There are many reasons why a DRO can be stopped, or which may lead to a DRO being objected to by a creditor. These include, but are not limited to:. Your financial circumstances have changed. You now own property over £2,000. You have come into possession of additional money or valuables which you now own, such as money left to you in a will. You left out key information about your debts, assets or income in your DRO application. Some people believe that, if you break one of the restrictions, your DRO will be cancelled. However, this is not always the case and your DRO as it is considered an offence. You may also be asked to begin making payments towards debts which were covered by the DRO, or your creditors can start to take action against you to recover what they are owed.

DRO (Debt Relief Order) Debt Advice

What is a
Debt Relief Order?

A debt relief order (DRO) is a formal solution for dealing with your debts and may enable you to get most of them written off. It is a solution for those who owe £50,000 or less (£20,000 or less in Northern Ireland), who don’t own their own home, don’t have much spare income or who don’t have any other assets or items of value. A debt relief order is typically only issued if it is unlikely that you will be able to clear the amount, and you meet the eligibility criteria.

A DRO typically lasts for 12 months. If it is approved, then you will stop making payments towards the debts (and any interests) listed within the DRO during that time. Once the 12 months have passed, then you will not need to pay those debts anymore. It’s important to note that a debt relief order stays on your credit file for 6 years from the date which it was approved, although this is the same for other debt relief options.

Main Points To Consider
With A Debt Relief Order

You don’t have to make payments on most of your debt for 12 months
Your creditors can’t force you to pay your debts
When the DRO ends, the majority of your debts will be written off
There is a £90 fee for DRO applications (Northern Ireland only)
Qualifying debts include credit cards, loans, rent and bill arrears, business debts and income tax
Debts not covered include student loans, social fund loans, child support and maintenance and court fines
As DRO is a form of insolvency, your credit file will be impacted for six years

You will be eligible for a debt relief order if you:

Owe less than £50,000 (£20,000 in Northern Ireland)

Have valuable items or savings worth less than £2,000 (£1,000 in Northern Ireland)

Own a vehicle which is worth less than £4,000 based on the current market value (£1,000 in Northern Ireland)

Don’t have enough money left at the end of the month to make debt repayments

Have worked or lived in England & Wales or Northern Ireland in the past 3 years

Are currently not declared bankrupt, or have an IVA or interim order

Haven’t had a debt relief order in the last 6 years

When you apply for a DRO, you must tell your adviser if, in the last 2 years, you have:

Given away assets

Sold any assets for less than their recommended value, for example if you’ve sold a car for £300, when it was worth £3,000

Prioritised paying back one creditor over another. For example, if you paid of a debt to a friend or family member, over another creditor

What happens next?

If we find that you are eligible for a debt relief order, we will be able to refer you to our partner for your application to be processed. For residents of Northern Ireland there is a fee of £90 which must be paid before the application is submitted; for residents of England & Wales, there is no fee to pay. If we find that a DRO is not suitable for you, then we will look into other debt solutions that suit your current circumstances.

Debt Relief Order and Tenancy Agreements

You can take out a debt relief order to pay towards your rent, then there are additional things to consider. If you are applying for a DRO, then it’s best to let your landlord know and keep them up to date with what is going on with the process. If you are using a debt relief order for rent arrears, then an arrangement will be set up between you and your landlord so that you can carry on paying off the arrears. This will apply no matter if you are a private or social housing tenant. Taking this approach should stop any court action being taken against you and, if you don’t keep up with repayments, then it’s possible that your landlord may start with eviction proceedings.

You should also check your tenancy agreement as you could find that you have an insolvency clause within your contract. If you take out a debt relief order, you may be in breach of your tenancy agreement and your landlord may choose to start eviction proceedings, even if you have agreed to pay off arrears. If you have rent arrears and are considering using a DRO, then it is really important that you speak with your adviser first.

Your Life After A Debt Relief Order

A debt relief order will remain on your credit report for six years from the date which it is approved. It will also be listed on a public domain on the Insolvency Service’s register for 15 months, including details of your name and address. For the year you hold your DRO, you are unable to hold certain jobs such as being a solicitor, trustee of a charity or a director of a limited company.

If you hold power of attorney over someone else’s finances, or if someone holds power of attorney over your finances, then this would be cancelled if you are approved for a debt relief order. You can reapply for this once your DRO ends.

Eligible Debts

Which Debts Can I Use A DRO For?

A DRO may be appropriate for the following debts: credit cards, overdrafts, loans, rent arrears, utility bills, benefit overpayments, hire purchase or conditional sale agreements, business debts, debts to friends and family, bills for services (such as vets or solicitors).

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Ineligible Debts

Which Debts Can I Not Use A DRO For?

A DRO may not be available to cover debts including child support and maintenance payments, social fund loans, magistrates court fines, confiscation orders relating to criminal activity and student loans.

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The positives to using a Debt Relief Order?

A DRO usually lasts 1 year, then most or all debt included is written off

Interest and charges will be frozen

Legally binding, offering protection from creditors

For residents of England & Wales there is no application fee, and for residents of Northern Ireland the fee is still just £90

The negatives to using a Debt Relief Order?

Your credit rating will be impacted for six years

You can’t be a homeowner

You have to have less than £75 disposable income (£50 in Northern Ireland)

Your DRO is subject to approval

Find Out More About Debt Relief Order

There are many reasons why a DRO can be stopped, or which may lead to a DRO being objected to by a creditor. These include, but are not limited to:

Your financial circumstances have changed
You now own property over £2,000
You have come into possession of additional money or valuables which you now own, such as money left to you in a will
You left out key information about your debts, assets or income in your DRO application

Some people believe that, if you break one of the restrictions, your DRO will be cancelled. However, this is not always the case and your DRO as it is considered an offence. You may also be asked to begin making payments towards debts which were covered by the DRO, or your creditors can start to take action against you to recover what they are owed.

When looking for a debt solution, it can be difficult to find the right one for you. IVAs and debt relief orders are commonly mentioned, but there are some slight differences between the two.

IVAs are a better option for those people who might not meet the criteria for a DRO, for example, where a car is worth too much, their DI is too high or they are a homeowner. IVAs involve monthly payments being made over the space of 5 to 6 years, whereas DROs require a one-off payment of £90 for residents of Northern Ireland, and no payment for residents of England & Wales.

DROs are more suited to those who don’t have any assets and are unable to pay their debts. This individual will also have unsecured debts of under £50,000 (£20,000 in Northern Ireland). A positive to a DRO is that it only lasts a year. However, it will still be mentioned on your credit file for six years.

Yes, you should expect that your debt relief order will affect your credit score. Whether you have had one in the past or are looking to get one, it can affect your credit score. Additionally, this could make it more difficult to get credit in the future, as it stays on your file for 6 years.

If your bank is listed as a creditor, your DRO adviser will contact your bank to let them know you have a debt relief order. In some cases, banks will check your bank account to see if you have been given a DRO.

If the bank is included in your DRO application, the bank will then decide whether to freeze your bank account or, create a new account with them.

No, your bank account is not monitored during or after the DRO year. All checks of your account will be completed during the DRO application process. This includes your income, your debts and what you own.

It is important during the process of your DRO application that you are transparent with the advisor. Withholding or hiding information from your DRO advisor could cause further problems with your application later on if you claim debt relief you may not have been entitled to, such as your DRO being stopped, or lead to a Debt Relief Restrictions Order (DRRO).

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What is a
Debt Relief Order?

Main Points To Consider
With A Debt Relief Order