£450,000 in debt relief order refunds waiting to be claimed

The Insolvency Service has around £450,000 to hand back to people who paid towards a debt relief order (DRO) but never finished their application. It wants as much as possible returned before the end of 2026.

A DRO is an alternative to bankruptcy for people with less than £50,000 of personal debt, applied for through an authorised debt adviser or charity. Until April 2024 it cost £90, paid in full or in instalments as part of the application. That fee has now been scrapped, and anyone who paid it between 2016 and April 2024 but didn't submit their application is eligible for a refund.

How much you could get

Many people will get a straight £90 back. Others may be owed more or less, depending on whether they paid in full, overpaid, or started more than one application. The Insolvency Service has written to people several times since November 2025, but says some addresses will have changed since 2016.

How to claim

Email [email protected] with your DRO application number if you know it, your name, address and phone number, and the bank or building society details you want the money paid into. You can ask for a cheque instead. If you've moved or changed your name since you applied, include your previous details too. If a charity or another organisation paid the fee for you, give its details.

You can also write to the Insolvency Service DRO Team, C/O Met Office, Fitzroy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB, or call its helpline on 0300 678 0015 (Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 3pm).

What this means for you

If you, or someone you help, started a DRO application years ago and gave up, it's worth checking. The Insolvency Service says every claim is checked against its records to prevent fraud.

Ways to stay safe and save

• Never pay to claim. The refund is free to claim directly, so you don't need a claims company.
• Check the contact details on GOV.UK before sending bank details, and be wary of unexpected calls, texts or emails offering to "process" your refund.
• Get free debt advice. If money is still tight, free and confidential advice is available from charities such as StepChange, Citizens Advice and National Debtline, and through MoneyHelper.

Sources: The Insolvency Service