DP & debt!

[askingforafriend22]

I've posted this on money board but no response so thought I might get more traffic on here .... anyone help??

I've been with my partner for nearly 2 years. Yesterday he broke down in front of me and admitted he has debts that he's struggling to pay back. Mainly in the form of payday/ short term loans for varying amounts totalling around £9k
He changed jobs about 7 months ago and took a considerable pay decrease with the view to getting a higher wage after 6 months (that's how the job was sold to him - 'trainee' wage for 4-6 months then moved to the actual better wage after). It hasn't worked out like that and they seem to be constantly dangling the carrot of being moved up but without it actually happening despite the fact that he's now doing the job. Anyway, he says this debt has been run up over this time (although I have no idea how someone smashes through £9k in the space of 7months on top of their normal wage with nothing to show for it 🤔)
We don't live together and we have no joint finances so it doesn't affect me directly and I certainly won't be offering to help pay this debt, however I'd like to know how to help him help himself IYSWIM!
I sat down with him yesterday and went through all his bank statements listing all his outgoings (not including the loans they total around £1300 per month) and what his income is (approx £1800 after tax) and then I made him ring round and get settlement figures from everyone he owes money to.
What's the next step? Where should he go?
Any advice appreciated!

I think it is great that you are helping him. He needs support. Yes, he needs to take charge of this thing but he does need someone to help. You are doing exactly the right thing.

While 9k is a lot of money, it is manageable. It sounds like he couldn't adjust to his new wages and it added up. Especially with high interest loans. This can be something that is more permanent or it could be a mistake that he will learn from. I've been friends with both types.

The best way is to find out a way to change th high interest loans into a low interest loan, preferably from one place so it is easier to manage. Also, contact someone with professional advice. Also block all websites and numbers that give up those terrible loans.

@Rezie thank you! I think that's what he's doing now, he's just waiting for a call back at the moment and he's currently going through his unnecessary items that are worth anything and putting them up for sale on eBay
I thoroughly agree that this is his mess to sort out but it doesn't make him a bad person or a terrible partner and I'd like to be able to be here to support him

@user1479305498 thank you. I did suggest putting on his mortgage but he didn't seem to think he could. At the moment he's waiting a call back from a debt consolidation company who can offer him a lower interest loan over a long period which would pay off his debts and be affordable each month providing he curbs his spending.

A debt consolidation company is another, ‘i’ll avoid dealing with the issues that got me here’ move. And as for the cheap money ‘putting it on the mortgage’ option, hell no. That’s a bad habit looking for a start.

A debt consolidation company won’t be addressing the issues that got him into this mess in first place and it’s the not dealing with his issues, that will see him repeat the same mistakes.

I appreciate what you're saying @AgentJohnson but addressing the issues that got him in this situation to start with isn't going to make the debt disappear. I completely agree he needs to address his spending and make big changes to how he handles his money but right here, right now he's got himself into a position where his loan payments each month total more than his income so that needs addressing first and foremost.