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Debt Arrangement Scheme Glossary

When you are on a debt payment programme through the Debt Arrangement Scheme, you will see lots of new terms and may wonder what they mean. This glossary will help you understand all the words and phrases you need to know while you are on your plan.

A

The organisation who runs the Debt Arrangement Scheme. Also known as the ‘DAS administrator’. They oversee all debt payment programmes. The AiB will decide if your DPP gets approved and have the final say in any decisions that would change the plan.

C

These are the people who help you apply for your DPP. You will normally be assigned a continuing money adviser (CMA) to support you through the full term of your DPP. They can help if you need advice about something, or if you need to make changes to your plan.

These are the people you owe money to.

A type of payment break that lasts for one month. You can have two crisis breaks in a 12-month period.

D

This is what the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) is sometimes referred to as. They oversee all debt payment programmes.

A scheme run by the Scottish Government to help people pay back what they owe through debt payment programmes (DPPs). You must live in Scotland to apply.

A formal debt solution available through the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS). It is a way to pay back what you owe without the threat of court action from the people you owe. It works in a similar way to a debt management plan (DMP) but offers more protections. Such as, your items of value (assets) like your house or car are protected while you are on a DPP. You must live in Scotland to apply.

This is the person who has taken out a debt and has to pay the money back.

E

The online system used to manage DPPs. It is used by several people involved with Debt Arrangement Schemes including:

  • You, as the debtor
  • Your creditors
  • The Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) - also known as the DAS administrator
  • Your money advisor
  • Your payment distributor

M

These are the people who will have helped you apply for your DPP. You will normally be assigned a continuing money adviser (CMA) who will support you through the full term of your DPP. They can help if you need advice about something, or if you need to make changes to your plan.

P

A longer type of payment break that can last up to six months.

These are the people who are responsible for collecting and sending out your monthly payment to your creditors. The payment distributor can be from the same organisation as your money adviser in some cases. StepChange can act as both your money adviser and payment distributor.

This is how often you make payments. You can choose to make payments:

  • Monthly
  • Every four weeks
  • Every two weeks
  • Weekly

R

When your DPP is revoked it means it has been cancelled, and your plan is no longer active. A revocation also means you lose protections of having a DPP. Creditors can continue with court action or add interest and charges backdated to the start of your plan.

V

These are changes to your DPP. Such as changing your regular payment amount, how often you pay, or adding or removing a debt from your DPP.