A Debt Relief Order (DRO) will be shown on your credit record for six years. This article looks at what should happen, how to correct any problems, and how to start to improve your credit rating when the twelve months of your DRO ends and your debts are wiped out.
Even if you never want to be in debt again, a good credit score makes it easier to get a tenancy agreement, get a mobile contract and it’s essential if you ever want a mortgage.
How a DRO should be recorded
To make sure you don’t miss any problems, check your credit records with all the Credit Reference Agencies. there are links in that article to free ways to do this.
This is what should be showing at each stage:
After your DRO is approved:
The DRO will show in the Public Record section of your credit record.
All debts which are in your DRO should have a default date which is the date your DRO started or earlier.
There will be no change for any debts which do not form part of your DRO, but these (things like student debts and magistrates court fines) do not normally show on your credit record at all.
At the end of the 12 months of your DRO:
You don’t get sent a certificate when your DRO completes, see What happens at the end of my DRO? for details. As that says, it is good if you can print off your Insolvency Register entry when your DRO finishes – this will disappear three months later.
Your credit record will be updated to say your DRO has completed. The DRO marker will remain on your record for five more years, dropping off six years after the start of your DRO.
You no longer owe the debts that were listed in your DRO.
These debts should be marked by the creditors “to show that you no longer owe money on that account (perhaps by marking the entry as ‘partially satisfied’ or ‘partially settled’ or in some other way)” (quote from the Information Commissioner’s Office) and the balance on the accounts should show as zero.
CCJs won’t change, because there is no way to mark them as partially settled.
At the end of six years:
The DRO marker will drop off your credit record.
Some of the DRO debts may already have disappeared and the rest should go at the same time as the DRO marker, because their default date should be on or before the date your DRO started.
CCJs drop off six years from the judgment date, so they should already have dropped off by this six-year point.
So now your credit record should be completely clean – unless you have had credit problems after your DRO finished.
The only creditors that will be able to tell you had a DRO after the six-year point are those who had a debt included in your DRO – they may still be able to see the DRO on their internal records.
Correcting problems
There are two sorts of common problems.
1) a default date is after your DRO started
If the default date is later (or not there at all!) it will delay the point at which your credit file becomes clear. You can ask the creditor to correct the record.
Don’t ask the credit reference agencies – they just report what the creditors tell them.
It can take a while for creditors to add these defaults. I suggest you wait four or five months after the start of your DRO before you bother to do this – by that time most, if not all, should be right and you may only have one or two to deal with.
Don’t try to do this on the phone. Write the following letter to the Data Controller for the creditor (get the address from the ICO ), send it Recorded Delivery and keep a copy:
I had a Debt Relief Order approved on dd/mm/yyyy. You can confirm this by checking the Insolvency Register at https://www.insolvencydirect.bis.gov.uk/eiir/.
I am writing to ask you to correct my credit file for [details of your debt with the creditor, including account number or reference number].
At the moment [there is no default date/the default date is dd/mm/yyyy]. This is incorrect and a breach of the ICO guidelines and the Data Protection Act 1998. There should be a default date not later than the start date of my DRO.
Please correct this entry within 28 days or supply me with a written reason why you will not do so.
If the creditor replies saying they don’t know anything about your DRO, talk to the DRO Unit about whether the creditor has been informed.
If the creditor knows about your DRO but refuses to add or correct the default date, complain to the ICO. Attach copies of your letter to the creditor, proof of posting and any reply from the creditor.
One exception – mortgage shortfall debts are unusual in a DRO but if you have one, read How to repair your credit record after bankruptcy which covers these debts.
2) Creditor doesn’t mark debt as satisfied when your DRO has finished
The creditor doesn’t have to mark the debt as fully settled/satisfied so there is no point in complaining if the debt has been marked as partially settled/satisfied.
If the debt isn’t showing as closed with a zero balance four months after your DRO has finished, send the following letter to the data controller for the creditor:
My Debt Relief Order finished on dd/mm/yyyy. I attach a copy of my Insolvency Service Register entry which shows this.
I am writing to ask you to correct my credit file for the above debt. The ICO guidelines state that my credit file should show that I no longer owe money on that account, perhaps by marking the entry as ‘partially satisfied’ or ‘partially settled’ or in some other way.
Please correct this entry within 28 days or supply me with a written reason why you will not do so.
Again, complain to the ICO if a creditor doesn’t correct the entry.
Is it worth doing this?
Yes. It is worth correcting the dates of default unless they are just a bit late. If these are months or even years late, this will delay the time until your credit file is finally clean as these debts will still be showing when your DRO itself has disappeared.
It’s a long while – five years or more – until a debt in your DRO will drop off your credit record completely, so it’s a good idea to get them all correctly marked to show that you no longer owe any money. This doesn’t change your credit score, but it may mean that you are more likely to be able to get credit, probably from a “bad credit lender”.
Having the debt marked as settled also stops the irritation of the debt being ‘sold on’ to another Debt Collector. That isn’t a serious problem – the debt really has been written off – but it is annoying as you have to correspond with yet another person and send them details of your DRO.
Getting positive markers on your credit file
Once your DRO has ended, it’s good to start getting some new, positive credit marks on your credit record.
Get a “bad credit” card
First deal with the “clean up” process outlined above for your old debts. And make sure that you are on the electoral roll, your address and any other details are all correct with the credit reference agencies. This may take several months to complete if you have to go to the ICO.
Then apply for a Vanquis or a Luma credit card. Vanquis is owned by Provident, Luma is owned by Capital One – if you had a debt to one of these companies in your DRO apply to the other one to maximise your chance of being accepted. If your application is rejected, double-check your credit file really is clean with all three credit reference agencies, wait a few months, then apply for the other card.
These cards charge very high rates of interest. This doesn’t matter because you should aim to repay it in full every month, so you never pay any!
The best thing is to use it once a month for something small such as a tank of petrol and set up the card to be repaid in full automatically every month so you can never forget and pay late.
