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Debt Relief Order

What is a Debt Relief Order?

A Debt Relief Order (DRO) is an insolvency procedure you can apply for if you cannot afford to pay off your debts. It is a cheaper option than going bankrupt, generally costing about £90.

In a Debt Relief Order you state your inability to pay your debts and if your circumstances do not change for 12 months any debt included in the Debt Relief Order will be legally written off. None of the creditors listed in the Order will be able to take any action against you. Details of your DRO will be recorded on a public register.

Fill in the form if you would like to find out more about a dro and if it might be a suitable option for dealing with your debts.

Get DRO advice


Fees and key info

We are happy to provide you with debt advice only. We only charge a fee if you opt for one of our debt solutions. Fees will depend on which debt solution we provide and what your personal circumstances are. All fees will be discussed prior to commencement of any service or debt repayment plan. Click here to read our fees and key info Please note: From time to time we may refer you to other services providers or charities such as the CAB.

MoneyHelper

If you’d like more information on other sources of free debt help and advice you can visit MoneyHelper – an organisation, backed by government and set up to offer free and impartial advice to those in debt. - Click here to visit MoneyHelper

DRO Advantages and Disadvantages


Debt Relief Order FAQs

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about Debt Relief Orders that we are regularly asked. If you have any DRO queries that aren't on this page, get in touch and we will be happy to answer them for you.

For England and Wales:

  • You must have debts of less than £30,000,
  • less than £75 disposable income (money left over, after paying all household bills and living costs) and have less than £2,000 assets.
  • You also can't have a car above the value of £2,000 in addition to the assets.

For Northern Ireland:

  • You must have debts of less than £20,000,
  • less than £50 disposable income (money left over, after paying all household bills and living costs) and have less than £1,000 assets.
  • You also can't have a car above the value of £1,000 in addition to the assets.

To apply for a Debt Relief Order, you'll need to identify whether you meet the conditions to apply.

If you do not qualify for a Debt Relief Order there may be other suitable options that we can help you with. Give our team a call to see what your options are.

Only certain types of debt can be included in a Debt Relief Order.

  • Credit cards, overdrafts, loans
  • Rent, utilities, telephone, council tax
  • Benefits overpayments and social fund loans
  • Hire purchase or conditional sale agreements
  • Buy now - pay later agreements

If you have a hire purchase or conditional agreement you may have to return the goods bought with these loans, unless someone else can pay the instalments. You will not be able to carry on paying for the goods once you have a debt relief order.

Certain types of debt can't be included in a debt relief order. You must pay these separately as action can still be taken against you. These include:

  • Child support and maintenance
  • Student loans
  • Court fines and confiscation orders

If you are interested in applying for a Debt Relief Order or discussing a Debt Relief Order with one of our advisors please call us.

All of the debts that are listed on your order will be written off and you will no longer have to pay them.