Common questions about DROs
Can you get a DRO if you work?
A DRO is designed to help people with a lower income.
Income is any money you get from:
- Wages
- Benefits
- Pensions
- And other sources
You can apply for a DRO if you have less than £75 left over after paying all your household bills and living costs.
You must meet all other criteria too.
Find out more about getting a DRO.
What happens after a debt relief order?
Any debt included in your DRO is written off after 12 months.
Details of your DRO are recorded:
- On the public insolvency register for three more months
- In your credit file for six years from the date the DRO is approved
What happens after a DRO?
How long does a DRO stay on your credit file?
A DRO shows on your credit file for six years from the date it is approved.
How does a DRO affect me?
Can having a DRO stop bailiffs?
The people you owe can still contact you if you have a DRO. But they cannot:
- Demand payment, or
- Start court action against you
Bailiffs stop trying to recover a debt if:
- It is included in your DRO
- Your DRO is approved
- No goods have been taken into control
You may have to keep paying an existing controlled goods agreement.
Bailiff action can continue for:
- Criminal fines or
- Child maintenance
These types of debt cannot be included in a DRO.
Find out more about creditor contact on a DRO.