Your credit rating will not improve faster if you leave a balance on this card. Your credit score gets a boost if you have no balance on the account because you are paying it in full.
At some point, you will probably want to be able to get affordable credit to spread the cost of a purchase. This is a good time to prepare for that by getting a savings account with your local credit union.
Can you save regularly?
If you can, then read up about LOQBOX. This is a clever new product that lets you save each month for a year and reports this to the credit reference agencies as loan repayments – so your credit score will benefit as you have taken out a year-long loan and repaid it. There are no fees. At the end of the year, you will have a nest egg saved up and a better credit score.
This all takes time
If you were expecting the end of your DRO to make a large, immediate improvement to your credit score, it doesn’t.
Getting a bad credit card or saving through LOQBOX isn’t going to magically increase your score to good. But when the DRO and all the debts in it disappear, having these positive markers then will mean that your credit score is looking good, not just empty.
Never pay any firms offering a ‘repair your credit’ service because either they don’t work at all, or they will be only suggesting what I have said here – there are no shortcuts. The template letters here are very likely to work and if they don’t, putting in a complaint to the ICO is the best way to repair your credit.
The problems with “bad credit” cards
Amigo – not a good way to rebuild credit score
What happens at the end of a DRO?
jake says
hi, My debt relief order 12 month period ended last week and im keen to get my credit score back u. The link you included in that part with the data register i put in my details and nothing came up. Am i doing something wrong?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Jake, It’s good to be keen to correct your credit record, but if your DRO only ended last week, then you need to chill out for a bit as it will take lenders a while to update your credit records. I suggest waiting a couple of months and then checking your credit records to see if they have been correctly updated.
The data register link – you don’t put your details in, you put the creditors details in – you are trying to find exactly who at the creditor to write to if they have got a date wrong.
Joanne says
Hi Sara
My DRO was discharged in Sept,2014. I want to apply for Nissan finance on a car, but I do not want the embaressment of being refused. Is there any way of finding out if I will be approved first please?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
hi Joanne, I’m not aware that you can do a ‘soft check’ on this before hand. Make sure you follow all the points in this article before applying to give yourself the maximum chance of being accepted, but it’s only 6 months since your DRO finished so you may well have a problem.
Rachel says
Hi there, my DRO started in January 2010 so my understanding is that it finished in January 2011 as they last for 12 months. I hoping to purchase my first house next year, does my DRO completely disappear from my credit rating after 6 years from the start date of my DRO or from the end date? Also which would be the best credit agency to purchase my credit file from? Hope to hear from you soon. Many thanks.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Rachel, it disappears 6 years from the start of your DRO. You need to get your records from all three credit agencies if you are hoping to get a mortgage – also read this post about preparing for a mortgage application: https://debtcamel.co.uk/mortgage-with-debts/
craig says
I got a dro on 24may 2013 and was discharged from all on 24may 2014 and got my letter. I have been trying to fight with a few companies about updating my credit report from Default to Satisfied but they won’t do this after a number of phone calls.
When I call T-Mobile, they keep telling me its with the debit company, I call them as they tell me its back with T-Mobile. I don’t know what to write on the letter and where to send this.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Craig, If the debt company says the debt is “back with” T Mobile, then it sounds as though they were just trying to collect the debt for T Mobile and they didn’t buy it. I suggest you write the letter that is given in this post and send it to whoever currently has the debt according to your credit file.
Shak W says
I had a dro discharge in 2013 i managed to obtain x2 credit cards one with aqua and one with lunia (capital one) i explained my situation and now on a good wage and things are looking up. My main question is morgage! I have had a few brokers stating 20% despoit and ex bankcrupts can get finance.. What do you know about this with dro and does it get easier per year?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Shak, yes as time goes on, the DRO in your past becomes less important. But only 2 years after your DRO finished I am not surprised you would need a 20% deposit. You might find this article on mortgages and debt helpful: https://debtcamel.co.uk/mortgage-with-debts/
C says
Hello
I have just been given a Dro in October. I know you have to inform them of any change in circumstances but I’m just wondering if the official receiver has the power to check my bank account or ask me for bank statements for this mormentium year?
I’m not planning on doing anything illegal but I have applied for credit builder on the Cashplus card so I’m wondering if this is ok as its only £60 of credit?
Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi C, you are allowed to take out up to £500 credit whilst you are in a DRO, so this Cashplus card won’t break those rules. I wouldn’t recommend this route as it seems a very expensive way to buy a very small positive marker on your file. That’s why instead I recommend what it says in this article: wait til your DRO has finished . then start the repair process and after a few months get a “bad credit” credit card. But you don’t need to worry that the OR will find out what you are doing as you aren’t breaking any rules.
Courtney says
Hello
I read that after a DRO to help rebuild credit rating you should get a “bad credit card” roughly how long after a dro should I look into getting one? Also how long after a DRO are debts marked satisfied, settled or partially settled. Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Courtney, I would wait 3 months after the end of your DRO then check all debts have correct default date and are marked as settled/partially settled with zero balance owing. If they aren’t then sort those out. Don’t apply for a poor credit card until all the debts are all correct.
josie says
hi Sara,
very good advice. I tried to get a poor rating credit card before my credit file was updated and ending up getting turned down ; which has now added another negative on the credit rating. Most companies have now updated the files with a zero balance but after two months, three haven’t so next week I will be using the templates you have put on this site.
Danielle says
I took out a DRO in August 2010 and was discharged in August 2011. Natwest have partially settled the account however this was not done until July 2013 and so the account was in default every month until then, and also the date of default was 31/12/2011. HSBC still have all of my accounts open that were entered into the DRO and all are defaulting every month. Surely this is incorrect? How can I rectify this as my credit rating is being affected still.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Danielle, your credit rating will never get to “good” until the DRO has dropped off in August 2016. But all the debts should have a default date on or before August 2016 – this is the most important point so they will all drop off at the same time as the DRO. Also they should all be settled or partially settled with a date of August 2011. This article has the letters that you should write to Natwest and HSBC to correct these problems.
