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Blank balances count as £0. APR appears only for non-priority debts.
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Sort what you owe using UK priority rules, then see the consequences that make some bills more urgent than others.
Priority is about the severity of missing a payment, not the interest rate. A high-APR credit card must never jump ahead of rent, council tax, energy or another priority debt.
Blank balances count as £0. APR appears only for non-priority debts.
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Deal with these FIRST, whatever the interest rate. Missing them has the most serious consequences.
If you can't pay these in full, UK debt charities suggest a ‘pro-rata’ offer — split what you can afford across them in proportion to what you owe, so everyone is treated fairly.
Optional only: use this for money left AFTER every priority debt and essential living cost. Never use it as a reason to underpay a priority bill.
Important: This tool is general information, not debt advice. It sorts debts by the usual UK priority rules so you can see what to tackle first — but everyone's situation is different. If you're struggling, please get free, confidential advice (see the box above) before making decisions. finrato.com is independent and not affiliated with any government body, MoneyHelper, or any advice charity.
UK priority debts are ranked by the seriousness of what can happen if you do not pay, such as losing your home or essential supply. Interest rate does not change that classification.
It means dividing the amount you can afford across non-priority creditors in proportion to each balance, so each creditor receives a fair share.
No. Scotland has different debt procedures. The Debt Arrangement Scheme can freeze interest and charges and protect against enforcement when arranged through an approved money adviser.
When money won't stretch to every bill, the instinct is to pay whatever charges the most interest. In the UK that instinct can cost you your home. Debts are not equal: they split into priority and non-priority, and the line between them is drawn by the seriousness of what happens if you don't pay — not by the APR. A 0% council tax arrear is far more dangerous than a 40% payday loan, because the council can send bailiffs and, in England, non-payment can ultimately mean prison, whereas the payday lender's worst weapon is a County Court Judgment. The tool above sorts your debts on exactly this principle.
These are the ones where non-payment threatens your home, your liberty, your energy supply or essential goods:
Credit cards, store cards, personal loans, overdrafts, catalogue and buy-now-pay-later, payday loans and money owed to friends are non-priority. The worst realistic outcome is a CCJ, not losing your home. That does not mean ignore them — keep paying what you can — but they wait in the queue behind every priority bill. Water is also non-priority: by law your water supply cannot be disconnected.
If you can't clear the non-priority debts in full, the standard, fair method is a pro-rata offer: work out what you can afford after priority bills and essential living costs, then split it across your non-priority creditors in proportion to what you owe. Most will accept a realistic pro-rata offer, and it stops any one creditor being favoured. The popular “avalanche” (highest interest first) and “snowball” (smallest balance first) methods are only for money left over after priorities and essentials — never a reason to underpay a priority bill.
The rules genuinely differ by nation, which is why the tool asks where you live. England and Wales have Breathing Space — a 60-day freeze on interest and enforcement while you get advice (a debt adviser applies for you; you can't self-apply). Scotland has no council-tax imprisonment, uses sheriff officers rather than bailiffs, and offers the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) instead of Breathing Space. Whichever nation you're in, get free advice before you make big decisions.
You never need to pay for debt advice. Free, regulated charities give the same formal solutions as paid firms — StepChange (0800 138 1111), National Debtline (0808 808 4000) and others. Our free debt advice locator lists them by nation. This tool is general information, not debt advice — everyone's situation is different, so please speak to a free adviser before changing what you pay.
Yes. The credit card can only, at worst, get a CCJ; the council can send bailiffs or take the matter to court. Priority is about consequences, not cost. Protect the roof over your head and your energy supply first, always.
That's the point to stop and get free advice immediately, before cutting any priority payment. A free adviser can negotiate with creditors, apply for Breathing Space (England & Wales) or DAS (Scotland), and check whether a formal solution fits. See our debt advice locator.
No — a payday loan is non-priority however eye-watering the APR. High interest makes it expensive, not dangerous in the legal sense. Keep it in the non-priority queue and, if you're struggling, get advice: the interest can often be frozen.