Debt help across the West Midlands
Eleven towns and cities, eleven different councils, and eleven different Council Tax Reduction schemes. The debt solutions are the same everywhere in England — the local support is not. For IVAs specifically, the Birmingham IVA guide covers the regional advice route. For IVAs across the region, see IVA information across the West Midlands. The same council-by-council coverage now exists for Greater Manchester.
You never have to pay for debt advice. MoneyHelper (government-backed), StepChange, National Debtline and Citizens Advice all give free, confidential advice with no obligation. We would rather you got good advice somewhere than bad advice from anyone.
Bankruptcy advice in the Midlands: where it actually comes from
There is no Midlands bankruptcy office and no local application: bankruptcy is a national online process — £680, decided by an adjudicator, no court for debtor applications. “Bankruptcy advice” in the Midlands means three real things: free authorised advice (every authority below lists its services; Citizens Advice across the region; Birmingham’s network is the deepest), the alternatives check an adviser runs first — a DRO is free and fits many Midlands cases, an IVA protects a home with equity — and the court stage that exists only in creditor petitions, handled for the region at Birmingham Civil Justice Centre — the regional bankruptcy guide covers all seven boroughs. Anyone selling “Midlands bankruptcy help” beyond those three things is selling geography.
Choose your area
Coventry has the region’s most distinctive setup — separate Crisis and Housing Payment application forms on a £6.6 million allocation — covered in full on the Coventry page.
| Area | Council tax administered by | Postcode |
|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton | City of Wolverhampton Council | WV1 |
| Birmingham | Birmingham City Council | B1 |
| Walsall | Walsall Council | WS1 |
| Dudley | Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council | DY1 |
| Sandwell | Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council | B65 |
| Solihull | Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council | B90 |
| Coventry | Coventry City Council | CV1 |
| Telford | Telford & Wrekin Council | TF1 |
| Cannock | Cannock Chase District Council | WS11 |
| Stafford | Stafford Borough Council | ST16 |
Each page covers the council's own recovery process, the free advice services in that area, and the emergency support available locally.
Wherever you are in the West Midlands
The framework is the same. What varies is what your council offers and what free advice is available locally. Eight questions and we will point you at the right reading.