iEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland
How will a DRO affect me
A DRO ends 12 months after the date it is approved. These 12 months are known as the ‘moratorium’. You do not make any payments to the included debts in this time and the people you owe cannot ask you to.
The debts in your debt relief order are written off if your situation does not improve in those 12 months.
You are not told when your DRO ends. Make sure you note down the date it is approved.
What can creditors do after my DRO ends?
All debts included in your DRO are written off if your situation does not improve.
The people you owe cannot:
- Take any further action to get the money
- Now or in future
The DRO does not protect you from:
- Any new debts you take out after your DRO is approved
- Any debts that are not included in a DRO
- You need to keep paying these
Can you get credit after a DRO?
A DRO stays on your credit file for six years from the date it is approved.
It may be hard to take out credit during this time.
Find out more about DROs and your credit file.
Will my DRO still be on the insolvency register?
England and Wales
Your DRO is recorded on the Individual Insolvency Register. This is an online database for:
- Bankruptcies
- IVAs
- DROs
Anyone can search the Individual Insolvency Register online.
You are added to the database when your DRO is approved.
Your details stay on the database for:
- The duration of your DRO, and
- Three months after it finishes
This means you are on the register for 15 months total.
Northern Ireland
Your details are added to the public DRO Register and removed three months after the DRO ends.
This happens even if your DRO is revoked.
How often can I apply for a debt relief order?
You must wait six years after you successfully apply for a debt relief order.
This applies even if your DRO is cancelled after approval.
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