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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 from the dropdown to find the right factsheets 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.
  • You can add all the fact sheets you are interested in to your library so you can find them more easily later on.
Use this input to search through our fact sheets.
  • Bailiff complaints

    How to complain about a bailiff. What to do if you have a complaint or a dispute with a private bailiff.

  • Council tax arrears

    Help to understand what a council can do to recover council tax arrears | Business Debtline

  • County Court bailiffs

    How to stop bailiffs coming into your home and what to do if you receive a warrant of control. What to do if a bailiff visits your business premises.

  • 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 | Business Debtline

  • Business rates

    Advice on the action you may face if you are unable to pay your business rates | Advice on warrant of control for business rates.

  • Commercial energy debt

    Advice on commercial energy arrears. Help if you cannot pay the gas or electricity bill at your business premises

  • Commercial property leases

    A guide to commercial leases. What to look for before signing, terms and conditions explained, and what happens if you fall into arrears

  • Construction Industry Scheme - CIS

    What is the construction industry scheme? Find out how payments are made and how much will be deducted from your pay

  • Council tax arrears

    Help to understand what a council can do to recover council tax arrears | Business Debtline

  • 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.

  • Income tax debt

    Advice on negotiating with HMRC when you have an outstanding tax debt. How to make offers of payment.

  • Publicans

    Free debt advice for publicans. Advice on tenancies, beer tie and leaving your pub | Business Debtline

  • VAT debt

    Information on VAT and what to do if you have a VAT debt. Free advice on how to negotiate with HMRC if you or your business owe VAT.

  • 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 | Business Debtline

  • 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

  • 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

    Find out how long a creditor has to pursue you for a debt | Statute barred debts | Time limits for recovering debts

  • 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 | Business Debtline

  • County Court bailiffs

    How to stop bailiffs coming into your home and what to do if you receive a warrant of control. What to do if a bailiff visits your business premises.

  • Defending a CCJ

    How to defend a county court claim if you do not owe the money being claimed. Advice on defending a CCJ | Business Debltine

  • Help with court fees

    Work out whether you are entitled to help with paying court fees | How much will I have to pay? | Business Debtline

  • 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.

  • 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 | Business Debtline

  • Making a small claim

    How to make a small claim in the County Court. Help using the Civil National Business Centre (CNBC) to recover money

  • 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

    How 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 | Business 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 | Business Debtline

  • 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 | Business Debtline

  • 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 | Business 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

  • Refused offers

    What to do if a creditor refuses your offer of payment. Help if your creditor has refused to freeze interest and charges | Business Debtline

  • Safe bank accounts

    Opening a safe bank account to keep your income safe | Where can I open a basic bank account?

  • Statute barred debts

    Find out how long a creditor has to pursue you for a debt | Statute barred debts | Time limits for recovering debts

  • Administration orders

    Advice on county court administration orders and their advantages | Free administration order advice from Business 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 business and assets.

  • Bankruptcy and foreign issues

    Can I make myself bankrupt in England or Wales if I live abroad? Business Debtline

  • 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 | Business 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 debts

    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| Business Debtline

  • 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 tyour logbook loan your vehicla can be repossessed. Free advice | Business Debtline

  • Business partnerships

    A partnership is two or more people running a business | How to deal with partnership debt and who is liable | Closing a partnership

  • Buy now pay later

    Find out what buy now pay later is, what to do if you cannot pay and how to cancel your continuous payment authority with your bank or provider.

  • 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.

  • Limited companies

    Advice on dealing with limited company debt | How to close down your limited company.

  • 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 | Business Debtline

  • 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 Business 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 | Business Debtline

  • 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.

  • 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 | Business Debtline

  • 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 | Business Debtline

  • Administration orders

    Advice on county court administration orders and their advantages | Free administration order advice from Business 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 business and assets.

  • Bankruptcy and foreign issues

    Can I make myself bankrupt in England or Wales if I live abroad? Business Debtline

  • Business partnerships

    A partnership is two or more people running a business | How to deal with partnership debt and who is liable | Closing a partnership

  • 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?

  • Limited companies

    Advice on dealing with limited company debt | How to close down your limited company.

  • 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 homeless

    Free advice on what to do if you are homeless | Business Debtline

  • Advice if you are worried about losing your home

    Free advice on what to do if you are worried about losing your home | Business Debtline

  • Closing a business

    How to close your business | Closing a partnership | Winding up or liquidating a limited company.

  • Debt and mental health

    Free advice on how debt and mental health can affect each other. The options 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 | Business Debtline

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Construction Industry Scheme - CIS

    What is the construction industry scheme? Find out how payments are made and how much will be deducted from your pay

  • Income tax debt

    Advice on negotiating with HMRC when you have an outstanding tax debt. How to make offers of payment.

  • Tax allowances and amounts

    Work out your tax allowances for 2024/25 | Help with completing your tax returns

  • VAT debt

    Information on VAT and what to do if you have a VAT debt. Free advice on how to negotiate with HMRC if you or your business owe VAT.

  • 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

    Find out how long a creditor has to pursue you for a debt | Statute barred debts | Time limits for recovering debts

  • Budgeting saving and borrowing

    Advice on day-to-day budgeting and saving for your household | Help with managing and planning your spending

  • Business partnerships

    A partnership is two or more people running a business | How to deal with partnership debt and who is liable | Closing a partnership

  • Closing a business

    How to close your business | Closing a partnership | Winding up or liquidating a limited company.

  • Limited companies

    Advice on dealing with limited company debt | How to close down your limited company.

  • Managing business finances

    A guide to credit control for self-employed people | How to set up good credit control to ensure cashflow | Dealing with unpaid invoices

  • Publicans

    Free debt advice for publicans. Advice on tenancies, beer tie and leaving your pub | Business Debtline

  • Sole traders

    What does it mean to be a sole trader | Find out about your rights and responsibilities when running your business as a sole trader