Breathing Space Debt Respite Scheme

Temporary protection from your creditors whilst you find a solution.

  • Get debt support and guidance
  • Find the right solution for you

We provide IVAs by our licensed insolvency practitioner regulated by the Insolvency Practitioners Association. We provide information about all debt solutions but we do not provide advice as we are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Lasts for up to 60 days
Freeze interest, fees and charges on debts
Pause contact from creditors

What is breathing space?

Breathing space is a scheme introduced in 2021 throughout England and Wales to help consumers struggling with problem debt.

There are two types of Breathing Space available. Both involve temporary protection from debt collection as measures are taken to get on top of outstanding debt.

The benefits of this option include:

  • Creditors and debt collectors pause contact
  • Interest and charges are frozen for the duration of the scheme
  • You have time to look into a solution without added pressure from creditors
Get debt help
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Am I eligible for Breathing Space?

You might be eligible for Breathing Space if you:

  • Live in England or Wales
  • You have debts you cannot afford to pay
  • Don’t have a debt relief order (DRO), individual voluntary arrangement (IVA) or are bankrupt.
  • Haven’t already taken Standard Breathing Space in the last 12 months.
Get debt help

Our leading debt specialists help thousands across the UK write off unaffordable debt.

Benefits of debt help

  • No need to borrow from friends and family
  • Stop the stress of bills you can’t pay
  • No hefty charges for being overdrawn
  • Put a stop to those Payday loans
  • No running out of money so soon after payday
  • Enjoy living life again without debt stress

IVA Support

We're committed to helping you
Start today

Step 1

Get in touch

Private & Confidential Support

The first step is the hardest but you’re in the right place – talking with one of our friendly assessors can help get the ball rolling.

Step 2

Explore your options

Debt help without judgment

Talk to us about your situation, and we’ll let you know if an IVA may be a potential solution for you.

Step 3

Take action

No Obligation Service

We can carry out a suitability assessment, and if you qualify for an IVA we can help put together an application with you. There’ll be no obligation and we’ll be on hand to answer any questions you may have along the way.

Start by finding out if you qualify by answering the below questions

Why choose Money Advice?

You are not alone

According to data published by The Money Charity, the average UK household debt hit £65,756* in 2023.

Our team help thousands of families every year across the UK get their finances back on track.

Get debt help

Why choose Money Advice?

Our promise

We promise to give you professional guidance and support from the word go as we endeavour to help you with your debts.

We’ll make sure your personalised plan puts you back in control.

Find a solution

Why choose Money Advice?

Clear explanations of the solutions available

One of our assessors will be on the end of the phone to help you.

Speak to our team

Why choose Money Advice?

We understand

We understand how important it is for you to understand how best to deal with your debts clearly. We can help relieve the stress and allow you to take positive action to resolve your finances.

Request a callback

Take the first steps to regain control of your finances.

It’s never too early or late to seek help. Now could be the time if you are:
  • Regularly worrying about money
  • Struggling to pay your household bills
  • Paying bills with credit
  • Relying on your overdraft or credit card to get by
  • Missing credit card repayments
  • Hiding your spending habits from your family
  • Avoiding letters and calls from your creditors

Where we can help?

We cover England, Wales and Northern Ireland

We want to help you on your journey towards being debt-free.

Enquire today

Top tips for beating debt

It’s essential to get free debt guidance as soon as you can if you’ve fallen behind on priority bills, or are facing any debt emergency, including:

  • court summons
  • having your utility bills cut off
  • having your home, car or goods repossessed
  • being contacted by bailiffs

You can contact a member of our teeam by calling 0333 305 0521

Monday – Friday 8am-8pm
Saturday 9am-5pm

Budgeting is a great way to get in control and on top of your debts. By following our budgeting advice, you should be able to work out your total income and outgoings and clearly visualise what money you have left each month to pay to your creditors.

We suggest making a list of your creditors, along with money owed and due dates. Making a note of this information with pen and paper is an invaluable way of relieving the likelihood of forgetting payment dates and helps you feel on top of things.

If you’re not sure what debts you have outstanding, don’t worry. Just give us a call, and we will offer a free soft credit check facility.

Cut back unnecessary spending by ending any subscriptions that you don’t need. Give your phone, water, electricity, gas and internet providers a call to see if you are on the most suitable plan for you. You might be paying for more than you use per month, which could save you money.

There are many free comparison websites online, which may be helpful to find out the cheapest options for you, from car insurance to your weekly food shop.

Ensure that you’re receiving as much money as you’re entitled to. Consider whether you have any spare time to fit in some overtime or even a second job. There may be benefits that you unknowingly qualify for or similar help from the government or local council.

Check out our debt solutions page and read about what we have to offer you. We show you the advantages/disadvantages of the individual solutions for you to make an educated decision as to which route is best to take.

There are several unique options, so make sure that you take the time to read about and understand what each one would mean for you. If necessary, discuss with family or your partner to see which is best for your situation.

Furthermore, you can contact or request a free call back from one of our experienced team who will help you find the right solution for you and help you with any queries or uncertainties you may have.

Facing debt is the only way that it will go away. A simple call to us can get the ball rolling. We can assess your circumstances and ultimately get you on your way to getting your debt under control.

Not only will being active about your debts help you clear them quicker, but it also will relieve enormous stress from you and those around you who may be affected.

We have our very own in-house insolvency professionals ready to set you on your path to a debt solution. This means we can quickly help you establish your eligibility and decide upon the most appropriate solution.

The information we give is free, and there is no obligation to sign up for anything after your initial telephone consultation.

We think the world of money can be a complicated place, as decisions about overcoming financial difficulty are big, especially when there are many possible solutions out there. We understand this, and that’s why we like to keep things simple.

There’s no pressure from us to make a quick decision, and we’re here when you’re ready to move forward.

Read our success stories from real-life customers who had an experience worth shouting about. 99% of customers would recommend us to friends or family.

Money Advice help over 3,000 people in the UK every year

Our team of experts help thousands of families get their finances back on track with an IVA.

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Is an IVA right for you?

We can discuss your eligibility for an IVA

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Prefer to speak later?

We will offer guidance, support and a solution.

*To find out more about managing your money and getting free advice, visit Money Helper, an independent service set up to help people manage their money.