I have debts I cannot pay — where do I get free help?

Direct answer

Free, confidential help exists in every country and works better the earlier you go. Schuldenberatung Schweiz (Fachstellen der Kantone) (schulden.ch) is the debt-advice service for Switzerland: they look at everything you owe, stop the panic, negotiate with creditors and, if needed, start the legal debt-relief route. Your Sozialdienst der Gemeinde / Pro Senectute / Pro Infirmis (proinfirmis.ch) can refer you and may cover emergency costs. Unentgeltliche Rechtspflege (Gericht) / Rechtsauskunft des Kantons (ch.ch) is for the legal side — a bailiff at the door, a garnishment, a court letter. Do not take a "consolidation loan" from an advert; that is how debts grow.

Call firstSchuldenberatung Schweiz (Fachstellen der Kantone)

Report toSozialdienst der Gemeinde / Pro Senectute / Pro Infirmis

If that failsUnentgeltliche Rechtspflege (Gericht) / Rechtsauskunft des Kantons

🗣️ What to say

"I have debts of about [total] to [number] creditors and I can no longer keep up. I would like a first appointment to go through my income, my debts and my options — including a payment plan or debt relief."

🪜 Step by step

Make the listEvery creditor, amount, and what is already in collection. Bring the letters, even unopened.
Book with Schuldenberatung Schweiz (Fachstellen der Kantone)Free, non-judgmental. They can write to creditors on your behalf and freeze interest in many cases.
Protect the essentialsRent, energy and food first. Contact those creditors before anyone else; they have hardship procedures.
Payment plan or reliefA plan you can keep beats a plan that looks good. If the debts are hopeless, the legal debt-relief scheme wipes them after a set period.
Court letters: Unentgeltliche Rechtspflege (Gericht) / Rechtsauskunft des KantonsA court letter has a deadline. Never ignore it — respond or bring it straight to your adviser.

📇 All contacts

Schuldenberatung Schweiz (Fachstellen der Kantone)Free budget and debt adviceAs soon as bills cannot be paid🔗 www.schulden.ch

Sozialdienst der Gemeinde / Pro Senectute / Pro InfirmisSocial assistance, care, disability supportFor care and support benefits🔗 www.proinfirmis.ch

Unentgeltliche Rechtspflege (Gericht) / Rechtsauskunft des KantonsFree legal information and court costs on low incomeWhen you cannot afford a lawyer🔗 www.ch.ch/de/gerichte/unentgeltliche-rechtspflege

Gemeindeverwaltung / StadtverwaltungMunicipal administration: residents, order, noise, waste, lost propertyFor anything the municipality regulates🔗 www.ch.ch

❓ Frequently asked

Will my employer or family find out?

Not from the adviser. A garnishment of wages does reach the employer, which is one reason to act before it gets there.

Can I keep my home?

Usually, if you keep paying rent or the mortgage. Say so to the adviser first thing — housing is protected in every plan.

Is the legal debt relief really free of debts at the end?

Yes, apart from a few exceptions such as fines and maintenance. It takes discipline for a few years and a clean start after.

📎 Sources

Last checked: 2026-09-26

🔎 Common searches

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💸 I have debts I cannot pay — where do I get free help?