Introduction
Speak For You helps people who want to understand processes, organise evidence, and prepare their own communications with insolvency practitioners, lenders, regulators, or ombudsman services. We are information providers only and also provide administrative support.
We are not regulated so do not provide advice or representation.
What we do (information & administration)
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Plain‑English explanations of formal processes (e.g., complaint routes, variation meetings).
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Checklists and templates to help you prepare letters/emails.
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Evidence‑gathering support (organising documents you already hold).
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Signposting to FCA‑authorised debt advice providers, licensed IPs, or SRA‑regulated solicitors when needed.
What we do not do
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We do not give personalised recommendations about debt solutions (no debt counselling).
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We do not negotiate with creditors or IPs on your behalf (no debt adjusting).
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We do not represent you or seek compensation for you (no claims management).
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We do not act under an “authority to act.” All communications are in your name and under your control.
Get started
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Download our free self‑help pack (templates, checklists, guidance).
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Book an information‑only admin session to organise your paperwork and plan your next steps with an authorised professional.
Regulatory statement: Speak For You Ltd is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). All content and sessions are information‑only. For regulated advice, please use an FCA‑authorised firm or licensed IP. For legal advice, use an SRA‑regulated solicitor.
StepChange
StepChange presents itself as a free debt charity. They say:
“All the money you pay into your DMP goes towards paying off your debts.”
(Source: StepChange website).
But StepChange is funded directly by creditors. That creates a structural conflict, how can an organisation remain truly independent when it relies on the people you owe money to?
Citizens Advice (CAB)
Citizens Advice is respected for community work, but when it comes to debt:
• It receives government and charitable funding linked to creditors.
• This makes its advice service less than truly independent.
While CAB helps many people, the funding structure means it cannot always challenge creditors as strongly as a debtor-focused organisation should.
Martin Lewis & MoneySavingExpert (MSE)
Martin Lewis and MSE are household names. His MSE Charity Fund has donated millions to Citizens Advice, including settlement money from Facebook.
(Source: Martin Lewis Blog 2024).
These donations support good causes, but they also tie Lewis and MSE to organisations that themselves are creditor funded.
This makes their voice less than truly independent when it comes to debt solutions.
Why Independent Views Matter
At Speak For You, we believe that truly independent support is essential—especially when you’re in debt and vulnerable to poor advice.
One of the UK’s most well-known debt charities, StepChange, presents itself as impartial. However, in 2023, they provided debt advice to over 183,000 people, yet only arranged:
• 703 Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs)
• 1,115 Debt Relief Orders (DROs) — before discontinuing this service early in the year
The overwhelming majority were guided into informal Debt Management Plans (DMPs).
This is no coincidence. StepChange receives around 80% of its funding from creditors—banks, lenders, and utility companies—through a model called Fair Share, where creditors donate when clients repay debts through a DMP. This creates a clear conflict of interest: DMPs are financially beneficial for lenders, while alternatives such as DROs, bankruptcy, or challenging an unsuitable IVA often are not.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
The FCA is the UK’s principal financial regulator, tasked with protecting consumers and ensuring markets work well. However, a 2024 report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Investment Fraud and Fairer Financial Services described the FCA as “incompetent at best, dishonest at worst”, after hearing from 175 fraud victims, whistle-blowers, and former FCA staff. (The Guardian).
Despite these findings, the FCA continues to allow debt charities and commercial firms to be funded by creditors through commission or repayment-linked donations. This has raised serious concerns about whether the regulator is doing enough to protect people from advice models that primarily benefit lenders—not individuals.
We Offer a Different View
At Speak For You, we are not funded by creditors. Our support services are designed entirely around your best outcome—not your lender’s.
We work with individuals to explore routes that may offer a clearer, more decisive path out of unaffordable debt. These approaches are focused on achieving resolution in a practical, structured, and time-limited manner, without locking you into long-term repayment traps.
If you feel you were mis-sold an IVA, are stuck in a plan that no longer suits your needs, or want to understand your full range of options, we are here to help you move forward with confidence.
Privacy Policy
Privacy: We only process personal data provided directly by you to prepare templates/checklists and organise your information. We do not contact third parties on your behalf. See full Privacy Notice for lawful bases, retention, and your rights.
Contact: - Email: info@speakforyou.co.uk - Phone: +44 08007074189 - Hours: Mon–Fri, 9–5
Accessibility: If you need formats that are easier to read or alternative languages, let us know.