How much is the DRO application fee?
If you live in England or Wales:
There is no fee to apply for a DRO.
If you live in Northern Ireland:
There is a £90 fee to the Insolvency Service. It is the only fee you pay to get a DRO.
You must use the special barcode you get with the application form.
You must pay it in full.
Your application cannot be submitted until you pay the fee in full.
This means after your final payment if you are paying in instalments.
I live in Northern Ireland and cannot afford the DRO fee. Is any help available?
You may be able to apply for a charity or trust fund to pay the fee.
There is no guarantee you will qualify.
What happens after I submit the application?
Once your DRO is approved:
- Your debts are put on hold for 12 months
- This is the ‘moratorium’ period
- You stop making any payments to your debts
- The people you owe must stop asking you to pay
The people you owe can still add interest and charges. It has no effect on you unless your DRO is cancelled.
The debts in your DRO are written off if your situation is not better after 12 months.
Find out more about what happens on a debt relief order.
Find out of a DRO is right for you
Use our free debt advice tool. We will recommend the best solution for your situation.
You will then find out if debt help is what you need before taking the next steps.