Financial abuse
You don't have to deal with it
on your own.
Financial abuse can take many forms. It could be someone stopping you from earning or using your own money. It could be someone running up debts in your name, or spending your money without your permission.
You don’t have to deal with it on your own – we can help.
Financial abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, class, religion or disability. Often, it’s carried out by a partner, but it can also be a family member, friend or carer. They might:
We’ll listen to you and ensure we understand what's happening before we suggest ways in which we can help you – we won’t judge you or put any pressure on you. We can suggest and offer practical steps to help you take back control of your money. This could include:
Important: If you need help urgently, you can call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 200 0247. This free helpline is run by Refuge and Women’s Aid and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There is a lot of help and support available to get some practical advice even before you are ready to talk things through. UK Finance has produced a comprehensive leaflet about financial abuse, assisted by several banks and building societies. The leaflet contains more examples of financial abuse, how we can help, and lists other organisations that can support you when you’re ready.
If you suspect a family member or friend is suffering from financial abuse you can show them the UK Finance ‘It’s your money’ leaflet and encourage them to contact their bank or building society, or one of the organisations listed at the back of the leaflet.
You can also read our article Lifting the lid on financial abuse.
UK Finance's leaflet about financial abuse. Examples of financial abuse, how we can help, and lists organisations who can support you or a family member.
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You can check the Financial Services register on the FCA's website.