If you’re behind on repayments or worried you soon will be, talk to one of these services before you do anything else. They’re free and confidential, and they can speak to your lenders for you. Be wary of anyone who charges an upfront fee to fix your debt.
Australia
National Debt Helpline: free financial counsellors. Call 1800 007 007 or visit ndh.org.au.
United Kingdom
MoneyHelper: find free debt advice anywhere in the UK with the debt advice locator.
National Debtline (England, Wales and Scotland): call 0808 808 4000 or visit nationaldebtline.org.
United States
National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC): nonprofit credit counselors. Call 800-388-2227 or visit nfcc.org.
Canada
Credit Counselling Canada: not-for-profit credit counsellors. Call 1-866-398-5999 or visit creditcounsellingcanada.ca.
New Zealand
MoneyTalks: free financial mentors. Call 0800 345 123, text 4029, or visit moneytalks.co.nz.
Ireland
MABS (Money Advice and Budgeting Service): free and confidential. Call 0818 07 2000 or visit mabs.ie.
Somewhere else
Search for “free debt advice” and your country, and look for services run by the government or a not-for-profit organisation.
If it’s getting on top of you
Money stress is hard. If it’s affecting how you feel, talk to someone you trust. Find A Helpline lists free crisis and emotional-support lines in more than 175 countries.
Services and numbers checked October 2026. Richer Road isn’t connected to any of these services and earns nothing from them.