The Debt Advice Service

What The Debt Advice Service does

The Debt Advice Service, a trading name of Pacific Financial Solutions Ltd, is a UK FCA-authorised (FRN 688034) debt advice and insolvency practitioner firm headquartered in Oldham that helps individuals with unsecured consumer debt — credit cards, personal loans, overdrafts, store cards, catalogues, and some business debts — find formal and informal solutions including Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), Bankruptcy, Debt Management Plans (DMPs), Debt Relief Orders (DROs), Protected Trust Deeds, and the government Breathing Space scheme. The customer journey is delivered through a 5-step web-based debt assessment form that captures debt amount, employment status, residential status, and contact preference, after which advisers follow up by call, text, WhatsApp, or email; the firm also operates an outbound telemarketing function using automated dialler systems with daily and weekly targets. The platform is complemented by a free Benefits Calculator and a content/blog layer covering debt advice, IVA misconceptions, parking ticket appeals, and related topics.

The firm employs in-house Insolvency Practitioners (Jason Bowen, IPA Membership No. 6142284; Carl McMullen, IPA Membership No. 106181) who can act jointly with IPs at partnered firms for IVA arrangements, supported by a Compliance Director (Chris Foster) and a Debt Specialist (Darren McGrath, joined August 2021). It processes personal data under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 with ICO registration ZA207735, and uses Experian soft-credit searches (with customer permission) and a CRM provided by Lead Orion (PedlDigitl Limited) to support assessments.

Revenue is generated through three streams captured in source data: (i) professional-services fees embedded in affordable monthly repayments when customers enter debt solutions such as IVAs or DMPs, (ii) remuneration for in-house IP and Nominee services on IVAs, and (iii) lead-generation activity with data potentially shared with third-party debt solution providers. The customer experience is freemium-style at intake (initial assessment and advice are free, with all fees explained upfront before commitment), and the firm reports helping more than 15,000 people per year, speaking to over 300 households per day, holding a 4.9 'Excellent' Trustpilot rating, and carrying 400+ verified reviews on Reviews.io alongside BBC feature status and reference by Money Helper.

Name

The Debt Advice Service

Legal name

Pacific Financial Solutions Ltd

Website

https://thedebtadviceservice.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Debt Advice Service is a UK FCA-authorised debt advisory firm (trading as Pacific Financial Solutions Ltd) that helps individuals with unsecured debt access IVAs, Bankruptcy, DMPs, DROs, Protected Trust Deeds, and the Breathing Space scheme via a web assessment tool and phone-led advisory team.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Debt Advisory and Insolvency Services

NAICS

Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223)

SIC

Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Debt Management Plans (DMP) Administration (FSAEAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Hardship & Forbearance Assistance (FSAEAFAJ), Credit Counseling & Debt Management Plans (DMP) (FSAKAJAH), Debt Consolidation Personal Loans (Unsecured Installment) (FSAKAAAD)

Keywords

• Debt management services
• Consumer debt advice
• Individual voluntary arrangements
• Insolvency practitioner services
• Debt relief solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Oldham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Debt Solution Fees: Fees apply when customers enter into debt solutions such as Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) or Debt Management Plan (DMP). These fees are included in affordable monthly repayments. The company either continues applications via in-house Insolvency Practitioners or refers to trusted partners and receives remuneration for services.
2. Insolvency Practitioner Services: In-house IPs (Jason Bowen and Carl McMullen) act jointly as Nominee with IPs from partnered firms for IVA arrangements, receiving remuneration for this service.
3. Lead Generation: Company generates leads through its website and telemarketing operations, with data potentially shared with third-party partners for debt solution services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Debt Advice Service provides free, confidential debt advice to UK consumers and arranges regulated debt solutions including Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA), Bankruptcy, Debt Management Plans (DMP), Debt Relief Orders (DRO), Protected Trust Deeds (Scotland), and Breathing Space. Services are delivered via a 5-step online debt assessment form followed by telephone advisory from in-house FCA-authorised debt specialists and Insolvency Practitioners. Fees apply only when a customer enters a debt solution and are incorporated into affordable monthly repayments.

