Debt consolidation guides and resources
Clear, impartial explainers to help you understand debt consolidation before you borrow. Each guide answers one question in plain English, with the risks given equal weight to the benefits.
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These guides are written by an independent, educational publisher. We are not a lender, broker or financial adviser, and we do not sell loans or offer regulated advice. Our aim is to help you understand how debt consolidation works so you can make an informed decision, or decide that it is not for you.
The guides are grouped below by the question they answer. Start with the basics if the whole idea is new, or go straight to the sections on costs, credit and eligibility, or managing repayments. If your debts already feel unmanageable, the guide on free debt advice explains where to turn first.
Debt consolidation basics
Start here if the idea is new to you. These guides give a plain definition, an honest view of whether it would help, and how long it takes.
What is debt consolidation?
A plain definition, how it differs from debt solutions, and simple worked examples.
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Is debt consolidation a good idea?
When it helps, when it does not, a short decision checklist and a total-cost warning.
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How long does it take?
Typical timescales from application to funds, settling old debts, and what causes delays.
Read guide →Costs and comparisons
What borrowing really costs, how much you can borrow, and how to weigh one option against another.
How much can you borrow?
The factors lenders weigh and illustrative ranges for secured and unsecured borrowing.
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How to compare loans
APR, total repayable, term, fees and flexibility, with a checklist and a comparison table.
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Understanding APR
What APR means, the difference between representative and personal rates, and why term matters.
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Secured vs unsecured
A side-by-side look at security, risk, amounts, rates and who each option suits.
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Loan vs debt management plan
How a new loan differs from an informal arrangement to repay what you already owe.
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Loan vs balance transfer
When a 0% balance transfer card may beat a loan, and the traps to watch for.
Read guide →Credit and eligibility
How consolidation touches your credit file, and what your options are if your history is less than perfect.
Managing repayments and getting help
Practical guides for staying on top of a plan and knowing where to find free, impartial support.
Missing a repayment
Fees, credit-file markers and the steps to take as soon as a payment looks at risk.
Read guide →Mistakes to avoid
The common missteps, from running balances back up to chasing a lower monthly payment alone.
Read guide →Reducing credit card debt
Methods such as snowball and avalanche, and how consolidation fits alongside them.
Read guide →Creating a repayment plan
Build a realistic budget, prioritise debts and set a plan you can actually keep to.
Read guide →When to seek free debt advice
The warning signs that mean it is time to speak to a free, impartial debt charity.
Read guide →Related pages
Prefer to see the numbers?
Use the free, in-browser calculators to estimate a single monthly repayment and compare it with what you pay now. All figures are illustrative examples.