Debt Awareness Week 2024 – Getting debt advice will not impact your credit rating

Debt can be a key issue for people facing gambling harms. Free debt advice is widely available, but we know that barriers caused by stigma or a lack of information can stop people from reaching out for specialist help.

Kathy Wade, GamCare’s Money Guidance Service Manager, is marking this Debt Awareness Week by addressing the key misconception that reaching out for debt advice will impact your credit rating.

Debt Awareness Week is an annual campaign led by StepChange Debt Charity and this year it runs from Monday 18 March – Sunday 24 March 2024.

One of the aims of this year’s campaign is to look at barriers that may prevent people from getting debt advice. We wanted to focus on something we often hear from people we speak to:

“I don’t want to get debt advice because it will affect my credit rating.”

Having a good credit score is important for a number of reasons, including when you want to borrow money, take out a mobile phone contract, or get home broadband. Companies will check your credit file before making decisions. Factors can impact your credit rating but getting debt advice is not one of them.

If you:

• Missed credit repayments
• Maxed-out your credit cards
• Have county court judgements
• Bankruptcy
• Debt Relief Orders
• Individual Voluntary Arrangements

They may impact your credit rating. However, getting debt advice will not in itself affect your credit rating in any way.

Speaking to a debt adviser could help you take control of your debt situation and prevent things from getting worse. They will advise you on the options available to you for dealing with your debts and they can also explain the impact of any of those debt solutions on your credit rating. This will give you the information you need to decide about what you would like to do with your debts, considering any impact on your credit rating.

You can learn more information in our Taking Control of Your Credit Rating factsheet.

To find out where to get free and independent debt advice, click here.

If you are concerned about the effects of your own or someone else’s gambling, contact GamCare by using our online chat or Freephone on 0808 8020 133. Our Advisers can also provide you with more information and refer you to our Money Guidance Service.