Debt Relief Orders (DRO) - Information & help thread

KevinSAFC

Hi all, in last few days we have just disovered my mum is in severe financial trouble.

She was 10 days from appearing in court to have her social housing removed.

We have cleared the amount owed but have no discovered a lot of things that owe lots of money

she lives alone in 3 bedroom property. is unemployed and is being hit with the bedroom tax.

her bills we are aware of is

Eon £3500 (gas and electric, debt being taken each time use pre payment meter)

Northumbrian Water £1500 (in process of setting up some sort of very minimum payment option )

her fortnightly job seekers allowance has deductions for a social fund loan, repayment towards working whilst claiming benefits and also a housing benefit overpayment

after doing budget with her, after paying rent, council tax, minimum as possible gas and electric she is left with £8 per week

still to pay is food,clothing, tv license (trying to set up plan) and that is whilst ignoring water bill but hope to hear back soon regarding that.

we are in process of applying for dhp payments, waiting to hear back from dwp in regards to reduction of dwp repayments and waiting to here from water company.

she says that is all but i would not be suprised if there is a few mail order bills on her credit report.

in regards to the d r o can someone please advise regarding getting a d r o and things like if she was to get one would here eon bill be 0 and then would eon still have her as a customer?

this is a subject we are learning each day and trying to get as much help and information as possible.

if anyone can private messgae me that would be very helpful

brownm0435

Hi All, I've just sent in my DRO forms to stepchange on Monday, does anyone have any idea how long the process will now take?

brownm0435

KevinSAFC wrote: »

Hi all, in last few days we have just disovered my mum is in severe financial trouble.

She was 10 days from appearing in court to have her social housing removed.

We have cleared the amount owed but have no discovered a lot of things that owe lots of money

she lives alone in 3 bedroom property. is unemployed and is being hit with the bedroom tax.

her bills we are aware of is

Eon £3500 (gas and electric, debt being taken each time use pre payment meter)

Northumbrian Water £1500 (in process of setting up some sort of very minimum payment option )

her fortnightly job seekers allowance has deductions for a social fund loan, repayment towards working whilst claiming benefits and also a housing benefit overpayment

after doing budget with her, after paying rent, council tax, minimum as possible gas and electric she is left with £8 per week

still to pay is food,clothing, tv license (trying to set up plan) and that is whilst ignoring water bill but hope to hear back soon regarding that.

we are in process of applying for dhp payments, waiting to hear back from dwp in regards to reduction of dwp repayments and waiting to here from water company.

she says that is all but i would not be suprised if there is a few mail order bills on her credit report.

in regards to the d r o can someone please advise regarding getting a d r o and things like if she was to get one would here eon bill be 0 and then would eon still have her as a customer?

this is a subject we are learning each day and trying to get as much help and information as possible.

if anyone can private messgae me that would be very helpful

Really sorry to hear about your mum! The best thing I would say is to either go on the stepchange website or give them a ring to see what your options are! Stepchange use to be the CCCS and are a debt charity that offers free advise.

brownm0435

brownm0435 wrote: »

Really sorry to hear about your mum! The best thing I would say is to either go on the stepchange website or give them a ring to see what your options are! Stepchange use to be the CCCS and are a debt charity that offers free advise.

http://www.stepchange.org/

wba31

brownm0435 wrote: »

Hi All, I've just sent in my DRO forms to stepchange on Monday, does anyone have any idea how long the process will now take?

The last I heard was that it is taking 2-3 weeks to turn it around once paperwork is received at the moment...

Alloneword

Well i have just finished my DRO (12 months from start date) and i have a basic question.

I know i need to keep paperwork for another 3 months (15 in total) but do I need to do anymore at this stage? I'm not worried about cleaning up my credit file just yet as I'm going to leave that until the 15 months is up but just worried that i should do something at this stage, i have checked my paperwork and it seems there is nothing for me to do but i just wanted to double check.

All1

kayester

Alloneword wrote: »

Well i have just finished my DRO (12 months from start date) and i have a basic question.

I know i need to keep paperwork for another 3 months (15 in total) but do I need to do anymore at this stage? I'm not worried about cleaning up my credit file just yet as I'm going to leave that until the 15 months is up but just worried that i should do something at this stage, i have checked my paperwork and it seems there is nothing for me to do but i just wanted to double check.

All1

no you dont but ide keep the paperwork longer (i still have it and mine finished in 2011!) The reference number is helpful just incase your credit file hasnt been updated properly. Also if you get a letter form them showing the end of your DRO then keep it, I also asked them for an email so I could prove if any problems (which there was) that I had completed my DRO

Alloneword

kayester wrote: »

no you dont but ide keep the paperwork longer (i still have it and mine finished in 2011!) The reference number is helpful just incase your credit file hasnt been updated properly. Also if you get a letter form them showing the end of your DRO then keep it, I also asked them for an email so I could prove if any problems (which there was) that I had completed my DRO

Thanks kayester, I had plans to keep all the DRO paperwork and even kept last copies of bills just in case but it seems i don't need to do any more from my POV, as i say I'll do credit file clear up in the new year, many thx for your reply.


All1

drumfreak

Hi all, I applied for a DRO earlier on in the year and am currently in the 12 month 'moratorium' period. My question is: what exactly happens when you get to the end of the 12 month period? Do they go through all your accounts and transactions with a fine tooth comb? Do they have access to my Paypal account statement? The reason I ask is that I have found it necessary to use my Paypal account to buy and sell items of varying amounts (not thousands) to raise extra cash for unforeseen expenses such as my kids birthdays, school trips, xmas etc etc. I am losing sleep thinking that I may be in trouble when the 'moratorium' period ends in the new year. I don't feel I have been dishonest, just trying to keep my head above water and doing what I can for my family. Any help on this would be massively appreciated! Many thanks.

Orville

In a nutshell nothing happens. I think you get a letter after 15 months in total (or you can request one) stating the DRO is now spent. That's about it as far as i can remember. I certainly have never heard of them contacting anyone or going through accounts.