How to consolidate your debt | Debt consolidation loan | Barclays (2024)


What is a debt consolidation loan?

A debt consolidation loan lets you to move your debts with other lenders to us, so you can have one, simple monthly repayment. It’s an easy way to keep on top of what you owe.

How do debt consolidation loans work?

  1. Apply in Online Banking or the Barclays app
  2. We’ll let you know our decision
  3. If we approve your application, we’ll pay the money into your account straight away2

You can see what your monthly repayments would be using our calculator.

Take control of your debt with a Barclayloan

Having just one loan could be more straightforward and easier to manage than a number of payments to different lenders.
But it’s worth noting that consolidating debts might involve payment of a higher rate of interest or charges – or both. Consolidating debts might also increase the overall period required for repayment.

  • Top-up option

    Already have a Barclayloan and need more funds? You can apply to increase your borrowing with us.

    If you just want to take out a second loan instead of topping up, that could be an option too.

    Choose your payment term

    The maximum loan repayment term is 5 years.

    You can get an idea of the rates and charges before taking out a loan by using ourloan calculator.Please see the representative example below.

    Repaying your loan early

    You can repay your loan early, in part or in full, whenever you like – there’s no minimum repayment period.

    If you repay it in full, you’ll pay the outstanding balance, as well as any other interest that’s due.You can see what your full early payment amount would be at any time in Online Banking or your Barclays app.

  • To apply online, you'll need to

    Have a Barclays current account or Barclaycard account

    Be a UK resident

    Be aged 18 or above

    You can use your loan for almost anything, apart from

    • Business reasons
    • Investments, including buying stocks and shares
    • Timeshares
    • Purchasing property (home improvements are fine)
    • Gambling-related expenses
    • Repaying CCJs (county court judgments)
    • A purchase made by combining this loan with any others
  • If you’ve started an application already, it’s easy to pick up where you left off.

    Log in to Online Banking here, and we’ll take you to your saved application form.

    Go to application

  • As a lender, we have a responsibility to act fairly and as part of this we have committed to follow the Standards of Lending Practice. This note sets out some of our key responsibilities and what we ask of you, to ensure that the relationship works well for both of us.

    • We will lend responsibly and aim to provide a product that is affordable for you.
    • We will provide you with information about our products and services and how they work, in a clear and understandable way, so that you can decide what’s best for you and your needs.
    • We will endeavour to make sure our products and services offer, wherever possible, the flexibility to meet your needs.
    • We will treat you fairly and reasonably at all times and make sure that you are provided with a high level of service.
    • If you tell us about any inaccuracies, for example around the personal information we hold about you, we will act quickly to put it right.
    • We will always aim to help you if we see, or you tell us, that you are having trouble financially. We will seek to understand your overall circ*mstances, try and identify options that you can afford and where appropriate, provide a reference to free debt advice.

    What we ask of you

    • We ask you to think carefully about whether you can afford to repay the money you want to borrow and to be open in your dealings with us.
    • Take care of any cards, PINs, online log-in details and other security information to help prevent fraud and help us to protect your accounts.
    • Tell us as soon as possible if your card has been lost or stolen, or if you know or suspect someone is misusing your confidential information e.g. your PIN or online log-in details.
    • Carefully check your account statements to make sure they are accurate. If anything isn’t right, please get in touch with us.

    Please let us know if

    • Your contact details change, so we can keep our records up to date.
    • Your circ*mstances change, particularly if what’s happened is likely to cause you difficulties in managing your account or financial problems.
    • You think that you won’t be able to keep up with your repayments. The sooner you do this, the more likely it is we’ll be able to find a way to help you.

    We would also encourage you to refer to the terms and conditions associated with your current account, credit card or personal loan.

Try our debt consolidation loan calculator

Work out how much you'd like to borrow with our debt consolidation loan calculator. The results are based on the representative APR for the amount you enter.The representative APRs shown are based on all loan applications made by Barclays customers. Your actual rates and repayments might differ and will be based on your personal circ*mstances, the loan amount and term.

Amount

Amount

£

Term in Months

Term

months

The same every month

Loan required

Based on the details you entered

Representative example

APR Representative
based on a loan of
repayable over months
at an interest rate of
per annum (fixed) pa (fixed).
Monthly repayment of .
Total amount payable .

