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Credit card payment help: interest, persistent debt and breathing space

How to ask a credit-card provider for help with interest, minimum payments and persistent debt without moving the balance into more expensive borrowing.

Last reviewed: 6 July 2026 · UK guidance

In brief

Credit-card debt is normally non-priority compared with housing, Council Tax, energy and food. If minimum payments are becoming unaffordable, contact the provider and offer a realistic amount after essentials.

Persistent-debt letters are a warning that repayments are mainly covering interest and charges. Ask for available support, but use free debt advice before accepting refinancing, consolidation or a long plan you do not understand.

Stop the balance growing where possible

Pause new spending and cash withdrawals, remove the card from digital wallets and cancel non-essential recurring charges. Check disputed or fraudulent transactions separately.

Ask for forbearance in writing

Request reduced or token payments, interest and charge freezes, a contact hold and the credit-reporting effect. Give an income-and-expenditure figure that includes realistic essentials.

Understand persistent debt options

The provider may propose higher payments or account suspension. Ask for the total cost and affordability assessment. Do not agree to payments that will fail in order to keep the card open.

Use advice for multiple debts

A plan for one card can disadvantage other creditors or priority bills. Free debt advice can consider breathing space and formal or informal solutions across the whole position.

A credit-card hardship message

Use this before missing repeated minimum payments.

I am in financial difficulty and cannot afford the contractual minimum without reducing priority household spending. I can offer £[amount]. Please freeze avoidable interest and charges, explain how the account and credit file will be treated, stop promotional borrowing offers and confirm the arrangement in writing.

A practical checklist

  • Stop new card spending.
  • Protect priority bills.
  • Ask about interest and credit reporting.
  • Use free advice for multiple debts.

Check the current information

These are the most relevant official or specialist places to confirm live rules, availability and application details.

Free debt guidance — MoneyHelper

moneyhelper.org.uk

Open official information
Which debts to pay first — MoneyHelper

moneyhelper.org.uk

Open official information
Free, impartial money guidance

moneyhelper.org.uk

Open official information

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Debt help without judgement: where to startA calm first route into debt advice that protects housing, energy and food and does not require you to justify how the situation happened.Breathing Space debt protection: what it can and cannot doWhat the Debt Respite Scheme can pause, how to access it through debt advice and why it does not erase balances or replace an affordable plan.Buy now pay later help: Klarna, Clearpay, PayPal Credit and store instalmentsHow to take control of Klarna, Clearpay, PayPal Credit and store instalments when several small schedules are colliding with essential bills.

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