What StepChange Debt Charity does

StepChange Debt Charity, legally "The Foundation for Credit Counselling," is a UK-registered charity (nos. 1016630 and SC046263) that provides free, confidential debt advice and management solutions to individuals across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Founded in 1993 as the Consumer Credit Counselling Service and rebranded in 2015, the organisation is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Registration Number 729047) and operates from its registered office at 123 Albion Street, Leeds. The charity has helped over 9 million people since inception and currently serves 650,000+ individuals annually, holding a 4.9/5 Feefo rating based on more than 22,000 client reviews.

The charity's service platform centres on a proprietary 24/7 Online Debt Advice Tool that guides users through financial assessment and produces tailored action plans, supported by a Genesys Cloud-based contact centre (deployed via a three-year partnership with Connect), an OnlineDMP client portal for ongoing debt-management-plan servicing, and a suite of calculators covering benefits entitlement, debt consolidation, and card repayment. Core products span the full UK debt-solution spectrum: Debt Management Plans (DMPs), Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), Debt Relief Orders (DROs), Bankruptcy, Breathing Space scheme support, and Scotland-specific solutions (DAS, Protected Trust Deed, Sequestration, MAP Bankruptcy). Specialist offerings include the Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form (DMHEF), approved by the ICO and FCA and bearing the Plain English Campaign Crystal Mark, plus accessibility provisions via British Sign Language video interpreters and Relay UK.

StepChange operates a freemium charity business model: no fees are charged to clients for any service, tool, or debt solution. With 101-250 employees, the organisation is funded by a diversified base of financial-services partners and other funders, audited under both statutory and non-statutory regimes. Go-to-market combines a direct-to-consumer digital motion (stepchange.org, SEO, content marketing, social media, email nurture via the 7 Days 7 Ways programme) with a sales-led B2B referral channel through banks, building societies, housing associations, local councils, energy suppliers, DWP, and partner charities. Recent strategic moves include the November 2025 announcement of US operations, a 2026 Barclays-led funding round of approximately $5.4 million, and the July 2025 closure of the equity-release subsidiary StepChange Financial Solutions.

Name

StepChange Debt Charity

Legal name

The Foundation for Credit Counselling

Website

https://stepchange.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

StepChange Debt Charity is a UK-registered charity providing free, confidential debt advice and formal debt solutions to individuals across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Founded in 1993, it serves over 650,000 clients annually via a 24/7 online advice tool, phone support, and solutions including DMPs, IVAs, DROs, and bankruptcy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Debt Advisory Services

NAICS

Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)

SIC

Services-Consumer Credit Reporting, Collection Agencies (7320)

akta.pro primary industry

Credit Counseling & Debt Management Plans (DMP) (FSAKAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Debt Management Plans (DMP) Administration (FSAEAFAB)

Keywords

• Debt management plans
• Free debt advice
• Credit counselling services
• Debt relief orders
• Insolvency advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

West Burton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Operations (No client fees): As a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation, StepChange provides free debt advice and does not charge clients for its services. The organisation is authorised and regulated by the FCA and operates as The Foundation for Credit Counselling.
2. Funders and Partners: StepChange is funded by a range of partners and funders including those in the financial services sector. The organisation undergoes both statutory and non-statutory audits, and funders may audit the service to ensure standards are met.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

StepChange Debt Charity provides free, confidential debt advice and debt management solutions to UK consumers in financial distress. Operating as The Foundation for Credit Counselling, a registered charity, it delivers 24/7 online debt advice, formal insolvency solutions (DMP, IVA, DRO, Bankruptcy, Breathing Space), and specialist Scottish debt solutions (DAS, Trust Deed, Sequestration, MAP). The charity is FCA-authorised and funded by partners rather than client fees.

