New research commissioned by the Consumer Council NI and carried out by Advice NI in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast has highlighted that Northern Ireland’s personal debt burden is increasing, largely as people continue to delay seeking debt advice.
The report, entitled From Delay to Action: Research on Debt Advice, Shame and Effective Messaging, was launched this week at an event hosted by the Money and Pensions Service.
The report shows that in 2025/26, Advice NI managed £42.8 million of debt – a 10 percent increase on the previous year. The average debt per client has also risen by 8 percent to £12,145.
68 percent of Advice NI clients waited more than 12 months before seeking debt support – and more than half of these waited over two years – with shame noted as the main reason for the delay. The report describes that people are actively avoiding creditor letters, not checking their balances, and trying to manage their situation themselves because they feel embarrassed, or fear being judged.
Almost three quarters of Advice NI clients – 73 percent – said they regretted their choice to delay getting help, highlighting the positive impact the organisation’s debt service delivers.
Advice NI
Sinead Campbell, Head of Money, Debt and Quality at Advice NI explains that avoiding help makes an already difficult situation worse.
She said, “Debt can happen to anyone, and asking for help is not a sign of failure. What this research shows is that people are often living with debt for far too long before they reach out for our support. Clients are presenting with increasingly complex financial circumstances, and we understand that the current economic climate has placed a significant deal of pressure on households. Fortunately, the demand for debt advice remains high, but we know that there are more people who need our help.
“Our message is simple. Don’t wait until you reach crisis point. If you are struggling with debt, get advice early, as this almost always improves the outcome. Our advisers provide free, confidential and impartial advice – we are here to help without any judgement.”
The report also reveals how challenging unmanaged debt can become on individuals. In 2025/26, 85 per cent of Advice NI’s debt clients regularly ran out of money, 74 per cent had turned off their heating because they could not afford it, and 60 per cent had gone without food. Yet in the same period, Advice NI increased financial gains for clients by 17 per cent to more than £2.8 million, with 95 per cent of this coming through debts being fully or partially written off.
97 per cent of clients who used the service said their situation had improved, and 94 per cent said they managed their money better after receiving advice.
The Consumer Council NI believes the report creates an opportunity for improved engagement between people struggling with debt and advice services.
Ivan Minnis, Head of Financial Services at Consumer Council NI said, “This report is important. It helps us understand the consumer experience of debt and the impact it has on them. It highlights that debt advice is effective in helping people, but feelings of shame remain in seeking help when experiencing financial difficulty. It is important that we continue to break down those barriers of shame and encourage consumers to seek help and support as early as possible.”
