Debt relief order refunds: Are you owed a share of £450k from the Insolvency Service?

Thousands of people could be owed a refund from the government and may not realise it.

Anyone who paid for a debt relief order (DRO) application but never completed the process has been urged to come forward and claim their money back before the end of 2026.

Around £450,000 in refunds remains unclaimed, with some former applicants due refunds dating back as far as 2016, according to the Insolvency Service.

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.” 

Who can claim a debt relief order refund?

You could be eligible for a refund if you paid the £90 debt relief order application fee between 2016 and April 2024 and did not complete or submit your application or made payments towards a DRO application that never went ahead.

The £90 fee was dropped in 2024, but some people who paid before the charge was scrapped never completed the application process and are now entitled to get their money back.

In some cases, customers could be owed more or less than £90 depending on whether they paid in instalments, overpaid or made multiple incomplete applications.

What is a debt relief order?

A debt relief order is a form of personal insolvency designed for people with relatively low incomes and limited assets who cannot afford to repay their debts.

It can provide an alternative to bankruptcy and help people make a fresh financial start.

Applications are made through approved debt advisers or debt charities.

Why is the Insolvency Service contacting people?

The Insolvency Service has been writing to affected customers since November 2025 to explain how they can claim their refund.

However, because some claims go back 10 years, the agency says many people may have moved home, changed names or updated their contact details, making it difficult to reach everyone.

How to claim your refund

Anyone who believes they may be owed money should email dro.preorder@insolvency.gov.uk.

Or you can request information on the refund process on 0300 678 0015 open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm or Fridays from 9am to 3pm.

To request payment directly into a bank or building society account, you'll be asked to provide:

• Debt Relief Order application number (if known)

• Full name

• Current address

• Telephone number

• Bank or building society name

• Account name

• Account number

• Sort code

• Building society roll number (if applicable)

If you've moved house or changed your name since making the application, include both your old and current details when making your claim.

If a charity or another organisation paid the fee on your behalf, you should also provide details of the organisation that made the payment.