Representative APR applies to loans of

How to apply

If you have a current account with us, we could tell you your personal loan rate upfront – without affecting your credit score.

How to consolidate your debt | Debt consolidation loan | Barclays (1)

Apply for a debt consolidation loan

You can see if you’ve been pre-selected to apply for a loan – this means you can see how much you may be able to borrow, and your personal rate, in a few minutes*. All you need is

A current account or Barclaycard account with us
Online Banking or the Barclays app

Check now

* You need to be registered for Online Banking or the Barclays app. Not everyone is pre-selected – if you aren’t, you won’t be able to apply online or in the app. Please get in touch to discuss your options.

Consolidating your debts

Spending on credit can seem like the norm for many people. But when debts mount up with different creditors, it’s easy to feel like you’re not in control of your finances. There are different options you could consider to consolidate your debt.

  • Debt consolidation can be a useful way to manage debt. Check your options to see if it’s right for you and your circ*mstances.

    A loan to consolidate your outgoings

    For most people, a debt consolidation loan involves taking out a single loan that pays off your existing debts. This could work out cheaper if you’re offered a lower rate of interest overall, when comparing it to your other debts’ interest rates.

    It won’t reduce the amount that you owe, but it’ll give you a chance to manage your debt in a simpler way – by paying the loan off with a single monthly payment.

    When you consolidate your other borrowing into a single loan, you may be charged early repayment fees. If you don’t want to pay these fees, you may prefer to keep your debts separate.

    If you do consolidate your debt, just make sure you don’t borrow more until you’re sure you can afford it.

    Still not sure? It’s best to talk to an expert to see if a debt consolidation loan is right for you. They can talk you through the pros and cons, and may offer you other options that you hadn’t yet considered.

    You can call a free helpline, such as the National Debtline on 0808 808 4000, or you can get in touch with the Citizens Advice Bureau.

  • Ways to help manage your debt

    It pays to do your research on the different ways you can manage your debt – as it could save you money in the long run. Whichever option you choose, try to deal with your most urgent debts now – things like your rent or mortgage payments, and council tax. These are called priority debts. Not paying them could mean huge penalties, such as having your home repossessed, or possibly even a prison sentence. We’ve listed some of the ways you could manage your debt.

    Debt consolidation loan

    As we’ve mentioned, a debt consolidation loan is where you take out one large loan that pays off your existing debts. It’s usually arranged by you through a bank. These types of loan are usually used to pay off credit card and other personal loan debts.

    Debt management plan

    This is a plan between you and your creditors to pay off all your debt. It’s an agreement that’s arranged through a debt management company. Generally, but not always, your creditors will freeze the interest and penalties so that you can begin to reduce your debts more quickly.

    Administration Order

    You can apply to the county court for an Administration Order if your debts are under £5,000 and you have a county court judgment (CCJ). You don’t need to pay a fee to apply and the court decides what you pay back, depending on your income.

    Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

    An IVA is an agreement you make with your creditors through a court. You’ll need to set this up through an insolvency practitioner. This is a formal, legal debt solution, so if you don’t keep up repayments, you can be made bankrupt.

    For more information on debt and ways to manage it, you can contact Citizens Advice.

Need some more help?

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What is a credit rating?

Discover how to improve yours

Learn why your credit rating is important, and how to improve it so you’re more likely to be considered for credit in future.

About credit ratings

How to consolidate your debt | Debt consolidation loan | Barclays (3)

Managing money problems

Worried about your finances? Our practical advice can help you tackle money troubles, improve your financial habits and find the support you need.

Managing money problems

How to consolidate your debt | Debt consolidation loan | Barclays (4)

Barclays Money Mentors

Borrowing to pay for those little extras

Home improvements, buying a car or splashing out on something special? Barclays Money Mentors can guide you through the best options for you.

Explore Money Mentors

How to consolidate your debt | Debt consolidation loan | Barclays (5)

Understanding loan rates

What's an APR?

We explain what APR means – and the difference between representative and personal APR.

APR explained

Debt consolidation loan questions and answers

What is a secured debt consolidation loan?