Danielle says
I was discharged from my Debt Relief Order in August 2011. My credit report shows all accounts being partially satisfied in August 2011 and the accounts go into default every month on all the accounts until August 2011 . Is this correct or should the last default date on each account entered into the DRO be August 2010 when it was taken out?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Danielle, that sounds right. But what matters is not the last default date on a debt bit the first one – these should all be on or before the dated your DRO started.
Katy Harrison says
Hello I had a DRO which ended in Feb 2015. I did not print off my discharge notice and have no copy of it. Now I am having a struggle with one lender who won’t correct the default date until they have a copy of this. How can I get this notice please?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Katy, there actually isn’t an official notice for you to get a copy of (see https://debtcamel.co.uk/end-dro/) You should tell the creditor to contact the DRO Insolvency Service team for confirmation that your DRO has finished. If they won’t do this, put in a complaint to the ICO as this article says.
Specialgirl09 says
Hi
I had a DRO started Sept 2009 Ended Sept 2010. DRO now gone of credit report but 2 of the creditors still showing me in deault every month and also both have put a default date on after the DRO was made (1 was nearly 7 months after!) Still showing as being in default as of today.
Also one of the DRO customers sold my debt on to a recovery company in 2012 – 2 years after the debt was wiped off.
This has stopped me getting any form of credit and was turned down by mortgage companies as they said I had 2 outstanding debts. Feel robbed!!
Sara (Debt Camel) says
It is a shame you didn’t try to clean up your credit file before this. You can use the letters here to get those default dates corrected. Though if the latest one was 1 year and 7m after Sept09 it will be dropping off in April16 so that’s only 2 months away, so you may feel at this stage it isn’t worth bothering with.
specialgirl09 says
Hi
The Financial Ombusdman & Citizens Advice Bureau told me that if a default was put on BEFORE a DRO was made it would stay on for 6 years but they should not be put on after as they are included in the DRO. Also a Co cannot sell yr “debt” A debt collecting company 2 years later as there is technically no debt as once the DRO has finished then the debt is wiped off. Hmm funny business going on there!
Rang the Debt Co and they were very interested to know they had bought a worthless debt (glad they did serves them right) although must say the girl I spoke to was very nice & helpful.
George says
Hi can you please tell me if you have a DRO how comes some of the creditors named on the DRO have closed the accounts even when the DRO is still in place but 1 Natwest with who there are 3 named accounts on the DRO have closed 1 but have left 2 loan accounts opened on the credit file and are marking it as in arrears every month? Is this standard practiser?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thankyou
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi George,
it is standard practice to mark as in default every month during the DRO and mark the account as closed at the end of the DRO.
Sometimes a creditor will sell the account to a debt collector – in that case the account with the original creditor will be marked as closed but a new one will have appeared with the debt collector.
George says
The accounts that have closed there is no other accounts on my file & I’m 6mths into DRO, I was under the impression once the DRO was finished my debts where finished that is the advice I was given so why would they be sold to a debt collector if they can’t contact me for money?
Really I just could not understand why they have closed one and left 2 open on my file and other creditors have also closed accounts they did this 3mths into DRO according to credit file.
Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
A debt can be sold as it still exists during the DRO – your DRO may fail for example if you inherit a lot of money.
Why have creditors closed accounts before the end? Well who knows, they may be taking the practical view that these debts are gone. It’s not bad news for your credit file so I wouldn’t worry about it!
Kat says
Hi, one of the creditors that were included in my D.R.O still update my credit file with a default every month. The interest and amount owed stays the same and I am no longer being chased for it. They have stated that after 6 years they will remove this but should they have stopped updating every month or are they within their rights to do this?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
hi Kat – what they are doing is right for the 12 months of your DRO. But when that has ended, they should mark the debt as satisfied or partially satisfied with a zero balance owing. Use the letters in this article to complain first to the creditor then to the ICO to get this corrected.
Kat says
Thanks for your response.
The dro ended in 2014 I believe. So the past 2 years have been updated incorrectly and it has an obvious massive impact on my credit score.
I have contacted them previously with no reply. They aren’t interested in correcting it at all.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Well it won’t actually have made a HUGE difference to your credit score – the DRO being there will still dwarf everything else for the rest of the 6 years – but it may have been enough to stop you getting a bad credit repair card such as Vanquis or Luma. So it’s definitely worth getting it corrected by complaining to the ICO.
Sarah says
Hi,
I have been discharged from my debt relief order as of January this year.
I am moving in with my parents and plan to save approx £20k within the next 2 years towards a deposit. I will be looking to buy a house for no more than £75k.
At the moment my credit score is obviously horrendous.
If I were to apply for a mortgage in 2 years time with a bad credit broker do you think there would be any chance of me being approved as I would have a 25% deposit. (With keeping my credit file clean as well.) My annual salary is £19k.
Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Sarah – that sounds like a reasonable plan. You know that a bad credit mortgage will be more expensive, but with a 25% deposit and borrowing less than 3 times your income I would have though it would be possible. Obviously clean up your credit file as much as possible as this article suggests but there is a limit as to how much it will improve in the next 2 years.
Serena says
Hello,
I did a debt relief order in 2012 and my creditors are still marking a default on my account every month pretty much. Is this right?
Many thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
No it’s not right. .The default date should have been on or before the date your DRO started in 2013. The accounts should have been marked as settled or partially settled on the date your DRO ended in 2014.
Martin says
Hi I did a debt relief order in 2012.im looking to get a morgage.i have credit card with luma and sim only contact on three..which are getting paid every time.my issue is my ccj says active?.and I put this in my debt relief order.anyone help and explain please
Sara (Debt Camel) says
CCJs can’t be marked as partially settled. It will continue to show on your credit record for 6 years since the date of the CCJ and you can’t do anything about it.
realistically you will find it very hard to get a mortgage till 2018 when the DRO drops off your record anyway, and the CCJ will be gone by then.
