Around £450,000 is waiting to be returned to people who paid for a Debt Relief Order (DRO) but did not complete their application. The Insolvency Service is urging anyone who thinks they may be affected to claim their money back before the end of 2026.
Why the refunds are available
The application fee for a DRO was previously £90 but was scrapped in April 2024. People who paid towards a DRO between 2016 and April 2024 but did not go on to submit their application can now have the money returned.
The Insolvency Service has written to those affected several times since November 2025, but is concerned that some people have not received the correspondence because their contact details have changed over the past decade.
Who could be due a refund
A Debt Relief Order is a formal debt solution available to some people who cannot afford to repay their debts. It can provide an alternative to bankruptcy for people who meet the qualifying conditions and have less than £50,000 of personal debt. Applications are made with the assistance of an authorised debt adviser.
Before April 2024, applicants had to pay a £90 fee as part of the process, either in full or through instalments. The fee was subsequently abolished, but money remained in the system belonging to people who had started the application process without completing it.
Some people will therefore be entitled to the full £90 back, while others could receive more or less. The amount depends on whether someone paid the fee in full, made instalment payments, overpaid or made payments towards more than one incomplete application.
How to claim your refund
Anyone who believes they may be owed money can contact the Insolvency Service's DRO team by email at dro.preorder@insolvency.gov.uk. People requesting payment into a bank or building society account will be asked to provide their name, address and telephone number along with their DRO application number, if they know it.
They will also need to provide the name on their bank account, account number and sort code, plus a building society roll number where applicable. Anyone whose name or address has changed since they made the original application should provide both their previous and current details.
People can request a cheque instead of having the refund paid directly into their bank account. Where the original fee was paid by a charity or another organisation on someone's behalf, details of that organisation should also be provided.
The Insolvency Service said every application will be checked against its records to prevent fraudulent claims. People who would prefer to apply by post can write to: The Insolvency Service DRO Team, C/O Met Office, Fitzroy Road, Exeter, EX1 3PB.
Anyone with questions about the refund process can also contact the Insolvency Service customer service helpline on 0300 678 0015. The line is open from 9am until 5pm Monday to Thursday and from 9am until 3pm on Fridays.
