Scotland has its own set of debt solutions, so the right choice depends on your circumstances. Whether you can repay in full over time or need some debt written off, there’s likely a route that fits — and we’ll help you compare them honestly, risks and all.
The solutions we advise on are debt solutions, not loans; some are forms of insolvency, are recorded on a public register and will affect your credit rating. Your initial advice is free and there’s no obligation; if you go ahead, fees apply and are shown to you in full first. We’re a commercial service — free, independent debt advice is also available from MoneyHelper and the Scottish Government.
Because debt law is devolved, Scotland has solutions you won’t find elsewhere in the UK. The three main formal routes are a Protected Trust Deed, the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) and sequestration — each suited to a different situation. Two guides go deeper: Trust Deed vs DAS and the Minimal Asset Process.
A Protected Trust Deed is for people who can’t realistically repay everything: you make one affordable payment for around four years, and qualifying unsecured debt you can’t afford is written off at the end (subject to creditor agreement, not guaranteed). The Debt Arrangement Scheme is for people who can repay in full given time: interest and charges are frozen and your home and car are protected while you do. Sequestration — Scottish bankruptcy — is usually a last resort that writes off most unsecured debts.
We’ll look at what you owe, what you can afford and what matters most to you, then explain which solution fits — including the disadvantages — so you can decide with confidence.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. We compare the options against your real circumstances so the solution you pick is one you can actually live with.
We go through your debts, income and outgoings to see what’s realistic for you.
We weigh a Trust Deed, DAS and sequestration against your situation — repayment, write-off, your home, your credit file.
You decide with a clear picture of the advantages and the risks — and we’ll point you to free, impartial advice too.
Free, confidential advice with no obligation. Find out in minutes which Scottish debt solution suits you.
See if you qualify →For the right person, these solutions offer real relief. Here are some of the main advantages.
Bring your unsecured debts together into a single monthly payment based on what you can realistically afford.
We deal with your creditors directly, so you no longer have to liaise with them yourself.
Once your solution is in place, interest and charges on the debts included are frozen so the balance stops growing.
Dealing with Scottish debt is all we do, so the advice you get is tailored to the solutions available where you live.
These are debt solutions and some are forms of insolvency — serious commitments. We’ll fully explain the implications and check any solution is affordable, achievable and suitable for you. Another option may be more appropriate.
A Trust Deed or DAS will affect your credit rating and can make obtaining credit harder for a period. If you’re already missing payments, your rating is likely affected already.
A Protected Trust Deed is a form of insolvency recorded on the public Register of Insolvencies, which anyone can search. A DAS is recorded on the DAS Register.
Only unsecured debts (such as credit cards, loans and overdrafts) can be included. You must keep paying secured debts like your mortgage yourself.
With a Trust Deed, how much unsecured debt is written off depends on your circumstances and your creditors’ agreement. Creditors are not obliged to accept a proposal.
In a Trust Deed the trustee has an interest in any equity in your home. Where appropriate this can be managed, but if equity can’t be released your home could be affected.
No single solution is right for everyone. We’ll always check whether another route — or free, impartial advice — would serve you better first.
If the following sounds like you, it’s worth comparing your options. There are other factors we’ll assess, such as your property status and income.
A Trust Deed, a DAS or sequestration — we’ll help you find the one that fits your circumstances.
Check if you qualify Free initial advice · No obligation · Fees apply only if you proceed and are shown in full firstYour initial advice is free and there’s no obligation. Trust-Deeds.co.uk is a trading style of My Debt Plan Ltd — a commercial, profit-seeking service, paid for the debt solution you enter into.
If you go ahead with a Protected Trust Deed, your trustee is paid a fixed administration fee plus a further fee based on a percentage of the funds collected during the Trust Deed. These fees are paid from the monthly payments you make, before money is distributed to your creditors — so there is no separate upfront fee. On a Debt Arrangement Scheme, a fee is taken from your monthly payment to cover administering and distributing it to your creditors. Whichever route suits you, all fees are explained and disclosed to you in full before you sign anything.
Each suits a different situation. We’ll always explain the advantages, disadvantages and risks of each before you decide.
A Scottish alternative to bankruptcy for unsecured debts over £5,000. One affordable monthly payment, typically over around four years, after which qualifying unsecured debt you can’t afford is written off (subject to creditor agreement, not guaranteed). A form of insolvency recorded on a public register.
Learn about Trust Deeds →A Scottish Government scheme to repay your debts in full through one affordable payment, with interest and charges frozen and your home and car protected as long as you keep up the payments. It will still affect your credit rating.
Learn about DAS →The Scottish form of bankruptcy. Most, if not all, unsecured debts are written off and creditors must stop contacting you, but it’s recorded on a public register, affects your credit rating and carries restrictions while you’re bankrupt.
Learn about sequestration →Find out in minutes which Scottish debt solution fits you. It’s free, confidential and there’s no obligation.
Answer a few quick questions about your situation and a debt advisor at My Debt Plan Ltd will be in touch to talk through your options. It’s free, confidential and there’s no obligation.
See if you qualify →Prefer to speak to someone? Call us on
0161 464 0870Mon–Fri 9am–5pm · Private & confidential, no obligation
Free, independent debt advice is also available from MoneyHelper, StepChange, National Debtline or Citizens Advice Scotland.
Side-by-side guides to the Scottish debt solutions and who each one suits.
Facing your debt is the first step towards dealing with it. Free, confidential guidance — with no judgment and no obligation.
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