Debt Relief Orders (DRO) - Information & help thread

scarlet55

dannyb0yuk wrote: »

I believe I'd be paying my Council Tax benefit in full, it's just Housing Benefit support I'd be getting. I'll have to sit down and do some sums, I think. I just have a tough time working out exactly what I'm going to be getting! Saying that though, I'm missing quite a few essentials from my SOA, purely due to there not being room in my budget for them (clothing, for one), so I ought to be able to balance things up. I only have a budget of £30 a week for food too, and that realistically needs to be higher, methinks.

As far as my advisor, I'm seeing a solicitors I was referred to by my local CAB.

....danny post your soa up here....are you single....my adviser put down £216 a month for household budget like i told tankgirl...this included things like clothes, tobacco, pet food, magazines.....like i said before, dont put down what you are living on....put what you should be living on......:)

Penelope_Penguin

broken_spirit wrote: »

Hi, I was also refered 2 a solicitor by my local CAB as they didn't have the resources 2 deal with any more applications. I chose not 2 proceed with them as I was informed that I would have 2 go 2 court myself & the application was 2 be made there.

I wasn't aware DRO applications could be made in that way - I thought they were all through approved intermediaries.

broken_spirit

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

I wasn't aware DRO applications could be made in that way - I thought they were all through approved intermediaries.

I'll try explain it a little better. When I 1st took advice regarding applying 4 a DRO, almost every1 on this thread informed me CAB were very quick in dealing with their applications. So I went 2 my local CAB where I spoke 2 a general advisor, who told me that a DRO was the best option 4 me & he then tried 2 get me an appointment with the CAB debt advisor in the nearest city. They told him 2 refer me 2 a specific solicitor operating in the same city, as they were unable 2 take on any more cases, because they were having 2 run a restricted service. He advised me to go 2 their debt clinic with all my relevant documentation. They would complete my application with me & then I would be given a date 2 attend court with the same solicitor & submit my application there. I was also told I would have 2 apply 4 legal aid 2 fund it. I just wasn't happy with this option so I submitted my application with NDL. I honestly kno nothing more about this way of applying but presume it's a legitimate process, with it been suggested by the CAB advisors

fatbelly

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

I wasn't aware DRO applications could be made in that way - I thought they were all through approved intermediaries.

That's correct. Courts can refer to an Intermediary if someone has come to present a bankruptcy petition and they consider a DRO to be more appropriate. But it is a fundamental part of the DRO process that the courts should not be involved. Part of the reasoning behind their introduction was to take the pressure off the court system.

An Intermediary has to be appointed by a Competent Authority (CCCS, Payplan, CAB, CAP, ND etc) and so I can't see how a solicitor would be able to be one, nor why they would want to be (can't charge a fee!).

Anyone know how that works?

SouthCoast

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

I wasn't aware DRO applications could be made in that way - I thought they were all through approved intermediaries.

And as their is no money to be made from doing a DRO solicitors would not normally be interested.

cupcake83

Hi,

Does anyone know whether overpaid wages can be included in a DRO?

Bit of background; my partner was suspended from work his employer continued to pay usual wages, this continued for some months my partner didnt question this as he believed he was still suspended however they have said he was actually dismissed so now owes the money back to them. They have taken my partner to Court and there is a now a CCJ against him, the debt is just over £4,000, there is now bailiffs involved and we cant afford to pay.

Thank you.

rainbowfairydust

My tax credits have not been renewed this year and now will (i say will as i have made my payments this month) snowball..would i be eligible for a dro?

eta - I owe around £8.5k


Income – 920.00

Rent - £260.00
Mobile £45.00
TV £12.37
Phone/Internet £11.25
Electric £45.00
Travel £45.00
Hair/Dental - £30.00
Work Clothes £20.00
Food/Toiletries £145.00
HMRC - £23.12
Housing Benefit £87.00
Vanquis £15.00
Capital One £5.00
New Look £5.00
Barclaycard £5.00
Clarity £5.00
Lowell £25.50
Mackenzie Hall £5.00
Real personal £25.00
Barclays Bank £20.00
Red Castle £5.00
Apex £15.00
The Money Shop £50.00
Hearing Aid £12.00
Parents £5.00


Total - £921.24

fatbelly

cupcake83 wrote: »

Hi,

Does anyone know whether overpaid wages can be included in a DRO?

Bit of background; my partner was suspended from work his employer continued to pay usual wages, this continued for some months my partner didnt question this as he believed he was still suspended however they have said he was actually dismissed so now owes the money back to them. They have taken my partner to Court and there is a now a CCJ against him, the debt is just over £4,000, there is now bailiffs involved and we cant afford to pay.

Thank you.

Yes, he has a liability to the ex-employer and so the debt must be included.

It's treated the same as all the others.

cupcake83

fatbelly wrote: »

Yes, he has a liability to the ex-employer and so the debt must be included.

Thank you so much for your reply, so would that mean after the 12 months the debt would be wiped like his credit cards and overdrafts?

cupcake83

Hi, I posted this on the main board bit but thought id post here also just incase.

I found this board so helpful when i was applying for my DRO which was granted in Feb 2010. My mother has recently become a single parent and is struggling meeting minimum payments on her debts, some have not been paid for months. She has tried to get through to our local CAB for advice but the lines are so busy so we we're hoping to get advice on the SOA now to help with the process should a DRO be suitable.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

Just want to add that although it says 3 children, one is 16 soon to be 17, one is 15 and other is 11. the 16 and 15 year old eat adult size portions and have adult size clothes so its like having 3 adults and 1 child in the household.

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 3
Number of cars owned....................
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 1693
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1693
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 437
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 114
Electricity............................. 97
Gas..................................... 60
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 49
Telephone (land line)................... 25
Mobile phone............................ 20
TV Licence.............................. 13
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 10
Groceries etc. ......................... 660
Clothing................................ 60
Petrol/diesel........................... 0
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 45
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 19
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Haircuts................................ 25
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Home schooling costs.................... 30
Total monthly expenses.................. 1664

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 0

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly.. .APR
Budgeting loan.................812.......0.........0
Littlewoods....................1927......0........ .0
Nationwide card................2721......0.........0
Next card......................2146......0.........0
Nationwide overdraft...........200.......0.........0
Santander......................242.95....0........ .0
Santander......................35.24.....0........ .0
Total unsecured debts..........8084.19...0.........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,693
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,664
Available for debt repayments........... 29
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount left after debt repayments....... 29
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -8,084.19
Net Assets.............................. -8,084.19
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.