Thousands could be owed a £90 debt relief order refund

If you paid towards a debt relief order (DRO) between 2016 and April 2024 but your application was never submitted, the Insolvency Service could owe you money.

Around £450,000 in DRO refunds is still waiting to be claimed, and the Insolvency Service wants to pay back as much of it as possible before the end of 2026.

It's been writing to the people affected since March 2025. But because the refunds go back 10 years, many people will have moved or changed their contact details since, so the letters haven't reached everyone.

Caroline Shanahan, from the Insolvency Service's Personal Insolvency Team, said: "We want to reassure customers that this is a genuine refund."

What is a debt relief order?

A DRO lets you freeze your debts for 12 months. If your circumstances haven't changed after this time, your debts are written off. During your DRO, the people you owe aren't allowed to chase you to pay, and you don't make any payments towards the debts included in it.

You can find all the information you need on DROs on our debt relief order page or check your DRO eligibility criteria.

Why are DRO refunds being paid?

Until April 2024, there was a £90 fee to apply for a DRO, which people could pay in one go or in instalments. That fee has now been scrapped, so applying is free.

Anyone who paid some or all of that fee but didn't go on to submit their application can now get the money back. Most people will be due £90, but some could get less depending on whether they paid in full.

How do I claim a DRO refund?

You'll need to email the Insolvency Service's DRO team at [email protected] with your name, address and phone number, and your DRO application number if you have it.

If you want the money paid into your account, you'll also need to give details such as the name of your bank or building society, the name on the account as it appears on your statement, your 8-digit account number and 6-digit sort code, and your roll number if you bank with a building society.

Is the DRO refund a scam?

The Insolvency Service has confirmed the refunds are genuine, but because claiming means handing over your bank details, only send your information to the email or postal address published on GOV.UK. If you get a call, text or email about a DRO refund that you weren't expecting, don't reply using the contact details in the message. The Insolvency Service has a page on scams that use its name.

What if I'm still struggling with debt?

If you're still finding it hard to keep up with your debts, you can speak to us for free debt advice. You can also use our budget planner to see what's coming in and going out, or our benefits calculator to check whether you could be getting more help.