DRO: numerical credit score increase, decrease or stay the same?

leorory

Good evening

I would like to ask, particularly those who have been through a Debt Relief Order, what is the likely impact on the numerical credit score?

Of course, I know that having a DRO on a credit file is always viewed negatively by prospective creditors.

However, I was wondering if the numerical score might increase?

Since all of the debt burdens are discharged after the moratorium year, would this be regarded as an improvement in credit score?

Did your own numerical credit score increase, decrease or remain the same at the end of the moratorium year?

Best wishes

[Deleted User]

The scores generally drop with any change, regardless of whether that change is good or bad.

But no one will ever see it but you and it has no impact on your credit worthiness.

The older the negative data, the better lenders will view you, regardless of the drop in credit scores.

MalMonroe

I had a DRO which started in 2013. It dropped off my credit reports in 2019 and I was able to then slowly start rebuilding my credit. I now have a 'normal' bank account and I also have three credit cards with a total limit of £9k. I don't use them all but I have three because of doing balance transfers - for which I was accepted. Whenever I do use a credit card nowadays I always ensure that the balance is cleared in full every month (as per Martin's instructions!) If I can't do that then I know I've done something wrong and need to get back on track as soon as I can. 

I'm now debt free and loving it. I looked on my DRO as a way for me to crawl out of the cycle of debt in which I found myself after a divorce. I was a financial disaster but I have learned that I can budget and now I'm really good at it. I'm not boasting here, I had to learn not to get into debt again while I was on the DRO and after the initial 12 month period, I found it was becoming easier. 

As to credit reports, I didn't look at them very much. I knew they would be bad and couldn't bear the thought of logging in just to feel like a failure. BUT there's definitely light at the end of the tunnel, as many others on this forum will attest.

Nobody ever sees your score at all and I never worried about that. And things don't immediately brighten up once the 12 month moratorium period is over, just as they don't when the whole six year period is over. But you do get there and then your credit report gets better. My scores are now high but don't really mean anything. 

Have you actually spoken with someone at one of the free debt help agencies? StepChange, National Debtline, Citizens Advice?
I used StepChange and never looked back. If you want some non-judgemental but very helpful advice, you could do worse than contact them. No obligation.

https://www.stepchange.org/

sourcrates

If your in debt, the last thing you need to worry about is some silly number no one see`s but you.

That number rises and falls with change of any kind, it means absolutely nothing in the real world, lenders don`t see or use it, think Horoscope, and you`d be on the right lines.

Credit history is what`s important, not credit score, don`t believe the hype, its all a marketing ploy.

Credit files recover with time, just find the debt solution that works for you, and go with it, that`s all you really need to know about credit scores.