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Making payments to your DPP

Find out how to make payments to your debt payment programme (DPP) in a way that works for you. We are here to help if you are struggling to manage your payments too.

  This page is for clients who use StepChange as their payment distributor (PD).

Making your first payment

Once your DPP has been approved you need to make your first payment within 42 days. Your continuing money advisor (CMA) will explain this to you and guide you through the process.

The date you make your first payment can be different to your regular payment date. You will decide which date will be your regular payment date with your CMA.

Ways to pay your DPP

You can choose how you want to make your DPP payments. There are a few ways we can take payments, like:

  • Direct Debit
  • Standing order or bank transfer
  • Over the phone using our debit card line

You can also choose how often you want to make your payments. We accept:

  • Monthly payments
  • Four-weekly payments
  • Two-weekly (fortnightly) payments
  • Weekly payments

You will need to speak to your CMA if you want to change how often you make payments.

Making Direct Debit payments

Direct Debit payments are one of the easiest ways to make payments to your DPP. When it is set up, your payment will automatically be taken on the same day every month. This means you don’t have to worry about doing anything, it is all taken care of.

We can only take Direct Debit payments from monthly payers on the 5th or 18th of the month.

If you pay weekly, fortnightly or four-weekly, you will need to use a different payment method.

You may have already set up a Direct Debit with us while setting up your plan. But if not, don’t worry.

There are a couple of ways to set one up even after your plan has started.

If you are changing your payment method from standing order to Direct Debit, don’t forget to cancel your standing order with your bank.

1. Fill in a Direct Debit form and send it to us

One way to set up a Direct Debit is to fill in a Direct Debit form and send it to us by email or post.

Here are some things to know before you begin:

  • You will need to sign the form by hand
  • Your Direct Debit form must be dated, or we will not be able to use it
  • Please let us know which date you would prefer to pay on somewhere on the form
  • Make sure to double check the sort code and account number you give us for your bank details are correct
  • You can ask someone else (a ‘third party’) to set up a Direct Debit from their bank account on your behalf. If you choose to do this, the third party will need to complete and sign the Direct Debit form

Here is how to send us your completed Direct Debit form:

  1. Download a copy of our Direct Debit form or email DASPayments@stepchange.org to request a physical copy
  2. Fill in your printed form
  3. Send your finished form to us by email, or post it to:
    Client Asset Management
    StepChange Debt Charity
    123 Albion Street
    Leeds
    LS2 8ER

    4. Once our Payments Team have your form, they will set up your Direct Debit. You will be told it has been set up.

    2. Call our payments team to set up your Direct Debit over the phone

    To set up your Direct Debit over the phone, call our Payments Team on 0300 303 2507 and select option one to speak to the DAS Payments Team.

Making standing order or bank transfer payments

Standing orders and bank transfer payments are the most flexible methods of payment we accept. You can set up a standing order to leave your account on your agreed payment date.

A standing order is an automated recurring payment you set up with your bank. It is a way of scheduling payments which means once it is set up, you don’t have to worry about remembering to make the payments yourself.

You can set up a standing order by:

  • Using your mobile banking app
  • Using online banking
  • Calling your bank to set one up over the phone

A bank transfer is a one-off payment you make manually. Each time you make a bank transfer, you will need to enter:

  • The name of the person or company you are paying
  • The sort code of the account you want to pay
  • The account number of the account you want to pay
  • The amount you want to pay
  • A reference, so the person getting the payment knows who sent it

When you set up a standing order or make a bank transfer payment to StepChange, make sure you use the following details:

  • Name: StepChange Debt Charity
  • Sort code: 20-48-46
  • Account number: 70238163
  • Reference: Your StepChange reference number and surname (example: 1234567 SMITH)

It is important you include your surname and StepChange reference number in all payments you make to your DPP. It helps us to quickly add your payment to your plan.

Making debit card line payments

The debit card line is an automated service you can use to make payments to us over the phone.

The phone line will ask for information including:

  • Your StepChange reference number
  • Your date of birth
  • The long 16-digit number on the front of your debit card
  • Your debit card expiry date
  • CVC – three-digits on the back of your card

Make sure you have the information to hand before you call.

Call 0330 0081 660 to make a debit card line payment.

We will write to you if you miss a payment

If you don’t make your payment within five days of your regular payment date you might get a missed payment communication from us by email or letter.

Don’t worry about these. They are simply reminders to let you know we have not yet received your payment.

You have until your next payment date for us to receive the payment before this would be recorded as missed.

Struggling to make payments?

We are here to help if you are finding it hard to make your payments. We will look at ways to make your DPP a success, even when times are hard. There are both short-term and long-term solutions we may be able to offer, such as:

  • Crisis breaks
  • Payment breaks
  • Payment variations – these can be used to change how much you pay

You will need to speak to your CMA to discuss your options.

If StepChange is your CMA, you can call our Scotland advice team on 0800 652 7491. They are here to answer your calls from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.