Answer
Getting Out of Credit Card Debt in the UK
A worked sequence for clearing UK card balances, including balance transfers, persistent debt rules and where to get free advice.
Updated 25 August 2026 · 4 min read
What debt actually costs, and the orders of repayment that cost least.
Everything here is written for the United Kingdom. Terminology, protection limits and regulators differ between markets, so a guide from another country will not transfer cleanly.
A worked sequence for clearing UK card balances, including balance transfers, persistent debt rules and where to get free advice.
One method costs less in interest. The other is easier to keep going. Run both on your own figures and the choice usually makes itself.
Calculators
Run the numbers on your own situation.
What order should I pay my debts off in?