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Debt help and advice in Scotland

Whatever your situation, our expert advisors based in Glasgow will be able to help.

Get debt help now

Wherever you live in Scotland, StepChange Debt Charity is here to help you. We provide free debt advice tailored to your individual circumstances and in line with Scottish debt law. We are an approved organisation for setting up debt payment plans through the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS).

We’ll look at your individual circumstances, work out a manageable budget and provide you with specifically tailored debt help that will help you deal with your debts and get you back on track.

You can use our online debt advice tool or call our free helpline. We’ll take some initial details from you and book you an appointment with one of our Scottish debt advisors based in our Glasgow head office.

3 steps to getting help and choosing a debt solution

  • Number 1 icon Tell us your situation. Give us details about your debts, income and outgoings and we'll help you create a budget.
  • Number 2 icon Explore your options. You'll get a personal action plan and recommended debt solutions that suit your situation.
  • Number 3 icon
    Choose your debt solution. We'll help you get things set up and give you the support to deal with your debts, however long it's needed.


Debt solutions available in Scotland

There are a variety of debt solutions to help deal with your debts. You can find our more about Scottish debt solutions below.

These are run by the Scottish Government and, with the help of an approved money advisor, allow you to repay your debts through a debt payment programme (DPP). You make one monthly or weekly payment to your creditors. While the DPP is in place your creditors can't take any further action against you.

Find out more about DPPs under the debt arrangement scheme

Protected trust deeds are only available in Scotland and are a legally binding arrangement between you and your creditors, where you repay your debts over a four year period. During this time you make one monthly payment and at the end of the four years any remaining debt is written off.

Find out more about protected trust deeds

Sequestration is only available in Scotland and writes off debts you can't repay in a reasonable time. But it has a lot of consequences which you need to consider carefully.

Find out more about sequestration

Our DMPs are free and are available nationwide. You make one affordable monthly payment to us and we distribute this fairly to your creditors.

Find out more about our DMPs

A MAP bankruptcy is only available in Scotland and is a way of writing off debts you can't afford to repay but you must meet certain conditions to be eligible.

Find out more about MAP bankruptcy

A token payment plan offers temporary breathing space by making small payments to your debts to show you're willing to pay but can't afford to for the time being.

Find out more about a TPP

If you have a lump sum of money or an asset, for example a property, a car or savings, you may be able to use these to help clear your unsecured debt.

Find out more about settlement offers

Free multilingual debt guide

We've put together a free, downloadable guide to help you deal with your money worries

Our guide covers debt collection processes, where to get help, budgeting and what to expect from a debt advice session. It’s available to download in English, Urdu, Punjabi and Polish. 

Get the guide

Young woman reading a document in a kitchen

Sandra, Lanarkshire

"Getting help sooner would've taken a lot of pressure off me, and cut down the amount of stress I was under."

Man holding his young daughter in a playground

Bill, Perthshire

"After getting advice from StepChange, my whole life changed. I'm now stress free after following their advice."

Other services available in Scotland

We can help you if you're thinking about releasing equity, need mortgage advice or ways to make your money work harder.

Specialist advice, including remortgaging to give you extra money to repay your debts. There are lots of different things to consider before you remortgage.

Get mortgage advice

We can help you learn how to increase your income, provide tips on reducing your spending and help you to take control of your finances.

Budgeting and money advice



Dealing with debt in Scotland

For debts regulated by the Consumer Credit Act, the creditor must have already sent you a default notice and given you at least 14 days to reply before starting court action.

If you owe up to £5,000: you’ll get a document from the court called a ‘simple procedure notice of claim (form 6A)'

If you owe more than £5,000: you’ll be sent an ‘initial writ’

Need debt help in Scotland?

Get expert debt advice and a personalised debt solution online.

Get debt help now

About StepChange Debt Charity Scotland

Our free advice

We have expert teams of advisors based in our Glasgow head office who specialise in providing free, personalised debt advice to people across Scotland.

We are an approved organisation for managing Scottish debt solutions.

Our campaigns

We campaign on behalf of our clients for a society free from problem debt, producing annual reports based on our clients’ experiences of dealing with debt.

Read about our latest report on the personal debt statistics in Scotland: Scotland in the Red.