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Debt relief orders. Is a DRO right for you?

A debt relief order (DRO) is a way for you to have your debts written off if you owe less than £15,000 and have very few assets. If you qualify, our specialist DRO team can apply to the Insolvency Service for you.

Debt relief order advice at a glance

Benefits Things to consider
A debt relief order can be a low cost alternative to bankruptcy. A DRO is only available if you owe less than £15,000 and have less than £300 in assets.
You don’t pay anything towards your debts for 12 months - and after that they will be written off. You'll need to pay the Insolvency Service a one-off fee of £90. If you qualify, our specialist team can help you apply.
Your creditors can't pursue you for your debts during the 12 month period. You can't apply if you're a homeowner.

Find out more.

Is a DRO suitable for me?

DROs are specifically designed for people with few assets and a relatively low level of debt. You may be eligible for a DRO if your debt totals less than £15,000, you have less than £300 in assets (and a car worth no more than £1,000) and less than £50 in surplus income per month. A DRO can be a cheaper alternative to bankruptcy.

How does a DRO work?

A DRO freezes your debt repayments and interest for 12 months. If your financial situation hasn’t changed at the end of this period then your debts will be written off.

How much does a DRO cost?

A DRO will cost £90. This is the amount charged by the Insolvency Service to process a DRO application. You can't get any discounts or exemptions like you can with bankruptcy fees, so the full £90 needs to be paid before your application can be submitted.

The fee can be paid in one lump sum or in instalments over a 6 month period. Once your fee has been paid and your application is submitted you can't get your money back, even if the DRO is rejected or revoked.

What next? How to apply.

  1. The first step is to see if you qualify for a DRO, and if it’s your best option. To do this use Debt Remedy, our free anonymous online advice tool or call our free Helpline.
  2. If a DRO is the best solution to your debt problem, we'll send you the necessary forms and help you apply. You'll need to complete these and return them to our specialist DRO team.
  3. Our DRO team will then prepare your application. Before they submit this there is a £90 fee that must be paid to the Insolvency Service, in full or in instalments. Once the fee has been completely paid, we can submit your application.

StepChange debt relief order guide

Qualify for a DRO? FREE personal debt advice in 20 mins

Complete our FREE Debt Remedy tool to see if a DRO is right for you

  • Completely anonymous
  • Free and easy to use

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Why choose us?

We process more DRO applications than any other organisation.

  • Our help is FREEWe won’t charge you a penny for the help and support we provide while you apply for a DRO.
  • Specialist advisorsOur specialist advisors are experts in DROs and will be able to answer any questions you have.
 

Contact us

0800 138 1111 Freephone including all mobiles

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DRO guide

Read our debt relief order guide for practical information on DROs.

Download our DRO guide

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