Serena Keron says
Hello, Thank you for your help, my creditors have marked uo my file with the correct default date – start of dro and satisfaction date -end of dro. 2 of my creditors have put partually settled so balance is 0. Are the other 3 suppose to do this? im having a priblem with one as they are telling me the balance shouldnt be 0 until after the 6 years is up?
Many thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
All the balances should be showing as zero.
Luke says
Hi I wonder if u could help me I got a dro in Dec 2011 n yesterday signed up to noddle to check credit score n the creditors I included in the dro r still saying default every month why is this but also I don’t know nothing bout my dro reference number any more as wen split wit ex partner she threw all paper work away same with account numbers for the creditors so i can get in touch with them n I need this sorting as want a mortgage
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You could talk to the adviser who set up your DRO, they may still have the paperwork, or get in touch with the DRO Unit using the following email address: DRO.Unit@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk
You may find this article https://debtcamel.co.uk/repair-credit-record-dro/ helpful as it addresses DROs directly.
Luke says
On credit file should it still be saying default every month though or something else as as got it 2011, n can’t go back to person that set it up as don’t know who it was or wat company dro was with as all paper work been destroyed
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You need to contact the DRO Unit then.
Wendy Green says
Hi my dro completed in 2014 but my credit report was not corrected. I have put in a letter to my creditors but I was informed by them that it is my responsibility to inform creditors of when my dro ended that’s why records not updated. Is this correct ???,
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I don’t think the Insolvency Service writes to your creditors at the end of a DRO. Most creditors would assume that a DRO will complete on time as 99% of them do… but you have told them now so they are going to correct your credit record?
Natasha says
Hi, my DRO finished on the 24th of June, I have checked my credit file and I still have 7 creditors saying that even thought the accounts are closed the balances aren’t zero. I want to know if I send the letter in section 2 to ask them to mark it as partially settled do I have to provide a photocopy of my DRO and do I address the letter to the data controller or try to find out his/her name. Lastly do I ask them to put the balance to zero or does this automatically happen when they partially settle the account?
Thank you in advance
Sara (Debt Camel) says
First I would wait another month or two. There is no rush here.
You need to enclose a photocopy of the Insolvency register entry which shows your DRO has completed. If you haven’t yet printed this off, do it now because it disappears after 3 months!
Just address the later to the data Controller.
The letter asks them to correct the credit record so it shows you no longer owe any money – that is all you need to say but you can change the wording if you want.
Peter says
My DRO completed in 2010 and according to noddle one creditor has an incorrect default date (2011). I am planning to send the first letter in the article but because it was so long ago, I’m not on the insolvency register. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, P
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi peter, send that first letter deleting the reference to the Insolvency Register. Often the creditor will accept this. If they want proof of your DRO then tell them to contact the Insolvency Service’s DRO team.
Peter says
Thank you Sara. A really helpful and informative website!
Peter says
So I followed your advice and sent them the letter deleting the reference to the insolvency register, and after 2 months I received a letter of apologies saying that my file has been referred to the complaints department. I then received a phone call asking me to provide proof and was told that a copy of the confirmation letter from the Insolvency Service will do (I should have referred them to the Insolvency Service’s DRO team as you advised), so I emailed a scanned copy to them. 2 days ago I received a letter saying “We are still not in a position to give you a final response….. we will be in touch again by the 1st of December”.
I am worried that I sent them too much info as the confirmation letter contained information about the other creditors. Also, and more to the point, what would your advice be regarding resolving the issue asap. Should I complain to the ICO?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I wouldn’t worry that you have sent them too much information. I would be inclined to phone up and ask why it is taking so long?
Nicola says
My DRO was discharged in 2013 and all my other debts have been amended. Im still having trouble with my local council who say the have never recieved any letters yet the insolvency unit have emailed them twice with the evidence they have asked for and included me in the email the insolvency unit also told them that any monies i have paid they owe me. They are still saying im in arrears and being quite rude about it. Please help
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Nicola, I suggest you should put in a formal complaint to the council about this. If you go onto their website it is usually clear how to do this – online or by email is best so you have a record of what you have sent and when. If that doesn’t get this resolved, then go to your local Citizens Advice who will be able to help with a stage two complaint.
Nicola says
I will be. Ive already spoken to a solicitor and local mp
Sara (Debt Camel) says
OK, you shouldn’t need to pay a solicitor for this, your local CAB will do it for free.
Nicola says
I hope so. Thank you
steve says
Hi, I successfully completed a DRO in 2015, and after a year I decided to check my experien statuary credit report, of my six original creditors only two remain on my report, I have no idea why the others are not on it, also these two just show my balance as it was on my default date in 2014.. I thought it would now show as zero or settled.. do I need to contact these creditors and ask them to amend this? Any help please….. thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
The other 4 may have had default dates over 6 years ago if they were older debts? Or perhaps they never reported to Experian and only show on Equifax of Call Credit? You really need to check all three credit Reference Agencies, see https://debtcamel.co.uk/best-way-to-check-credit-score/ for how to do this.
The two that are showing should have a zero balance, you need to ask them to correct this – there is a separate article with template letters for after a DRO here: https://debtcamel.co.uk/repair-credit-record-dro/.
steve says
Thanks for the swift reply, and the links. You have been a great help
Michelle says
Hi I started a dro in March 16. I had a look at my noodle credit report and creditors are still marking my debt as default. I’m 8 months into my DRO what should I do?? Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You don’t need to do anything, this all sounds normal and correct. At the end of your 12 month DRO period your debts will be written off – at that point the creditors should stop adding defaults and set the balance owed to zero , as the article above explains. Only 3 months to go :)
Michelle says
Hi thanks for you quick reply. So I should wait until maybe June next year and have a look again if still defaulting contact them?
Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Yes, they should have sorted it out by June.
Iain Mortlock says
Hi
I had a DRO back in November 2013, discharged November 2014. I have recently signed up to Noddle and whilst looking on my records I am seeing a default to Vanquis Bank from September 2013? I’m unsure if this is supposed to be here or if I need to contact them to get this rectified?
