Fee Removal Set to Expand Access to Debt Relief in England and Wales

Debt Relief Orders allow people with less than £30k in debt to have it wiped clear after 1 year. The £90 application fee has now been removed in England and Wales.

The removal of the fee is expected to help many more people clear unmanageable debts as the cost was previously unaffordable for people in severe financial difficulty.

Debt charities welcome the change but are concerned support services may struggle to meet higher demand.

The number of Debt Relief Orders granted has jumped 60% in January 2023 compared to January 2022, showing increasing reliance on this form of debt solution.

Case studies in the article show how the £90 fee has previously prevented people in poverty from applying, leaving them struggling with anxiety over debt recovery action.