How our service works

In short

How To Stop The Bailiffs publishes free guides about bailiffs and debt in England and Wales. If you’d like help with your own situation, you can fill in our short form and we’ll introduce you to an FCA-authorised debt advice firm. That firm’s advisers will contact you, look at your circumstances and explain the options that suit you.

We don’t give debt advice ourselves, and we don’t decide which debt solution is right for you.

Step by step

1. You answer a few questions. We ask roughly how much you owe, how many debts you have, what you’re repaying each month, your residential and employment status, and how to contact you. This takes about two minutes.
2. You choose whether to be contacted. We only pass your details on if you tick the consent box, which names the firm we’ll share them with.
3. An authorised adviser contacts you. They’ll usually call during opening hours. They’ll ask about your income, spending, assets and debts so they can see the full picture.
4. They explain your options. This should include every option that could suit you – for example a payment arrangement, Breathing Space, a Debt Relief Order, a debt management plan, an IVA or bankruptcy – along with the costs, risks and how each would affect bailiff action.
5. You decide. You’re under no obligation to go ahead with anything. You can stop at any point.

Who we work with

We only introduce people to firms that are authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority to give debt advice. The firm we currently work with is:

• [Partner Debt Advice Firm] Ltd (FCA FRN: [Partner FRN]) – FCA-authorised debt advice firm. Its advisers can discuss all suitable options, including free options, and can refer you for a Debt Relief Order through an approved intermediary.

You can check any firm’s status on the Financial Services Register.

What it costs

Using our website and form is free, and you won’t be charged for being introduced. If you decide to go ahead with a debt solution, the adviser must tell you clearly about any costs before you agree. For example:

• Debt Relief Orders are free. There’s no application fee.
• IVAs have fees, usually taken from your monthly payments over the life of the arrangement. The adviser must explain these.
• Bankruptcy has an application fee of £680, payable to the government.

How we’re paid

We are not a debt advice provider and we do not give debt advice. With your permission, we introduce you to an FCA-authorised debt advice firm that can discuss your situation and your options. We may receive a fee from that firm for the introduction. This does not affect the advice you receive or what you pay. Read more on our how we are paid page.

You can also get free advice directly

If you need extra support

If you have a health condition, disability, or anything else that makes dealing with debt harder, you can tell the adviser when they call. See our extra support page.