Debt arrangement scheme (DAS)

DPPs through the Debt Arrangement Scheme with StepChange

Debt payments programmes can only be set up by an approved organisation that offers debt help, such as StepChange Debt Charity Scotland.

A debt payment programme (DPP) is part of the Scottish Government's Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS). This is a formal debt solution that allows you to repay your debts at a rate that you can afford.

We help hundreds of thousands of people each year across the UK.

In our Glasgow head office, we have expert teams of advisors who specialise in giving free debt advice and managing debt solutions for people living in Scotland.

Find out more about our Scottish debt advice service.

Single monthly payment

You make one monthly payment to your DPP, and we will share it out fairly among your creditors.

Protection from your creditors

While you are on a DPP, your creditors cannot take further action against you to recover the debt. This includes taking you to court.

Fees paid by creditors

There are fees included in a DPP, but you do not have to pay them. All fees are paid by your creditors.

Interest and charges stop

While you are on a DPP, your creditors must stop adding interest and charges to your debts. This means your debts will stop growing.

Affordable payments

With a DPP, you enter an agreement to pay back money you owe, based on what you can afford. We will support you from start to finish.

A flexible solution

Let us know if things change or you are finding it hard to keep up with payments. There are different ways we can help, such as payment breaks or changing how much you pay each month.

Benefits of a DPP

• You make a single monthly payment to us. We use this to pay your creditors
• Payments to your debts will be reduced. This makes it easier to cover your essential living costs
• All the money you pay goes to repaying your debts. The DPP fees are paid by your creditors. We do not charge any service fees
• DPPs are flexible. They can be changed to suit your situation, but your creditors and the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) must agree to any changes put forward
• Creditors stop adding interest and charges to the debts included in your DPP. When you complete your DPP, they will be written off
• Creditors cannot take further action against you to recover the debt. This includes taking you to court
• Wage and bank arrestments will stop when your plan is approved
• You will keep your assets. Assets are valuable items such as savings, vehicles and your home

Risks of a DPP

• It will take longer to repay what you owe. This is because you are not making your contractual payments – the payment amount you agreed to when you took out the debt
• Your credit file will be affected. This is because you will be making lower payments
• Your creditors can apply to revoke (cancel) your DPP. This usually only happens if you do not make the agreed payments
• Creditors can add interest and charges again if your DPP fails. These will be backdated to the start of your DPP when interest and charges were stopped
• Your details will be recorded on the public DAS register. Your details can only be found if they are being searched for

How can I find out if a DPP is right for me?

To find out if a DPP is right for you, you will need to start by using our online debt advice tool. You should never go ahead with a debt solution without getting advice first.

1. We need to learn more about you to give you advice. Through our online tool, we will ask you for details about yourself and your situation. This includes basic information about you, as well as information about your income, spending and debts. This can be a long process, but you can pause and come back at any time
2. From the information you gave us, we will give you options on the best ways to deal with your debt. Make sure you read this through before making your choice. You may even be able to apply for a debt moratorium. This will give you a break from having to worry about your debts while you get things sorted
3. A money advisor will review your case. If a DPP is right for you and you choose to go ahead with it, your case will be passed to a continuing money advisor (CMA). StepChange is an approved money advisor, so you can continue your application with us if you choose to. Your CMA will support you through your DPP application
4. You send us evidence for your application. There are a few forms you will need to fill in, like the DPP agreement form, the Direct Debit mandate, and the Mandate of Authority form. We will also ask for things like proof of income and information about your debts
5. We will send your proposal to your creditors. DPPs are managed through an online portal called eDEN, which you will be able to view once your plan is set up. Your CMA will talk to your creditors through eDEN to confirm information about your debts and send out the DPP proposals
6. When approved, we make your monthly payments. Once your DPP is approved, you need to make your first payment in 42 days. You will need to decide which payment method works best for you. Your creditors will no longer be able to contact you or take further actions against you (like court action)
7. We are here for you throughout your DPP. Don’t forget, we are here to support you through the full term of your DPP. You can contact us at any time if you need to make changes to your DPP, talk about payments or anything else in-between

What people ask us about the Debt Arrangement Scheme

About StepChange Debt Charity Scotland

We help hundreds of thousands of people each year across the UK.

In our Glasgow head office, we have expert teams of advisors who specialise in giving free debt advice to people living in Scotland.

We are an approved organisation for providing advice and managing Scottish debt solutions.

We also campaign on your behalf to make changes to law and policies. We use the real experience of our clients to drive home the need for change.

Read our latest 'Scotland in the Red' report.