Search
Close
Log in
Menu
Our services and solutions
Debt solutions in Scotland
More ways to get help
Don't know where to start?
Answer a few questions, so we can find the best way to help
Got a debt question?
Popular searches
More about us
Working together
Debt in the UK
StepChange in Parliament
We work with parliamentarians on briefings, events & debt trends
The latest debt trends & analysis from our industry experts
Get involved
Client support
OnlineDMP login
Log back in to OnlineDMP to manage your DMP
Other ways to get in touch
Get debt help online now
Get free advice on how to deal with your debt online from the UK's leading debt charity
Falling behind to keep up
Over four million people in Great Britain struggling to keep up with bills and credit repayments have recently borrowed to make ends meet.
Using credit to pay for essentials causes harm, compounds financial difficulty and lowers living standards.
71% report a negative impact on their health, relationships or ability to work
65% have missed bills, asked for help from family or friends or endured hardship to keep up with repayments
51% are in problem debt
Practices in the credit market and design characteristics of products drive harms caused by safety net borrowing.
For example:
It is vital that people struggling with credit get effective help and support early but we found that only one in four of those struggling to keep up with credit repayments is in contact with their lender.
Worryingly, half of GB adults (53%) say that they would be reluctant to seek help with financial difficulty from a bank or credit firm due to low trust in firms to act in their interest, worries about credit reporting and embarrassment and stigma talking about financial difficulty.
The harm caused by the credit safety net arises from issues spanning regulatory and social policy and requires joined-up solutions.
Email us to discuss our personal debt statistics and other debt research across the UK.