Adam Frankel
General Counsel · Technology & AI
15+ years as General Counsel to technology, cloud & AI companies
Request to write off a debt - letter by Citizens Advice
The Citizens Advice template letter to request a debt write-off helps individuals ask a bank or creditor to forgive a debt when they are unable to make payments due to financial hardship. It is part of Citizens Advice’s widely trusted library of open, lawyer-vetted letter templates.
Request to write off a debt - letter
[debtor name]
[debtor address line 1]
[debtor address line 2]
[debtor phone]
[debtor email]
[creditor name]
[creditor address line 1]
[creditor address line 2]
[letter date]
Your reference: [creditor reference]
To whom it may concern,
Account name: [account name]
Account number: [account number]
I am sorry that I am unable to keep up my monthly payments to your company. This is because:
I am on long term sick and unable to work. I have claimed benefits and am waiting to hear the outcome of my claim. My situation is unlikely to improve.
I enclose a copy of my financial statement. This shows my income and expenses. You will see from this information that I am unable to make any offer of payment.
Unfortunately, my circumstances are unlikely to improve in the foreseeable future and I have no assets to sell to help clear my debt. I am therefore asking you to consider writing off my debt as I can see no way of ever repaying it.
If you are unable to agree to this, please explain your reasons.
Thank you for your help and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
[debtor name]
Enc: Financial statement copy
About this template
What is this template?
This is a formal formal notice sent by a debtor to a creditor to request the permanent cancellation of a debt. It contains a specific request for the creditor to provide written reasons if they refuse the application and requires the attachment of a detailed financial statement showing income and expenses.
When should you use it?
Use this letter when you have no realistic prospect of ever repaying a debt and have no assets to liquidate, typically as an alternative to a formal debt management plan or insolvency proceedings like bankruptcy.
Who it's for
- an individual on long term sick leave unable to work
- a debtor waiting for the outcome of a benefits claim
- a person with no assets to sell to clear a debt
- someone whose financial circumstances are unlikely to improve in the foreseeable future
How long it runs and how it's signed
How long
Used once
Signed by
debtor name
Witness
Not required
Notarisation
Not required
Also needed
enclose copy of financial statement
England & Wales note
This version is drafted for England & Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland differ on some points — for example notice periods and tribunal procedure. Tell GitLaw where you hire and it adjusts the draft.
Jurisdiction
England & Wales
Document info
HTML document. Document created on Fri Sep 26th, 2025. Last updated on Mon Nov 3rd, 2025.
This document is public
Licensed under Proprietary / All Rights Reserved.
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