Many Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I hope the Vanquis debt was included in your DRO?
If it was, then the default before the start of your DRO is fine, but the balance should now be set at zero and the debt should be marked as satisfied – is it?
Iain Mortlock says
Hi Sara
It should of been but not directly through Vanquis Bank, the amount is more likely a doorstep loan which would of been on the DRO.
I am still getting red markers each month with a balance of £150.
Strangely the markers only start from May 2016
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Vanquis is owned by Provident, but it would be unusual to see a doorstep loan from provident showing on your credit record as a debt to Vanquis Bank, that would normally mean a Vanquis Credit card …
You need to get hold of your DRO letter that listed the debts covered by the DRO and check them off against your credit record.
From what you say I can’t tell if this debt was included in your DRO – in which case it should now have zero showing and you need to ask them to correct this. Or if it was missed off your DRO by accident, in which case I am afraid you still owe this money. Or if the debt isn’t yours at all but is showing incorrectly on your credit record.
Iain Mortlock says
Provident would be one of them included in our DRO.
They contacted me a few months back chasing up debt but I told the customer service team I had a DRO and to contact me if they needed anything further but I heard no more
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Well if you are sure this debt was included in your DRO, you should write to them and ask them to set the balance to zero. But I am concerned about the name difference – if Vanquis don’t correct this, I suggest you go back and talk to the adviser who set up your DRO about what you can do.
Iain Mortlock says
Yes see I’ve never had a credit card, only loans from Wonga.com, provident, greenwood’s and shopacheck. The debt can’t be anything else as there were no other debts everything was included in the DRO.
So which should I write to Provident or Vanquis?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Is there a loan from Provident showing on your credit record?
If the entry on your credit record says Vanquis Bank, write to their Data Controller.
Rich says
Hi ,
When you say that the debts should show as settled or partially settled at the end of the dro, do you mean once its been discharged after a year? Or do you mean after 6 from the date it began. Mine was discharged in 2014 but I still have amounts and defaults showing on my credit file each month.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
If your DRO started in 2013 and the DRO year ended in 2014, then all your debts in the DRO should have a default date on or before the DRO started. And they should all have a balance of zero showing from the end of the DRO year. If they don’t then ask for these to be corrected.
Bobby elliott says
My debt relief order from 2013 isn’t showing on my credit file not that I’m complaining but whys it not there? I use Experian and clearscore
Katie says
Hello,
I had a dro December 2014. The only reason for this was because I was 6months pregnant and I went through a major fraud which happened to 150 people. I lost £10,000 trying to buy a car and it turned to be a fraud which police to this day are still investigating, luckily they have arrested them all but unfortunately I will not get any money back at a difficult time like this I had to get a dro, however I’m trying to get a mortgage but I’m having to wait until the dro is off my credit score. Is there anyway this will come off my credit rating before the six years? As I still have 3 years left. Also because I have got proof of the investigation and paper work is there anyone I can show it to help get the dro off my credit score.
Thank you
Sara (Debt Camel) says
No there isn’t a way of getting this removed I am afraid. All insolvency markers – DRO, IVA, bankruptcy – remain for 6 years. Sometimes this can feel very unfair – I have seen IVA cases where the person has repaid 100% of their debts but the marker remains and they can’t get a mortgage.
Natasha says
Hiya at the end of last year I followed the article suggestion in regards to writing letter 2 with the copy of my completed DRO. I sent it recorded delivery to all the data controllers of my creditors. Majority of the lenders had changed my balance. However, Barclaycard and Aqua haven’t updated their records even though they both have received my letters.
What should I do now?
Tessa says
Hi there
I had a DRO that’s marked as Discharged and was wondering whether it will ‘drop off’ in 2017 or 2018?
Also just wondering whether you can pay off credit cards using another credit card?
Any help would be much appreciated.
DRO:
Date of order
16/05/2011
Case year
2011
Discharge date
16/05/2012
Sara (Debt Camel) says
That DRO will drop off your credit record in a few days time :)
Pay a credit card with another credit card – there are only two ways to do this. First, do a “balance transfer” if your credit card will allow these. Second, take cash out on 1 card, pay that into your bank account and use that to repay the other – n0ot a good idea as the interest rates credit cards charge on cash are very high and start being charged immediately.
Tessa says
Hi Sara,
Thank you so much for your help, that’s great news :) you’ve answered my questions brilliantly and so promptly, it’s genuinely very much appreciated :) fab site! Thank you! :)
Sara (Debt Camel) says
The best way to thank me is to Like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/debtcamel/ and sometimes share an article I post there – with no income for advertising, I rely on social sharing to spread the word!
Kay brazier says
Hello.
If I had 1 in oct 2011 and discharged oct 2012 should mine be gone now too?
Been accepted in principle for a mortgage once i have saved a 10 to 12% deposit. I have no paperwork for my dro as moved house and lost a bit of stuff during.
Do i ask experian to updte records and my file once they have contacted the dro register office? How soon will my file be updated?
I am slightly worried as dont want it to effect the mortgage ? Would I have been accepted in principle if it was in my file? I also have a credit card which i had nov 16 and have made all ppayment on time on this .
Any advice welcome please
A
Am i better off going with a broker for a mortgage with 10% ready than approaching a bank?
:)
Sara (Debt Camel) says
If your DRO started in Oct 2011, it will show on your credit record until Oct 2017 and can’t be removed before then. Until this date you have very little chance of getting a mortgage – it’s best to wait until the DRO has gone before applying for a mortgage and getting an application showing on your credit record.
After Oct 2017, check your credit records, the DRO should be gone.
You should also check your credit records with all three credit reference agencies now (here’s how to do it for free, you want the detailed records:https://debtcamel.co.uk/best-way-to-check-credit-score/) to make sure all the debts in your DRO have a default date of the start of your DRO or earlier. If they have, they will all disappear when your DRO does. If they haven’t, this is the time to get the default dates corrected as the article you have commented explains. This takes time to do so get going… and you have to ask the lenders, not Experian etc.
