The Insolvency Service is trying to track down people who could be owed refunds for debt relief order (DRO) fees paid as far back as a decade ago, with thousands of customers still owed money.
DROs are a type of personal insolvency that helps people struggling with problem debts to get back on track. The £90 application fee for a DRO was scrapped in 2024.
Who is eligible for a refund
People who paid the £90 fee for a DRO between 2016 and April 2024 but did not complete their application are eligible for the fee to be refunded, the Insolvency Service said. Up until April 2024, payments were made as part of the application process, either in full or in instalments.
Some people will be due a full £90 refund, while others may be owed more or less, depending on whether they paid in full, overpaid, or made multiple incomplete applications. Applications for DROs are made through authorised debt advisers or charities.
How to claim the refund
The Insolvency Service said it has written to people affected several times since November 2025 with details on how to apply, but some customer contact details may have changed. It said around £450,000 is available in refunds, with around 5,100 customers contacted and refunds provided to around 1,200 so far.
Caroline Shanahan, senior leader in the personal insolvency team at the Insolvency Service, said: “We want to reassure customers that this is a genuine refund and we want them to claim their money back if it is due.”
“We’ve tried to contact customers directly, but as the refunds go back 10 years, we know some people’s contact details may have changed. People applying for a DRO may have been struggling financially – hence needing debt relief – so we’re really keen to return money owed to them as soon as possible.”
Contacting the Insolvency Service
People who believe they are due a refund can contact the Insolvency Service by email, or call or write to the agency. Information such as the DRO application number, if known, along with contact and banking details, will help with securing a refund.
It is also important to remember that impersonation scammers often pretend to be from government organisations, so people should make sure they know who they are dealing with.
