My Experience with StepChange

Back in 2009, I’d just completed several months of therapy.

With Maurice’s help, I’d finally stopped drinking.

It was one of the biggest achievements of my life.

But as the dust began to settle, another huge problem was staring me in the face.

Debt.

I owed around £25,000 in unsecured debt, on top of a £50,000 mortgage.

The previous year I’d suffered RSI, experienced what I can only describe as a breakdown, and spent time off work. Although I’d eventually returned to employment, I was now working at Domino’s, earning a fraction of what I’d previously earned as a Business Analyst.

My income had collapsed.

The repayments hadn’t.

For the first time, I had to admit something I never wanted to say out loud.

I simply couldn’t afford to pay my debts anymore.

Making the First Phone Call

I’d heard about StepChange Debt Charity, but I had no idea what to expect.

Would they judge me?

Would they tell me I’d been irresponsible?

Would they even be able to help?

I made the call anyway.

The person I spoke to was kind, patient and understanding.

They arranged a longer appointment with one of their debt advisers later that week.

I remember waiting for that call incredibly nervously.

Facing the Numbers

Preparing for that appointment turned out to be a huge step in itself.

For the first time in years, I opened every statement.

Every creditor.

Every outstanding balance.

Every minimum payment.

Every missed payment.

It wasn’t pleasant.

I felt deeply ashamed.

But something interesting happened.

Instead of making me feel worse, finally seeing everything in one place gave me a sense of control.

For the first time, I wasn’t running away from the problem.

I was facing it.

Ironically, that was the moment I began taking my power back.

Someone Was Finally in My Corner

The phone call lasted nearly an hour.

We went through absolutely everything together.

Every debt.

Every creditor.

Every payment.

Every detail.

Not once did I feel judged.

Instead, I felt listened to.

Together we worked out what I could realistically afford each month.

Based on that, the adviser recommended a Debt Management Plan.

StepChange contacted all of my creditors and proposed affordable monthly payments on my behalf.

Some creditors weren’t happy.

After all, I was paying them only a fraction of what they were originally expecting.

But because the plan had been prepared by a respected debt charity, they accepted it.

The biggest change wasn’t financial.

It was emotional.

For the first time, it felt like I had someone in my corner.

Three Years That Changed My Life

I stayed on that Debt Management Plan for around three years.

Financially, progress was slow.

Working at Domino’s meant I simply couldn’t repay the debt quickly.

But something much more important was happening.

I stayed sober.

I went to work.

I paid what I could each month.

Life settled into a rhythm.

During those three years I learnt things I’d never properly understood before.

I learnt how to budget.

I learnt how to manage money.

I learnt responsibility.

I grew up.

Eventually, after reviewing my circumstances, StepChange recommended that bankruptcy would be the best long-term solution.

It wasn’t the recommendation I ever imagined I’d receive.

But it was the right one for my situation, and it allowed me to continue rebuilding my life.

There Is More Than One Solution

Before speaking to StepChange, I honestly thought there were very few options.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Depending on your circumstances, there may be options such as:

The important thing is that everyone’s circumstances are different.

What worked for me may not be the right answer for someone else.

That’s why getting proper, independent advice is so important.

Why I’d Recommend Speaking to a Debt Charity

If you’re struggling with debt, my advice would be to speak to a well-established debt charity first.

In my experience, they genuinely wanted to help me find the right solution, rather than sell me one.

That gave me confidence that the advice I was receiving was based on what was best for my circumstances.

If You’re Reading This and Feeling Overwhelmed…

I know how frightening debt can feel.

I remember avoiding phone calls.

I remember collection teams contacting me.

I remember people knocking on my door while I hid inside.

I also remember the shame.

But here’s what I’d want you to know.

There is hope.

There is a solution.

Whatever type of debt you’re dealing with, whatever amount you owe, there are people whose job is to help you understand your options.

You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

And you don’t have to keep hiding from it.

In fact, the moment you stop hiding and face the problem is often the moment you begin taking your power back.

My Biggest Takeaway

Contacting StepChange didn’t magically solve my financial problems overnight.

What it did do was give me a plan.

It gave me breathing room.

It gave me hope.

Most importantly…

It made me realise I wasn’t fighting the battle alone anymore.

Takeaway

Looking back now, making that first phone call was one of the most important decisions I’ve ever made.

It didn’t just help me deal with my debt.

It helped me start rebuilding my life.

👉 If you’re struggling with debt today, please know this: asking for help isn’t a sign of failure. Sometimes it’s the bravest step you can take.