StepChange Debt Charity research reveals 1.6 million people have experienced coerced debt
3 March 2025
New research by StepChange Debt Charity reveals around 3% of UK adults, equivalent to 1.6 million people, have experienced coerced debt, a form of economic abuse where the perpetrator coerces a victim into debt, for example by making them take out credit against their wishes. This comes as the charity estimates that around one in eight (12%) of its debt advice clients are impacted by it.
StepChange’s new report, Too close to home: StepChange debt advice clients' experiences of coerced debt, examines how patchy and inconsistent support, legislative barriers, and inflexibilities in credit reporting prevent victim-survivors from rebuilding their lives and regaining economic stability.
The charity is calling for the government to establish a taskforce to ensure victim-survivors can achieve economic justice through economic safety and stability without having to pay the price for an abuser’s behaviour.
Currently, victim-survivors face years repaying coerced debt, extending the impact of abuse and tying victims to a perpetrator. Often victim-survivors struggle to make ends meet due to debt repayments, experience financial exclusion due to negative impacts on their credit report and, in some cases, are barred from working in certain jobs.
One of the StepChange clients interviewed as part of the research, Liz, shared that the economic abuse perpetrated by her ex-husband negatively impacted her credit file and finances for 11 ½ years after the relationship ended. She wasn’t able to get a mortgage or buy a car on hire purchase, having to turn to her family instead. She also worried she would miss out on a position to which she was appointed as it was subject to a successful credit check.
As a result she had to disclose the abuse she had been through and how this led to debts and subsequent credit file impacts, which was retraumatising. Discussing her experience, she said: "It seems to leech into every aspect of your life and the roads you can take are so different to everyone else's."
National YouGov polling commissioned by StepChange for the report reveals low public awareness of coerced debt and economic abuse, making it less likely victims will recognise abuse and access support. Yet the figures show how widespread the issue is among UK adults:
- Almost seven in ten (68%) people have never heard of the term coerced debt
- An estimated 1.6 million people have experienced coerced debt at the hands of a current or former partner, family member or friend in the last 12 months
- The majority of people (58%) who had experienced coerced debt had not sought advice or support
The research uncovers inconsistencies in the quality and level of support for people experiencing coerced debt. Key problems identified are a lack of specialist knowledge and compassion. Debt write off is crucial for victim-survivors with coerced debt wherever possible and has vital benefits yet remains rare, in part due to barriers to separating joint debts.
StepChange is joining organisations such as Surviving Economic Abuse, Refuge and UK Finance in calling for a cross-government economic abuse taskforce to lead change and overcome cross-cutting legislative and regulatory barriers to ensure victim-survivors can achieve economic justice.
Vikki Brownridge, CEO at StepChange Debt Charity, said:
"Those who have experienced coerced debt should not pay the price for their abuser’s behaviour. Yet restoring a victim-survivor’s finances can be a long and complex process, particularly in the case of joint debts and joint mortgages. The challenge of dealing with debts that have been coerced is compounded by the emotional and mental health impacts of abuse.
"Our research highlights the urgent need for government leadership and a collaborative approach from regulators, financial services and advice agencies in supporting victim-survivors to regain financial control and ensure they do not spend years paying back coerced debts. A more consistent approach to debt-write off and credit file restoration are two key recommendations that would help to achieve this."
Sam Smethers, Interim CEO at Surviving Economic Abuse, said:
"StepChange's report paints a stark picture of how widespread and devastating coerced debt is. We hear time and time again that abusers are leaving victim-survivors drowning in debt, making it impossible for them to rebuild their lives and provide for their children. Often survivors are forced to rely on foodbanks to feed their families and many are left with destroyed credit ratings for years to come.
"Victim-survivors should not have to pay for abusers' crimes. We want to see their debts cleared and their credit ratings restored. That's why we alongside StepChange are urging the government to set up a cross-government task force on economic abuse to agree on solutions to coerced debt and credit restoration. It’s the only way to help survivors and their children escape and safely rebuild their lives."
Notes to Editors
- The report Too close to home: StepChange debt advice clients' experiences of coerced debt is based on research from StepChange’s debt advice client data, a client survey, national polling, interviews with six current or former clients, and a focus group with six StepChange debt advisors.
- Coerced debt is usually part of a pattern of abuse in which an abuser controls and dictates a victims’ choices and everyday actions, using pressure and violence. Women are more likely to be victims of domestic abuse than men, and more likely to experience more serious consequences including violence.
- National polling is from YouGov Plc. Survey of 2,138 UK adults. Fieldwork was undertaken online between 2 – 4 November 2024. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). Population estimated are calculated by StepChange based on ONS data.
- Case studies are available on request – please contact the press office.