A secured debt consolidation loan is consolidating your debts into one loan and securing it against an asset, like your property. This means your home might be repossessed if you don’t keep up with your repayments. You could get a better interest rate if you secure your loan against an asset like your home.

What is an unsecured debt consolidation loan?

An unsecured debt consolidation loan is consolidating your debts into one loan without securing it against any asset. You’ll need a good credit rating to get this.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of debt consolidation?

Advantages

It could help you manage your debts better, as they’ll all be in the same place, with only one fixed monthly payment. This could help you improve your credit rating. You might be able to lower your monthly payment and how much interest you pay too.

Disadvantages

Whether there are any disadvantages depends on whether this is the right option for your circ*mstances – it’s all down to what suits you.

Can I use a debt consolidation loan to pay off credit card debt?

Yes, you can use a debt consolidation loan to pay off your credit card debt, but it depends how much debt you have on your credit cards. Remember – you’ll still need to pay back what you owe, but you’ll be paying a single rate to us instead of various rates to a number of card providers.

Which is better – balance transfer or debt consolidation?

This is all down to what suits you and your personal circ*mstances – for some people this means a balance transfer, while others find consolidating their debt easier.

Talk to us about loans

How to consolidate your debt | Debt consolidation loan | Barclays (6)

Online or in-app

Check to see if you’re eligible to apply for a loan in Online Banking or your app now.

Please note that we might not have all the information we need to show you a provisional loan limit.

Log in to check

How to consolidate your debt | Debt consolidation loan | Barclays (7)

Over the phone

If you have any questions, you can speak to a lending specialist on 0345 734 53454

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Visit us in branch

We’re on hand if you’d like to discuss your options in person. You can find your nearest branch and opening times here.

Branch finder

Important information

  1. You need to be registered for Online Banking or the Barclays app. It usually takes less than 10 minutes to apply, but if you’re not registered it will take longer.

    You might not be able to apply for a Barclayloan, or see your personalised price quote or provisional loan limit online or in your app, because certain restrictions apply. If this happens to you, please contact us to discuss your options.Return to reference

  2. If you apply online and your application is approved, you’ll need to print or download your agreement. If you apply in the Barclays app and it’s approved, you’ll need to have it emailed to you. As long as you do one of these and sign your agreement online between 5am and 11pm, you’ll usually get your money straight away (within a few minutes). If you don’t bank with one of the main UK high street banks, sometimes it can take up to a couple of hours. If you sign after 11pm, you’ll usually get your money before 9am the next day.Return to reference

  3. The rate you’re offered may differ from the Representative APR shown and will be based on your personal circ*mstances, the loan amount and the repayment term.
    All loans are subject to your financial circ*mstances and borrowing history at the time you apply. Eligibility and conditions apply. You must be a UK resident to apply.Return to reference

  4. Lines are open Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 9pm, and bank holidays from 8am to 6pm. To maintain a quality service, we may monitor or record phone calls.Call charges.Return to reference

How to consolidate your debt | Debt consolidation loan | Barclays (2024)

FAQs

How do I consolidate all my debts into one? ›

Consolidate debt with loans or lines of credit.

Here are just a few ways you can combine and manage your debt: Apply for a debt consolidation loan, and then pay just the single monthly payment on your new loan. Open a line of credit rather than taking out another loan, then repay the line of credit as you use it.

Does consolidating loans hurt credit score? ›

Debt consolidation can negatively impact your credit score. Any debt consolidation method you use will have the creditor or lender pulling your credit score, leading to a hard inquiry on your credit report. This inquiry will decrease your credit score by a few points. However, this credit score decline is temporary.

Can I combine all my debt into one payment? ›

Debt consolidation loan

Banks, credit unions, and installment loan lenders may offer debt consolidation loans. These loans convert many of your debts into one loan payment, simplifying how many payments you have to make. These offers also might be for lower interest rates than what you're currently paying.

What are the drawbacks of a debt consolidation loan? ›

Cons of Debt Consolidation
  • May Come With Added Costs. ...
  • Could Raise Your Interest Rate. ...
  • You May Pay More In Interest Over Time. ...
  • You Risk Missing Payments. ...
  • Doesn't Solve Underlying Financial Issues. ...
  • May Encourage Increased Spending.
Apr 9, 2024

How much debt is too much to consolidate? ›

Debt consolidation is a good idea if your monthly debt payments (including mortgage or rent) don't exceed 50% of your monthly gross income, and if you have enough cash flow to cover debt payments.