Product overview

The Debt Advice Service offers a suite of regulated debt solutions delivered through a centralized advice platform. The core portfolio comprises six formal and informal debt products: Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), Bankruptcy, Debt Management Plan (DMP), Debt Relief Order (DRO), Protected Trust Deed, and Breathing Space. These are complemented by a Debt Assessment Form (5-step questionnaire) and a Benefits Calculator for identifying potential entitlements. The company is authorized by the FCA and employs in-house Insolvency Practitioners to administer solutions, with options to refer clients to trusted partner firms when appropriate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) A formal insolvency solution allowing individuals in England and Wales to write off unaffordable unsecured debts while making affordable monthly repayments over a set period, administered with the support of in-house and partner Insolvency Practitioners.
• Bankruptcy A formal debt solution that writes off an individual's debts after their assets are realised and distributed to creditors, arranged for UK consumers who qualify.
• Debt Management Plan (DMP) An informal arrangement allowing individuals to combine multiple unsecured debts into a single affordable monthly repayment, typically managed through partner Debt Management Companies.
• Debt Relief Order (DRO) A debt solution allowing individuals with low income and few assets to write off qualifying debts after a set moratorium period.
• Protected Trust Deed A Scottish insolvency solution similar to an IVA, allowing residents of Scotland to make repayments over a fixed period while protecting certain assets, after which remaining qualifying debts are written off.
• Breathing Space A government-backed scheme providing temporary protection from creditor action and freezing interest, fees, and charges for individuals in problem debt while a longer-term solution is arranged.
• Debt Assessment Form Interactive 5-step online questionnaire that collects debt amount, employment status, residential status, and preferred contact method to qualify leads and match them with the appropriate debt solution.
• Benefits Calculator Free online tool that helps individuals check what UK government benefits they may be entitled to, complementing the company's debt-advice offering.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15,000 people helped in the UK every year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• AnonyMind.comminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced March 2022 to provide support for individuals whose gambling has led to debt. AnonyMind.com provides anonymous mental health support services, and this partnership allows The Debt Advice Service to refer affected customers to specialized gambling addiction support while offering debt resolution services.
• The Debt Resolution ServicecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInsolvency Practitioners firm that handles case administration for Individual Voluntary Arrangements and other debt solutions. Data may be shared with this partner when customers require insolvency services.
• The Insolvency GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInsolvency Practitioners firm providing insolvency services. In-house IPs may act jointly with IPs from this partnered firm for IVA arrangements.
• EbenegatecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPersonal Insolvency Management Company that handles insolvency case administration and provides debt solution services to customers referred by The Debt Advice Service.
• J3 Debt Solutions LimitedminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDebt solutions company that may receive referrals from The Debt Advice Service for customers requiring specific debt management services.
• Debt Advisory Services (Scotland)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDebt Management Company based in Scotland that handles debt management plan cases and provides services to customers referred from The Debt Advice Service.
• ExperiancoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit Reporting Agency used to access customer's credit information (via soft credit search with customer permission) to understand total debt amounts. This helps advisers assess customer situations and recommend appropriate debt solutions.
• Insolvency ServiceminorOthersPart of UK Government responsible for insolvency regulation and oversight. Data may be shared with this body for regulatory compliance purposes.
• JR Outsourcing & Marketing LtdminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLead Generation Company that provides marketing and lead generation services to The Debt Advice Service, potentially driving new customer enquiries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Citizens Advice: Government-backed, free consumer advice charity covering debt, housing, benefits and more. Overlaps with The Debt Advice Service on debt advice content but does not monetise via solution placement, making it more of a substitute top-of-funnel resource than a commercial peer.
• Money Advice Trust: Charity that runs StepChange Debt Charity and drives UK debt-advice policy and standards. Comparable in regulatory/thought-leadership positioning and as a substitute free-advice provider, but does not operate paid solutions directly.

Direct peers

• PayPlan: Free UK debt advice and DMP provider offering an online debt analysis tool and a full range of debt solutions (DMP, IVA, DRO, Bankruptcy). Competes head-to-head with The Debt Advice Service on the same customer profile, FCA-regulated advice framework, and solution-based fee model.
• Money Wellness: UK debt advice and solutions provider offering free debt advice plus fee-bearing IVAs, DMPs and DROs. Targets the same unsecured-debt consumer segment and uses a similar digital assessment-to-adviser funnel, competing directly for SEO leads and IVA placement fees.
• Creditfix: Specialist UK IVA provider with strong digital lead generation and FCA authorisation. Competes directly for IVA case placement from the same vulnerable-debtor pool and shares the 'free advice, fee on solution' monetisation model.
• StepChange Debt Charity: The UK's largest specialist debt advice charity, offering free advice and DMPs/IVAs/DROs/Bankruptcy to consumers. Operates in the same regulated debt-advisory category as The Debt Advice Service and shares Money Helper endorsement, making it the closest direct competitor for both leads and fee-bearing solutions.
• Freeman Harris Insolvency Practitioners: UK IP-led insolvency practice offering IVAs, DROs, Bankruptcy and protected trust deeds. Comparable in regulatory licences, product mix and target customer, and competes with The Debt Advice Service for IP-led case work.
• McCambridge Duffy Insolvency Practitioners: UK insolvency practice offering IVAs, bankruptcy, debt relief orders and sequestration advice. Comparable in regulatory authorisations (IP-led) and solution breadth, and is a potential competitor for both leads and joint-IP engagements.
• Debt Advisory Centre: UK debt advice service providing free debt assessments and recommendations across IVAs, DMPs, DROs and Bankruptcy. Closely comparable on product set, target customer, and the digital-qualification-plus-adviser delivery model.
• ClearDebt: UK insolvency and debt solutions firm offering IVAs, DMPs, sequestration and protected trust deeds. Directly comparable on regulated product set, FCA-regulated status, and the same paid-solution revenue model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DebtAdviceSvc
• Facebookfacebook.com/thedebtadviceservice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-debt-advice-service

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 The Debt Advice Service