Economic abuse — using money, debt, or financial control as a tool of harm — can affect business owners as well as individuals. If your business finances, accounts, or loan are being controlled by someone else without your genuine agreement, or if a lending relationship has been created under duress, we want to help.
This page covers financial and account support. For immediate safety, contact the emergency services or the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247).
What we can do
Confidential support conversation
If you need to discuss your account situation in confidence — away from someone who has access to your portal or communications — contact us by a method they cannot monitor. We can set up a confidential contact route on your account.
Reviewing agreements signed under pressure
If you signed a loan agreement or guarantee under pressure or duress, tell us. We will review the circumstances. We may not be able to cancel obligations that are legally binding, but we will explore every available option with you and, where appropriate, refer your case to a specialist.
Changing portal access and sign-in credentials
If someone else has access to your portal account and you need to remove them, contact us directly rather than through the portal — we can guide you through credential changes in a way that does not alert the other person prematurely.
Flexible payment arrangements
If domestic abuse has disrupted your business income or created unexpected costs, you may be eligible for a payment arrangement. See mental health and financial difficulty for how to request this, or contact us directly — we treat these requests with the same seriousness as any other hardship.
Specialist referrals
We work with specialist organisations and can refer you to free, confidential support services. Ask us about this when you contact us confidentially.
How to contact us confidentially
Use the Accessibility and communication preferences form and tick the box for confidential contact, or call us on the number shown on our contact page and ask for the vulnerability support team.
See also: Mental health and financial difficulty, Managing your account with a power of attorney, Support for neurodivergent customers.