How long to set up a DRO?

Sonic101

Hi folks
For anyone who has or had a DRO, I was wondering how long in your experience it took to set up?
Thanks in advance for any feedback.

MalMonroe

Have you had a word with someone at Stepchange? Free debt help agency. https://www.stepchange.org/

They helped me to get my DRO eight years ago. They completed the form for me and all I had to do was sign it and take it to the Post Office with my application fee.

 It would all have been done within a month if I'd had the application fee saved up but I had to pay in three instalments and of course that delayed matters.

However, I realise that's quite a while ago and things may have changed now but if you give them a ring (free phone call), they will tell you. I think Stepchange is fabulous, they helped me turn my life around when I was in despair.

Sonic101

Many thanks for your response, MalMonroe.

Yes, I've been in touch with StepChange - I've found them to be helpful and currently have a DMP with  them. I spoke to them today but because my change in circumstances hasn't happened yet (windfall to pay off some debt to reduce it below £30 and reduction in working hours, they can't give me advice just (which is fair enough).

But I am interested to hear other people's experiences of how long their DROs took to set up. 

Robbie64

I contacted StepChange in late May 2019 and was granted a DRO on 25 September 2019 so the whole process took almost 4 months. I don't know if that was the norm then nor what the current timescale is.

JonVarnas

I did mine last year and it took around six weeks from contacting Stepchange to the IS signing off my DRO, though it would have been quicker if it wasn't for me faffing around with the application.

Platespinner123

Sonic101 said:

Many thanks for your response, MalMonroe.

Yes, I've been in touch with StepChange - I've found them to be helpful and currently have a DMP with  them. I spoke to them today but because my change in circumstances hasn't happened yet (windfall to pay off some debt to reduce it below £30 and reduction in working hours, they can't give me advice just (which is fair enough).

But I am interested to hear other people's experiences of how long their DROs took to set up. 

With the windfall, it's worth discussing with Stepchange to make sure you repay the debts using the windfall in a way that doesn't give one creditor 'preference' over the others. The safest way to do this is repay them in a way that repays the same % of each debt (rather than e.g. paying one debt off entirely but nothing to the others). You might even be able to make a larger payment into the DMP and Stepchange would allocate it proportionately.

If the Official Receiver determines that you did give a preference to one creditor over another, they will still grant the DRO, but you'd have restrictions for longer.

Sonic101

Platespinner123 said:

With the windfall, it's worth discussing with Stepchange to make sure you repay the debts using the windfall in a way that doesn't give one creditor 'preference' over the others. The safest way to do this is repay them in a way that repays the same % of each debt (rather than e.g. paying one debt off entirely but nothing to the others). You might even be able to make a larger payment into the DMP and Stepchange would allocate it proportionately.

If the Official Receiver determines that you did give a preference to one creditor over another, they will still grant the DRO, but you'd have restrictions for longer.

Thank you all for the feedback.
Platespinner123 - thanks, I was wondering about that. When I get the money (assuming I do), I won't pay anything (other than what I'm already paying on the DMP) to any creditor without first consulting StepChange. 

StevenB12

Hello,

I went through Citizens Advice for mine. From making the original phone call on the 9th September I believe, my DRO was granted on the 5th October. This took about 4 phone calls with Citizens Advice to get sorted all in all for everything they needed. 

KazzaR

Hi just wanted to add my story, I was so so nervous back in 2020 but with the help and amazing service of PayPlan they helped me compete my application and were also great to chat too as I was a bag of nerves they were so friendly I cannot thank them enough! All went fine and my 12 months ends on 17 dec this year and it’s flown!!! Best thing I ever did I feel I have my life back and want to look forward 
good luck 👏🏻🎉🎉

kaz