How long does a DRO last?
A debt relief order will usually last for 12 months and this is called the ‘moratorium’. Your creditors, the people you owe money to, are prevented from taking any action to recover any of the debts included in your DRO during this time.
Your creditors can still contact you to tell you how much you owe, but they can't demand payments from you or start any court action. If they do you should tell them you’re on a DRO. If any of your creditors persistently call or threaten you with further action, you can contact the DRO unit at the Insolvency Service.
When the 12 month period ends, as long as your financial situation has not improved, the debts included in the DRO are written off.
However, you’ll need to continue to pay your current household bills and living costs such as rent, council tax, electricity, gas and water rates.