We aim to make our website as accessible as possible. However if you use a screen reader and require debt advice you may find it easier to phone us instead. Our phone number is 0 8 0 0 1 3 8 1 1 1 1. Freephone (including all mobiles).
man on phone looking worried

Falling into the red: Overdrafts and debt

Download our briefing

How overdrafts can lead to problem debt

Our new briefing looks at how households on tight budgets turn to credit like overdrafts to cover shortfalls in their household finances and how this can lead them to be at greater risk of falling into problem debt.

Regularly having to go into an overdraft, or over an overdraft limit, and being hit by unarranged overdraft charges can lead to and exacerbate financial difficulties for many financially vulnerable households.

Overdrafts are a significant part of the debt landscape

More than half of our clients have overdraft debt. Our research also found:

  • Overdrafts are the second most common debt type we see (after credit cards) –52.8% of our clients have overdraft debt.
  • We helped nearly 100,000 people with overdraft debt in the first half of 2016.
  • The average overdraft debt among these clients is £1,679

Download the report now for the full picture. 

Download now

Contact our policy team

Email us for more information on our debt research and statistics across the UK.

Social media

Connect with us through social media and get all the latest news about our campaigns.