Do you lose your credit cards after debt consolidation? ›

If you get approved for the card, the creditor will not require you to close your other cards. And even with a debt consolidation loan, you may only face an account closure restriction in some cases.

Which bank is best for debt consolidation? ›

  • SoFi. Best debt consolidation loan. ...
  • Oportun. Best for borrowers with bad credit. ...
  • Best Egg. Best for secured loans. ...
  • PenFed Credit Union. Best for low rates and fees. ...
  • Laurel Road. Best for pre-qualification. ...
  • OneMain Financial. Best for fast funding. ...
  • LendingClub. Best for direct creditor payments. ...
  • First Tech Federal Credit Union.
May 10, 2024

Who has the best debt relief program? ›

Summary: Best Debt Relief Companies of June 2024
CompanyForbes Advisor RatingLearn more CTA below text
National Debt Relief4.5On Nationaldebtrelief.com's Website
Pacific Debt Relief4.1
Accredited Debt Relief4.0On Accredited Debt Relief's Website
Money Management International4.0Read Our Full Review
3 more rows
May 1, 2024

What score do you need to consolidate debt? ›

You need a minimum credit score between 580 and 680 to get a debt consolidation loan that offers reasonable rates with most lenders. The higher your credit score is, the lower your APR is likely to be - and the main purpose of a debt consolidation loan is to get a lower APR for your debt.

Who is the most reputable debt consolidation company? ›

American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC), a nonprofit credit counseling agency and member of the NFCC, was ranked best overall for debt management due to its strong track record of customer satisfaction over its three decades in business. In addition, it boasts an A+ from the Better Business Bureau.

Is it smart to get a personal loan to consolidate debt? ›

Debt consolidation is ideal when you are able to receive an interest rate that's lower than the rates you're paying for your current debts. Many lenders allow you to check what rate you'd be approved for without hurting your credit score so you can make sure you're okay with the terms before signing on the dotted line.

Should I consolidate my debt with my bank? ›

Taking out a debt consolidation loan can help put you on a faster track to total payoff and may help you save money in interest by paying down the balance faster. This is especially true if you have significant credit card debt you carry from month to month.

What is one bad thing about consolidation? ›

You might lose borrower benefits such as interest rate discounts, principal rebates, or some loan cancellation benefits associated with your current loans. Consolidating your current loans could cause you to lose credit for payments made toward IDR plan forgiveness or PSLF.

What are 4 things debt consolidation can do? ›

Four types of debt are commonly consolidated: credit card debt, student loan debt, medical debt and high-interest personal loan debt. You may reduce the overall cost of repayment by securing better terms and interest. You'll also have a single payment to keep track of instead of several.

Will my credit go up if I consolidate my debt? ›

However, credit cards and personal loans are considered two separate types of debt when assessing your credit mix, which accounts for 10% of your FICO credit score. So if you consolidate multiple credit card debts into one new personal loan, your credit utilization ratio and credit score could improve.

How do I get all my debts into one? ›

For most people, a debt consolidation loan involves taking out a single loan that pays off your existing debts. This could work out cheaper if you're offered a lower rate of interest overall, when comparing it to your other debts' interest rates.

Is it a good idea to consolidate all your bills? ›

A debt consolidation loan may temporarily lower your credit score by a few points due to the hard credit inquiry. But, over time, consolidation could improve your score. You may find that it's easier to make on-time payments with a single consolidation loan each month versus multiple debt streams.

Who qualifies for debt consolidation? ›

Although lenders differ, most require that borrowers have a good credit score, a low debt-to-income ratio and a steady income. Some lenders cater to borrowers with lower credit or allow for co-signers, which can increase your approval odds and or grant you a better interest rate.

Can I get a loan to pay off all my debts? ›

Debt consolidation can be a handy strategy for paying off multiple debts as quickly (and as affordably) as possible. This can be especially true if the personal loan you use to consolidate your debts doesn't charge you a penalty for paying back the balance early.

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