If your credit card balances have crept up to the point where you're only able to make the minimum payment each month, you're far from alone, and there are ways to get back in control. The right approach depends on how much you owe and what you can realistically afford, but options range from simply reorganising your payments to a formal, legally binding solution that writes off part of what you owe.
The most important thing is not to bury your head in the sand. Interest keeps building while you wait, so the sooner you act, the more choices you'll have.
The short answer
- Credit card debt is unsecured, so it can usually be included in most debt solutions.
- Start by working out what you can afford after your priority bills such as rent, council tax and utilities.
- You can ask lenders to freeze interest, or move balances to a 0% card if your credit still allows it.
- If the balances are simply unmanageable, a formal option like an IVA or a debt management plan may help.
- Free, confidential advice is always available — you never have to pay to understand your options.
First, work out what you can afford
Before you contact anyone, put together a simple budget. List your income, then your essential outgoings — housing, council tax, energy, food and travel. What's left is the most you can put towards your cards. This single figure shapes every decision that follows, and it's exactly the same starting point a debt adviser would use. If you'd rather tackle things without outside help, our guide on how to deal with your debts yourself walks through the process step by step.
Prioritise the right debts
It can feel natural to worry most about the loudest lender, but credit cards are what's known as non-priority debt. Missing a card payment damages your credit file and may lead to a default, but it won't cost you your home or get your energy cut off. Priority debts — rent, mortgage, council tax and utilities — must always come first. Only once those are covered should you decide how to split what's left between your cards.
Ways to tackle credit card debt
Ask for breathing room
Lenders would usually rather help than see you default. You can ask them to freeze interest and charges, accept lower payments for a while, or agree a repayment plan. Many creditors will consider a reduced or token payment if you're genuinely struggling and can show them your budget.
Move the balance
If your credit rating is still reasonably healthy, a 0% balance transfer card can pause interest for a set period, giving you a window to pay down the actual debt. This only works if you can avoid spending more and clear the balance before the promotional rate ends.
Consolidate
Rolling several cards into one loan can simplify things and sometimes lower the interest rate, but it isn't right for everyone and can cost more overall if the term is long. It's worth weighing carefully — our guide on debt consolidation versus an IVA compares the two side by side.
When the balances are simply too big
If you owe more than you could clear in a reasonable time, even with interest frozen, a formal solution may be the kinder route. An IVA is a legally binding agreement to pay what you can afford, usually over five or six years, after which any remaining qualifying debt — including credit cards — is written off. To understand which balances can go in, see what debts can be included in an IVA, and check whether you'd be eligible with our guide on whether you qualify for an IVA.
An IVA isn't the only option. A debt management plan is a more flexible, informal arrangement, while people with smaller debts and few assets might look at a debt relief order instead. If your cards sit alongside high-cost short-term borrowing, our payday loan debt help guide covers that too.
What about your credit rating?
Any solution that involves paying less than the full contractual amount — including an informal plan or an IVA — will show on your credit file and can affect your rating for a time. That's worth knowing, but it shouldn't put you off getting help; you can read more in our guide on how an IVA affects your credit rating, and there are clear steps to rebuild your credit score afterwards.
How IVA Advice Online can help
We'll take the time to understand your situation, look at everything you owe, and explain the options in plain English — with no pressure and no judgement. Our advice on your choices is always free, and we'll only ever mention a fee if you decide to go ahead with a solution that carries one. If you're ready to talk it through, get in touch and we'll help you find a way forward.