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Money · Ireland
Updated September 2026

💸 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. MABS — Money Advice and Budgeting Service (0818 07 2000) is the debt-advice service for Ireland: they look at everything you owe, stop the panic, negotiate with creditors and, if needed, start the legal debt-relief route. Your HSE Community Services — home support, disability services (1800 700 700) can refer you and may cover emergency costs. Legal Aid Board / FLAC (0818 615 200) 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 firstMABS — Money Advice and Budgeting Service
Report toHSE Community Services — home support, disability services
If that failsLegal Aid Board / FLAC

🗣️ 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

  1. Make the listEvery creditor, amount, and what is already in collection. Bring the letters, even unopened.
  2. Book with MABS — Money Advice and Budgeting ServiceFree, non-judgmental. They can write to creditors on your behalf and freeze interest in many cases.
  3. Protect the essentialsRent, energy and food first. Contact those creditors before anyone else; they have hardship procedures.
  4. 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.
  5. Court letters: Legal Aid Board / FLACA court letter has a deadline. Never ignore it — respond or bring it straight to your adviser.

📇 All contacts

MABS — Money Advice and Budgeting ServiceFree, confidential debt advice; personal insolvency routeAs soon as bills cannot be paid📞 0818 07 2000🔗 mabs.ie
HSE Community Services — home support, disability servicesCare needs assessment, home support, disability servicesFor care and support📞 1800 700 700🔗 www2.hse.ie/services/home-support
Legal Aid Board / FLACCivil legal aid on low income; free legal advice clinics (FLAC)When you cannot afford a solicitor📞 0818 615 200🔗 www.legalaidboard.ie
Your city or county councilNuisances, roads, waste, lost property, environmental complaintsFor anything the council handles🔗 www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/1a5c8-local-authorities

❓ 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

Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.

  • “free debt advice Ireland”
  • “debt help Ireland cannot pay”
  • “debt relief scheme how does it work”
  • “bailiff at the door what are my rights”
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🧭 Is this still correct?

We check this information carefully, but phone numbers, websites and rules change — and sometimes we get something wrong. Spotted a mistake or a change? Let us know below.

🔗 Related questions

📨Debt collector→✂️Wage garnishment→💳Scammed online→⚡Energy bill dispute→

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