcy, DMPs, DROs, IVAs)
• Benefit entitlement and housing issues
• Employent rights
• Family and relationship advice and rights
• Legal advice

You can find your local Citizens Advice here: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

You can reach out to them using any of these methods:

• Call their free helpline* 0800 144 8848 (England) 0800 702 2020 (Wales)
   Relay UK (Typetalk) 18001 0800 144 8884
   Monday – Friday 9am-5pm
   Saturday, Sunday, Bank Holidays – Closed

*Calls to this number are free from landlines and mobiles. You can see more about call charges here. Find out how to use Relay UK here.

• Go online: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Citizen Advice offer a wide range of informational guides to support you with any financial worries you have.

To ensure you reach the right customer team for your query, you can find a list of full contact details here.

• Talk to them on webchat: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/chat-service-money-and-debt
   Monday – Friday 8am-7pm
   Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays – Closed

You’ll be asked a what your query is regarding and for your postcode. If no one’s available at the time, they’ll try to get back to you by email.

StepChange

StepChange is a debt charity specialising in free impartial debt advice. They act as a debt advisor, helping you find the best solution to tackling your debts.

Here are some of the benefits they offer:

• Free impartial debt advice
• Information of benefit entitlement 
• Manage multiple debts for you 
• Help find the best solution to becoming debt free 
• Work through a financial statement with you
• Create a free personalised debt management plan to pay your creditors 
• Set up a token payment plan 

You can reach out to them using any of these methods:

• Call their free helpline 0800 138 1111*
   Monday – Friday 8am-8pm
   Saturday -8am-4pm
   Sunday and Bank Holidays – Closed

*Calls to this number are free from landlines and mobiles

• Go online: www.stepchange.org

• Talk to them on webchat: www.stepchange.org/contact-us.aspx
   Monday – Friday 8am-8pm
   Saturday 9am-2pm
   Sunday and Bank Holidays – Closed

You can find alternate contact methods by visiting their contact us page.

Contact us

If you’re struggling with managing your debts and would like to reach out to one of the above organisations, let us know. We’re happy to help by putting your account on a short hold to give you time to talk to them.

Get in touch