Product overview

StepChange Debt Charity offers a comprehensive suite of free debt advice and management services across the UK. The core offering is the Online Debt Advice Tool, a 24/7 digital platform that provides personalized debt advice through an interactive questionnaire. This feeds into various formal debt solutions including Debt Management Plans (DMP), Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA), Debt Relief Orders (DRO), and Bankruptcy, with Scotland-specific variants such as the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS), Protected Trust Deed, and Minimal Asset Process (MAP) Bankruptcy. The charity also provides the OnlineDMP client portal for ongoing plan management, plus specialized calculators (Benefits Calculator, Card Repayment Calculator, Debt Consolidation Calculator), the Breathing Space scheme for creditor protection, and holistic support services including mental health support, equity release advice, and mortgage guidance. The portfolio is completed by the 7 Days 7 Ways email programme and additional accessibility accommodations including British Sign Language interpreter services. All services are free, confidential, and provided without judgment, positioning StepChange as a non-profit debt advice charity rather than a commercial financial product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Debt Management Plan (DMP) A structured repayment plan allowing clients to pay their debts at an affordable rate, consolidating multiple unsecured debts into single monthly payments managed by StepChange on behalf of the client.
• Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) A formal insolvency solution allowing clients to pay a monthly amount they can afford toward their debts over a fixed period, after which remaining debt may be written off.
• Debt Relief Order (DRO) A low-cost insolvency option for individuals with minimal assets and low income, allowing qualifying debts to be written off after a 12-month delay period.
• Bankruptcy Advice Expert guidance to help individuals determine whether bankruptcy is an appropriate solution for their financial situation, covering the process and implications.
• Breathing Space Scheme A government-backed scheme providing up to 60 days of protection from creditor action, including interest and charges freezes, giving clients time to arrange a debt solution.
• Online Debt Advice Tool A free, confidential digital advice tool guiding users through questions about their financial situation to provide tailored debt advice and a personal action plan, available 24/7 online.
• OnlineDMP Client Portal An online portal allowing existing DMP clients to log in, view their account details, check payments, and update their personal information.
• Benefits Calculator A free online tool helping users identify which government benefits they may be entitled to claim, including Universal Credit, Child Benefit, and other income-related support.
• Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) A Scottish government-backed debt solution allowing clients to pay off their debts through a debt payment programme, with protection from creditors upon approval.
• Protected Trust Deed A Scottish insolvency solution where clients make affordable monthly payments toward their debts for a specified period, after which remaining debt may be written off.
• Sequestration (Scottish Bankruptcy)

Quantifiable outcome

• 9+ million people helped since 1993
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PRA GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 2026Second consecutive year co-hosting policy roundtable at UK Parliament House of Lords ahead of Debt Awareness Week. Brought together financial sector stakeholders including banks, fintechs, regulators, and academics to discuss UK's financial inclusion strategy, credit scoring systems, and expanding access to safe, affordable finance for people recovering from problem debt. Joint consumer-focused research initiative.
• Connect (Business Communications Company)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023Three-year partnership to modernise StepChange's contact centre operations using Genesys Cloud Contact Centre as a Service platform. Consolidated telephony, call recording, workforce management, and analytics. Drove 60% reduction in misrouted calls and increased online advice provision from 83% to 87%, enabling service to over 25,000 people in financial distress with more scalable and emotionally supportive delivery.
• Citizens AdviceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Citizens Advice as part of 'Check it, Trust it' campaign to help people identify legitimate debt advice providers and avoid clone firms and scams.
• National DebtlineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with National Debtline as part of 'Check it, Trust it' campaign to help people identify legitimate debt advice providers and avoid clone firms and scams.
• Referral Partners (Banks, Building Societies, Housing Associations, Councils, Energy Suppliers, DWP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of referral partners including banks, building societies, housing associations, local councils, energy suppliers, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and other charities who signpost or refer individuals needing debt advice to StepChange services.
• Feefo (Client Reviews)minorOthersFeefo review platform displays client testimonials and ratings, with 92% of clients stating they wish they'd got help sooner.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GreenPath Financial Wellness: US-based nonprofit credit counselling agency providing DMPs, housing counselling, and financial education. Highly comparable in mission and product set; the most relevant incumbent StepChange will face as it establishes US operations (announced Nov 2025).
• Money Management International (MMI): Large US nonprofit credit counselling agency offering DMPs, bankruptcy pre-filing counselling, and housing counselling. Directly comparable as the dominant US credit counselling nonprofit and a benchmark for StepChange's US expansion thesis.

Emerging players

• Talking Money: Smaller Bristol and South West-focused debt advice charity providing free, face-to-face debt casework. Comparable service model with a more regional footprint than StepChange's national coverage.

Direct peers

• Citizens Advice: England and Wales national advice charity providing free, independent debt advice alongside broader consumer and welfare guidance. Directly comparable as a free, FCA-aligned debt advice provider competing for the same UK consumer base.
• PayPlan: UK free debt advice and DMP administration provider, now part of the Totemic group. Directly comparable as a free-to-client debt management plan operator serving financially distressed UK consumers.
• Money Advice Trust: UK charity that operates National Debtline and Business Debtline, and runs training and policy work on debt advice. Directly comparable as a sector peer shaping UK debt advice standards and delivering front-line services.
• Christians Against Poverty (CAP): UK charity providing free debt counselling, DMPs, and insolvency advice from a faith-based perspective, with national coverage through local church partnerships. Comparable in mission, service mix, and target client demographic.
• National Debtline (Money Advice Trust): UK free debt advice charity operating a phone and webchat helpline, offering debt advice and DMP administration. A direct functional peer that StepChange itself partners with on consumer-protection campaigns.
• Money and Pensions Service (MoneyHelper / MaPS): UK government-backed body providing free, impartial money and debt guidance across the four nations. Directly comparable as a publicly funded debt guidance provider competing for the same UK consumer education and advice demand.
• Money Wellness: UK debt advice charity providing free debt advice, DMPs, and insolvency solutions through digital and phone channels. A direct peer in target market, business model, and product set.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StepChange
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/StepChangeDebtCharity
• Facebookfacebook.com/stepchangedebtcharity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stepchange-debt-charity

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about StepChange Debt Charity