When you are ready to apply for a mortgage I always suggest going through a broker when you have had a DRO, even once it has vanished. Also you shouldn’t be applying to anyone who you had debts with that went into your DRO.
Wendy Green says
Hi I had dro a while back which has ended 2 years ago I’m trying to clean up my credit file. I have contacted the relevant finance parties involved to ask them to update their records with satisfied or partcialy satisfied which they have but on my credit report they still have account status as 8 and a balance so should that be zero from 2014 when my dro ended? Or can they still put on the balances that way even though they state satisfied?
Amy says
Hi I have completed the debt remedy tool with step change and it recommends I get a debt relief order. I’m about worried about how this will affect my job. I have recently started working for the local council as a teaching assistant. Would they need to know about this and would it affect my job in anyway?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I very much doubt it. Did the council ask if you had ever been bankrupt or run a credit check on you before you got the job? If not, then they don’t care about your finances.
Amy says
No they didn’t I’m just worried because I don’t have my contract yet. Thank you very much for your response
Matt says
Hi
Hope you can help me , I owe about £10500 and am currently on jsa after spending the previous year on esa , my debts are from over two years ago . I currently don’t see any way of paying them and this is adding to my stress . But on the other hand it will only be four years before they drop of my credit file . I meet all the criteria for DRO but not sure what to do . Any advice would be great.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
“Only” 4 years? That’s a very long time during which to get get hassle from debt collectors or be taken to court for a CCJ which would then be there for another 6 years.
If you think you may get a job and be able to clear the debts in a reasonable time, it’s probably good to wait. But if this is unlikely and you qualify for a DRO, then I wouldn’t let vague dreams of waiting 4 years stop you from getting a DRO.
Michael Graham says
Hi I had a debt order relief in march 2013 and now I’ve got a clear score account showing as stable ! Is that good ??
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I have no idea what that means – the labels these firms use aren’t often useful as lenders don’t use them in making lending decisions. have all your debts been marked as defaulted before or at your DRO start date? HAve they now all been marked as settled with zero owing?
ronan says
What is the situation about a UK Debt Relief Order that only includes debts to banks outside the UK?
How does this show up on your file?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
The DRO itself will show. If the debts in the DRO are not on your credit record, they won’t show.
Sam nunn says
Hello i had a debt relief order that was discharged on jan 2015 most of the creditors settled the account and changed the balance to 0 but there are still 3 companies that show i owe money. Ive tried to have this removed but they are unwilling to do anything as i dont have a discharge letter it was so long ago. How can i get this changed?. Also, all the accounts that i owed money to have shown this month as just opened,defaulted and then closed straight away even though they havnt been used for almost 5 years. This has brought my score down considerably this month after months of building it up! Can i get this changed or will those false defaults now stay on for 6 years? I dont understand why thst would happen i have had over 20 negative changes on my credit file this month all false and regarding the old accounts that should be written off from the debt relief order!
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Tell the three creditors to contact the Insolvency Service’s DRO team to get confirmation that your DRO has ended. If they refuse put in a formal written complaint to them.
20 changes on other debts? that sounds very odd… I would be inclined to wait a month and see what happens then before deciding what to do.
sam nunn says
The changes are all regarding the accounts that were included in the dro I know it’s very odd they are all showing as just opened this month then credit limit gone down then defaulted then closed all at once I havnt used any of those accounts in years and they should all be closed so i don’t understand why that’s happened but it has brought my score down a lot unfortunately. I will contact the lenders as you have suggested and send formal complaints. Will they be able to remove these recent defaults or will they stay on for 6 years?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I suggest you just tackle the three problem creditors at the moment. Wait and see what your next months report looks like before deciding what to do about the other ones.
sam nunn says
Ok thankyou so much for the advice much appreciated!
Keith Blackmore says
Hi I had a DRO start in July 2011 it shouldve came off July 2017 it’s now 2018 and is still on my credit file. How do I find out why it is still there and how to get rid of it?
Thank you
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Have you seen if you are still on the Insolvency Register? https://www.insolvencydirect.bis.gov.uk/eiir/
Keith Blackmore says
Yes I have checked that and I am no longer on it
Sara (Debt Camel) says
have you checked all three credit reference agencies and is your DRO showing on all of them? See https://debtcamel.co.uk/best-way-to-check-credit-score/
Simon Thomas says
Hi there so I am going to take out a dro next month, will existing direct debits like monthly Netflix and my contract phone bill be cancelled and if so how can I keep these running to continue to improve my credit score
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You can’t do anything to try to improve your credit score until your DRO has finished.
Julie says
Hi, my DRO was discharged in Feb 14 but some accounts are still open and under default on Noodle. Could this be because they went into default before the start of my DRO?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
All the debts included in your DRO should now have a balance set to zero. Write and ask the creditors to do this as the article above suggests.
Marie says
Hi, Please can you help me? I have recently been discharged from a DRO and on my credit file some of the creditors have not yet marked as default. Do I need to send the letter asking them to mark as default like it says in your post or do I skip that letter and send the following one asking them to change the balance to zero (settled/partially settled)
Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You need to combine the two letters, so it asks for a default to be added at the date of your DRO and sets the balance to zero at the end of your DRO.
Andrew says
Hi Sara
My DRO ends in 5 days…at what point should I apply for a bad credit card ( don’t owe either of the lenders you suggest )?
I’m keen to improve my credit score so I can obtain a mortgage in the future and realise I have 6…now 5 years to do this.
The Loqbox is a great idea is it better to put more ( that’s obviously manageable ) into it would this have a better impact?
One further thing my credit score, obtained from Clearscore, doesnt show any defaults at all even though my DRO hasnt yet ended is this normal?
Thank you for your time.
Andrew
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I suggest waiting at least 6 months and then making sure all the debts on your credit record have the right default date and have been updated to show a balance of zero before applying for a bad credit card.
5 years is a very long time. There is no hurry about your credit rating, you could do nothing for a couple of years and still end up with the same credit score after your DRO marker has gone. But if you want a mortgage then, you need to get saving now!
