A debt management plan (DMP) is an informal arrangement where you make one affordable monthly payment, usually through a provider, which distributes it among your unsecured creditors. It may make repayments easier to manage, but creditors do not have to accept the plan and interest or charges may continue, so it could take longer to clear your debts. A DMP can affect your credit file and is not normally suitable for secured debts such as a mortgage. Before deciding, consider free, impartial advice from a debt charity such as StepChange or National Debtline, and check any fees charged by a commercial provider.