Stepchange Debt Charity Review

Dealing with your unsecured debts can be a stressful time and Stepchange Debt Charity can help assist you to a better financial future.

There are many debt help charities to choose from and Stepchange Debt Charity is voted the best for free impartial help for your personal debts.

You can work your way out of debt with the help of a debt charity. They can offer confidential, professional, and achievable debt solutions and debt advice.

Don’t let debt ruin your life and your mental health when there is a way out! Start your journey to financial freedom today.

Keep reading to learn how to contact StepChange and to find StepChange debt charity reviews!

Who Are Stepchange?

StepChange is a charitable trust offering free debt advice to clients both over the telephone and through their online service.

stepchange-logo-debt-charity

StepChange Debt Charity was founded in 1993 when Vic Ware OBE and Malcolm Hurlston introduced the Consumer Credit Counselling Service to the UK.

Creating a new debt opportunity Stepchange created “Breathing Space”, allowing debtors to receive 60 days respite from interest, fees, and court action to reduce stress and give them time to sort out a debt solution.

With their financial support, the highly-trained debt advisors provide free and impartial debt advice to thousands of people every week in the UK.

If you are interested in finding the best debt charity for you, then read our informative list of the most popular debt charities in the UK.

All of our suggested companies will offer you a supportive environment and excellent service.

You don’t have to be in constant worry, your debt issues can be resolved! You just need to feel supported throughout this stressful situation.

Companies, like Step Change, can really help take away your sleepless nights and get you on the path to becoming debt free.

What Services Do Stepchange Offer?

The free debt advice on offer educates the debtors on a variety of debt solutions that include:

All UK debt solutions are complicated and require careful consideration before someone makes a decision.

Getting expert free debt advice on which one to choose and lengthy, in-depth, practical support from StepChange can mean the difference between success and failure.

Is StepChange a charity?

Stepchange is a debt charity operating across the United Kingdom.

StepChange was formerly known as the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) and is the trading name of the Foundation for Credit Counselling.

Essentially, StepChange acts as a charity wellbeing programme, as it provides gratuitous help to debt problems, assisting its customers in improving their problem debt and achieving their goal posts.

StepChange is innovative in looking to change policies and practices to look at preventing people from falling into persistent debts.

A review left by one of StepChange charity’s customers stated:

Step Change helped me when I thought my debt was beyond help. They set up a debt management plan to make one affordable monthly payment which they distribute among my creditors.

Keep reading to find other StepChange debt charity reviews and further comments from trusted customers who have been supported by StepChange.

Is StepChange free?

Debt Management Plans from StepChange Debt Charity are fee-free.

After an initial free advice call to check whether a Debt Management Plan is the best debt solution for your circumstances they help set up and manage it.

By establishing the disposable income on what you can afford to pay you can rest assured no fees are charged from Stepchange Debt Charity.

There are many debt advisory services in the UK that are free of charge. You should never have to pay to receive qualified debt advice, so don’t be fooled by debt companies who are posing as debt charities.

Popular Questions

Do StepChange need bank statements?

StepChange needs your last 2 months’ payslips, a benefits letter or a bank statement.

They may also ask to review your credit file, to ensure they have the whole picture when it comes to your financial history.

Taking time to fully understand your finances, will help all the staff at StepChang assist you out of your difficult time.

A full list of creditors will aid them in finding the best debt solution for your unique situation.

If you are sending bank statements, StepChange requires you to circle the relevant information.

Can I add a debt to StepChange?

You can add new debts to an existing StepChange debt management plan (DMP).

It is common to add new debts when you might have forgotten about a creditor when you set up the debt plan.

If you can only pay the same amount each month it will take longer to adjust the repayment plan to all the creditors.

Is StepChange a good idea?

StepChange Charity is a fantastic charitable trust to help you with your debts. It is always advisable to contact a debt charity, such as StepChange, if you are struggling with any aspect of your finances.

Step Change provides free help and will even speak to your creditors on your behalf.

As many of their debt solutions are fee-free, you could save money by choosing StepChange Debt Charity.

Debt charities can offer debt advice and suggest suitable debt solutions, that can aid you in your journey out of overhanging debt and financial difficulty.

Who is StepChange funded by?

StepChange Debt Charity is funded by voluntary donations from creditors (including banks, loan companies and other lenders), as well as allocated Government funding through the Money and Pensions Service.

The charity received an income of £60.6m and had operating costs of £63.4m, including a £3.9m increase in staff costs, reflecting an increased colleague number during the year.

These costs also reflect the improvements made to colleague remuneration and benefits under the charity’s Total Reward strategy.

Now StepChange Debt Charity works with over 900 partner organisations to help fund the company.

Stepchange Contact Information

Here are the best contact details for StepChange Debt Charity.

The StepChange website offers free, impartial and confidential and every client receives expert personalised advice to help them deal with their unsecured debts.

Are StepChange FCA approved?

The Foundation for Credit Counselling, trading as StepChange Debt Charity and StepChange Debt Charity Scotland, has received authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Provisions made under the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) 2000, financial activities have to be regulated by the FCA.

Any debt charity (including not-for-profit) carrying out a regulated activity must be authorised or registered (unless they are exempt) by The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The FCA is the independent regulator for all providers of financial services in the UK and provides information about financial products.

Types of Debt

Stepchange can help with the following types of debts:

StepChange Reviews

Kieran contacted StepChange as he was struggling with debt, they helped him start an IVA agreement:

I buried my head in the sand, became so anxious and hardly survived. I’m at the end of my IVA now…my anxiety’s gone down and I feel like myself again.

Margaret, in Carlisle, gave a 5-star review:

I recommend StepChange to anyone whose finances are getting out of control. Advisor was clear, patient, non-judgmental. We arranged equity release. The hardest part was initially asking for help. I now have a more realistic view of my finances and of what I can afford, and keep a record of every penny that goes out! Am very grateful to StepChange and advisor.

Another happy client wrote:

They don’t make me feel judged or bad for my poor financial circumstances. They were kind, professional and literally changed my life! Huge load removed from my shoulders. I don’t know what would be of me if it wasn’t tot them! For ever grateful.

Final Thoughts

Step Change has an exceptional success rate at getting IVAs for their debtors. The success rate for IVAs is advertised at 98%.

The reason this is so high is because of their good work, but also because they only recommend this debt solution when it is applicable to debtors and the number of debts they have.

StepChange can also offer many other important debt services. For example, you can get them to speak with debt collectors on your behalf, should they be intimidating you.

For free, StepChange can talk you through any aspect of debt, or debt processes, that might be confusing.

Debt charities are extremely beneficial, and we would always advise contacting a debt advisory service, should you be concerned about your finances.

If you are looking for free confidential debt support we highly recommend Step Change in April 2024.

UK Debt Solutions

After speaking to a debt consultant you might realise the best solutions are one of the following:

All UK Debt Counselling Charities

Here is a full list of Debt Counselling Charities in the UK:

Debt Help

Speak to the debt advisor to check what debt solutions you have to help you consolidate debts into a single affordable monthly repayment.

Quick Links

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