Loqbox – it’s not clear how much difference it will make if you save more rather than less. But it’s best to be cautious and complete the year rather than ambitious and have to stop half way through. How much do you think you could manage?
Clearscore – are any of the debts in your DRO showing there?
Andrew says
Hi Sara
None of my debts are showing on there at all bit the DRO is on there
I could easily manage £50 per month
Thank you
Sara (Debt Camel) says
It may simply be that your lenders don’t report to Equifax.
I would suggest starting with £20 to Loqbox and saving the extra £30 a month somewhere else.
Jody says
Hiya,
My DRO ended in 2016 and I would like to build my credit rating. I had debts with Capital One and Vanquis. Can I now apply with one of these credit card companies? Can they chase these old debts even though they’ve gone through the DRO or are they written off permanently?
Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
No, they can’t chase your old debts – they no longer exist. BUT they may turn down an application from you. I suggest waiting another couple of years before applying to them. You could look at LOQBOX if you could afford to save £20 a month, it is the only product I know where saving can improve your credit score, see https://debtcamel.co.uk/loqbox/
Jody says
Thankyou for the quick reply. I have registered with clearscore and they have suggested a credit card from capital one to improve my credit rating, the credit card they have suggested says 100% pre-approved based on my circumstances, my credit score is low but stable. Although, I’m not sure how accurate they are…?
I will have a look at your suggested link now. Thanks again.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
ClearScore says “Some offers are even ‘pre-approved’ which guarantees you’ll be successful in getting a particular offer, so long as the information in your ClearScore is correct.” So in that case, provided your DRO is showing on ClearScore AND your old Capital One debt is (was it still with capital one or has it been sold to a debt collector?) you should be OK to apply to it.
Jody says
Hiya,
In response to your previous message I can’t quite remember whether the debt was still with Capital One or if they had sold it on. When I check on Clearscore it doesn’t out line the debts, it just says it finished on 04/16
Thanks for all your advice :-)
Sara (Debt Camel) says
“It finished on 04/16” that would be the DRO itself. but the debts should also show on there and you need to make sure that they are all marked as defaulted on or before the DRO start date and that now they are all marked as satisfied or partially satisfied with a balance of zero – see https://debtcamel.co.uk/repair-credit-record-dro/
Jody says
Hi again,
I’ve had another look on ClearScore and it only lists a DRO. It states that I was discharged on 1st April 2016. It gives my name and address and the amount which says £0 however, no specifics about the debts that were in the order. It does list my previous phone contracts which all now have a zero balance these were not in the DRO and I have paid them all off in full.
Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I suggest you sign up to MSE’s Credit club as well… ClearScore only shows debts to lenders that report to Equifax, MSE’s report gives you Experian which is much bigger. See what that recommends.
Junglejay says
Hi, my 12 months DRO period has just ended and on my clear score account I have been preapproved for a chrome credit card. Do you think I should take this while it’s available to start improving my credit?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Definitely. Don’t expect to see your credit record improve for a long while, but having a well run credit card will help it improve faster when it does…
To get the maximum benefit, you need to use it every month for something small such as a tank of petrol. Then set up the card to take repayment for the whole balance automatically by direct debit. Repaying it all maximises your credit score, as you get an extra boost for using less than 30% of iyour credit limit and a bigger boost for having a zero balance. Doing this automatically means you can never make a late payment – it’s vital you avoid ANY negative markers on your credit record from now!
Richard says
Hi, I sent out letters to all my creditors to get my defaults satisfied as my DRO ended in July 2018. All of them bar one have now been updated to satisfied, so many thanks for your advice! O2 are the only creditor I have not heard a peep from in over 2 months. Should I now complain to ICO or are phone contracts treated differently? Thanks in advance!
Sara (Debt Camel) says
have you sent O2 a complaint?
Richard says
Yes sent back in January
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Then phone them up and ask why they haven’t responded.
Mel says
I want to thank you for this article. I had a DRO end in 2013, and two compnies Halifax and Vanquis hadn’t updated the balances on my file. I was not aware that they could have updated the balances to show the accounts as partially settled. I wrote to them on the 30th May 2018, and my credit files have just updated – all of them have jumped from being ‘Very Poor’ to ‘Fair’. I am so pleased! Next year they should fall off completely. Thank you.
Amy says
Hi, my DRO 12month period finishes in November, I will be looking to up my credit score after this, I have read the above article about getting a credit card and paying it off monthly to up my score. I am currently a stay at home mum but will be looking for work but not till next year when my youngest is in full time school, do you think I would be accepted for a credit card before I get a job or do you think it is best that I wait until I have a job? Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
November isn’t long now! Your credit record will be very poor for the next 5 years, so there is no hurry to get a credit card. I suggest waiting until you have a job. Before then you can make sure the other clean up bits are done – having the default dates right and the balances all set to zero.
Stephen says
Firstly I just want to say thank you so much for the free information you give people. It is very much appreciated :)
I hope you can help me! My DRO started on 14th March 2013 and I was subsequently discharged on 14th March 2014. One of my creditors was Vanquis Bank. On my Noddle credit report, Vanquis’ Default Date is 12th March 2013. However, the ‘Account End Date’ is 12th March 2014.
Can you tell me when the Default will fall of my credit report? Will it fall off on 14th March 2019 or 12th March 2020? I have a feeling they are being sneaky by updating the Account End Date by a year later.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. :)
Sara (Debt Camel) says
It will go in March 2019n- not long now!
They aren’t being sneaky, legally your debt was not wiped out until the end of the DRO year so that account end date is correct.
Stephen says
Thank you so much for your reply, Sara.
I have a quick question; because the Account End Date is 12th March 2014, will the account itself stay on my credit report for six years from this date? i.e. March 2020? I am hoping this account falls off on March 2019 along with my DRO.
Thanks again in advance :)
Sara (Debt Camel) says
It will go, as I said, in March 2019.
