Compare & connect

Every option in one place — including the ones we don't earn from.

Free help is listed first because it's usually the right first move. Specialist and secured products are clearly flagged. APRC figures are representative; your offer may differ.

Free help

StepChange Debt Charity

Charity

Free, confidential debt advice and managed plans. Will not sell you a product.

Early repayment: No early repayment charge

Suits if

• You're missing payments
• You feel out of control
• You owe more than you can repay

Avoid if

• You only need to optimise an already-stable position

See if this fits your plan →Visit StepChange

Free help

National Debtline

Charity

Free advice line run by the Money Advice Trust. Sample letters and self-help packs.

Early repayment: No early repayment charge

Suits if

• You want to handle it yourself with guidance
• You need template letters

Avoid if

• You want someone to take it over end-to-end

See if this fits your plan →Visit National Debtline

Credit builder

Credit Builder Card (representative)

Builds history

Low limit, higher APR card designed to report positive behaviour. Pay in full monthly.

APRC: 34.9% APR representative
Fees: No annual fee on most; cash withdrawals expensive.
Term: Revolving
Early repayment: No early repayment charge

Suits if

• You can pay the balance in full each month
• You have no active defaults in last 6 months

Avoid if

• You'd carry a balance and pay interest
• You're still missing payments

See if this fits your plan →Compare builder cards

Mainstream lender

Mainstream 'less-than-perfect' personal loan

No collateral

Unsecured loans from mainstream lenders willing to consider thin or bruised files.

APRC: 19.9% APR representative
Fees: Usually no setup fee.
Term: 1–5 years
Early repayment: ERC: ~2 months' interest

Suits if

• Stable income
• Limited recent adverse credit
• You'd save vs current debts

Avoid if

• Active defaults or CCJs
• You'd just shuffle the same balance forward

See if this fits your plan →See lenders

Specialist secured

Specialist secured loan (bad-credit)

Secured on home

Secured against your property. Wider acceptance with adverse credit, but your home is at risk if you can't pay.

APRC: 10.8% APRC representative (range ~9.5%–29% APRC)
Fees: Broker fee, lender fee, valuation. Often added to the loan.
LTV: Up to 75% LTV typical
Term: 3–25 years
Early repayment: ERC: ~1% of balance

Suits if

• Strong equity in your home
• Stable income
• Replacing much more expensive unsecured debt

Avoid if

• Income is fragile
• You're already considering insolvency
• Equity is thin

Secured on your home and high-cost. Your home is at risk if you can't keep up payments.

See if this fits your plan →See secured options

Specialist (SPC)

SubPrime.Capital (SPC)

High-cost

Property-backed specialist lending. Designed for borrowers other lenders decline; correspondingly priced.

APRC: Up to ~29% APRC depending on profile
Fees: Lender + arrangement fees disclosed up front.
LTV: Conservative LTV; low-LTV bands only
Term: 1–10 years typical
Early repayment: ERC: lender-specific

Suits if

• You've been declined elsewhere
• You have meaningful equity
• You understand the cost and the risk

Avoid if

• Free help or mainstream secured would work
• You're not certain you can sustain payments
• You don't fully understand secured lending

Specialist, secured, high-cost. Your home is at risk. Only consider after free advice and mainstream options.

See if this fits your plan →Learn about SPC