Douglas Benson says
Thank you for the great information.
I will be writing to a couple of my debtors one of which hasn’t added a default date and still displays the full balance. the other has the correct default date but still shows the full balance.
I only seem to be able to find contact details for Data Protection Officers, not Data Controllers. are they basically the same thing. if i write to the Data Protection Officer will it get sorted?
also, is sending the letter via email ok or is it better to send a letter via recorded delivery?
thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Email is fine. Put in the email that if they aren’t the right person to answer, this can they forward it and let you know who it has gone to.
Douglas Benson says
That’s great, thank you.
One other thing I’ve noticed on another account included in the DRO is that it’s been marked as settled with a zero balance but no default date has been added. I’m assuming this is just as good, if not better as there is no negative association with that account?
It was settled two months prior to the DRO start date (probably when I voluntarily terminated the agreement).
Peter D says
Hello,
What a great site. I wish I found this years ago!
My DRO started 11/02/2014 and got a letter from the Insolvency Service confirming this afterwards . Should I have got any other paperwork in 2015 to say the DRO is all approved as a year has gone by? I havent got anything and was going to send a email to asking for my amount to be set at £0 as its still not! I didnt know this was supposed to happen and now realise this has been affecting my ‘fair’ credit rating.
Thank you
Sara (Debt Camel) says
No, you don’t get a certificate or anything to say your DRO has finished. I suggest (in https://debtcamel.co.uk/end-dro/) that people take a copy of their Insolvency register record showing it has completed, but this is too late for you as your record will have gone by now.
Definitely ask for the balances to be set to zero. – it won’t actually increase your credit score but it will make people more likley to lend to you. Are all your default dates correct? If not ask for them to be corrected too.
Peter D says
Thank you, Sara. I actually read what am supposed to do by reading this site. Perhaps i should have done that first!
I have sent them an email. It was Barclays and Barclaycard which have not set the accounts to £0. Barclaycard states its a ‘Settled account’ but the balance on 16 October 2017 the newest is £2150 even thought the last delinquent date was February 2014.
I would have thought my credit rating would climb as my CreditWise ‘What’s holding you back’ warning says I have arrears or payment queries in two accounts. Only the Barclay ones have a figure as outstanding.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
So is their a default date on the Barclaycard account? If not it needs to be added at the start of the DRO so the record will drop off when the DRO does.
Credit report warnings are often not helpful. Settling a debt does not increase your credit rating. But it does make it easier to get credit.
CreditWise only reports on Equifax data – you also need to check your Experian and CallCredit data records – see https://debtcamel.co.uk/best-way-to-check-credit-score/.
Doug says
One other thing I’ve noticed on another account included in the DRO is that it’s been marked as settled with a zero balance but no default date has been added. I’m assuming this is just as good, if not better as there is no negative association with that account?
It was settled two months prior to the DRO start date (probably when I voluntarily terminated the agreement).
Doug says
Should i ask for a default date to be added or just leave it as settled with a zero balance?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
If it was settled before your DRO started, it will drop off by the time your DRO goes. No point in getting a default added!
Doug says
Thank you for your help
Rob says
My DRO ended on 24 August 2018. All lenders except one (Lendable) have marked as partially settled. I have wrote to them using templates, emailed them and reported to ICO (although that’s going to take 12 weeks apparently). Just come off the phone to them now, they are adamant they dont have to mark it as partially settled for 6 years! They have told me to email them with proof they have to do it. Is it actually law that they have to?!?!?!
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Refer them to http://www.scoronline.co.uk/sites/default/files/High%20Level%20Prinicples%20Document%20Version%202%20final.pdf which says on p8:
Your record should be closed and marked as partially settled if:
– The lender accepts final settlement of the account for less than the balance outstanding
– Your account is included in an insolvency such as a bankruptcy or IVA which is discharged/completed and less than the full amount is paid.
A DRO is a form of insolvency and it completed at the 1 year point. After that you do not owe any money and your credit record should reflect this.
kat says
hi i have a question my dro is ending soon and dwp says they will contact me after to make repayment are they allowed to do that? Plus an error in the sums owed by 5£ how do i sort this out with them?
Thank you
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I think you should talk to the debt adviser that set up your DRO about the problem with the amount owed, as that may be the root cause of the DWP saying they can start asking for a repayment.
Lee says
Hi
I in process of clearing up my file after dro. Dro started jan 2017 and ended jan 2018. I sent halifax your template but they sent a letter back saying saying that they believe my file accurately refelts that i completed my dro and states debt partially settled but it still has a balance on there of £1200. What do i do now is it best to phone them or just go straight to reporting them as advised in article if so do you have any templates for complaint.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I suggest you go back to them with a copy of your credit report and say there is a balance owing which should be zero. Make this a formal complaint if you haven’t done this so far.
Lee says
Ok thank you for your speedy reply. Is it best to have full credit report or can i use a print out from the report i access online
Many thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I suggest you check all three credit reference agencies and get a report from each of them. See https://debtcamel.co.uk/best-way-to-check-credit-score/
Rebecca Telford says
Hi,
I was discharged from my DRO about a year ago.
There are a couple of debts still showing on my Noddle credit report that are still showing as defaulted with an outstanding balance. If I understand the article correctly I believe these should be showing with a zero balance as either partially/satisfied. Is this correct?
I have seen the letter template which looks really helpful (thanks), but I am a bit unsure how I go about contacting these. As it is a while (2 years) since I applied for the DRO, I haven’t all the information with account details and contact details to hand. Would I just call the company who I had the debts with and ask for this information? And who would I address these letters to? I just want to make sure they get to the right place / person!
Thanks :-)
Sara (Debt Camel) says
“these should be showing with a zero balance as either partially/satisfied. Is this correct?” yes.
The article suggests that you “Write the following letter to the Data Controller for the creditor (get the address from the ICO )”.
An alternative way that you may find simpler is to see the name of the creditor on your Noddle report, find their website and look on that for how to send in a Complaint. Email is best as it is instant, free and you have a copy.