Reviewed 15th May 2024
It allows debtors to repay monies owed in full without threats of legal action from creditors.
The legislation made it compulsory for debtors in Scotland to receive money advice from professional advisors, whose job it is to establish the most appropriate debt relief product using Scotland’s ‘Common Financial Tool.’
Advisors adhere to the same financial calculations and criteria when dealing with all debtors, and if DAS is found to be the best way forward, a manageable repayment amount will be decided upon.
Get a rough indication of what your repayments might be under each of our different debt solutions.
Am I eligible for DAS?
Scottish residents with personal unsecured debt they are struggling to repay are eligible to apply. They need to commit to making regular payments until the debt is repaid in full as DAS is not a route into insolvency, it is a way to regain control of a poor financial situation. Debtors in Scotland who are currently bankrupt or in an active Trust Deed are not eligible. Nor are people unlikely to repay their debts in full, even if given this extended repayment time.
An approved money advisor must provide advice to debtors before they apply for any formal debt help in Scotland. An advisor will review the debtor’s income, assets and debts to let them know the most appropriate route. They will then guide the application process, formulate a Statement of Affairs which covers the debtor’s financial position, and send it to the Accountant in Bankruptcy along with the application form.
Unsecured debts will form the major part of a DPP. Unsecured debt generally includes personal loans, bank overdrafts, payday loans and credit card borrowing. A 2013 amendment to the Debt Arrangement Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2011, now allows for mortgage arrears to be included in a Debt Payment Programme. Debts that are omitted include student loans and court fines.
Repayment calculations are based on the amount of residual income after household bills have been met. These include mortgage or rent payments, food, utility bills, clothing, council tax, and other essential bills.
There is no specific timescale for a DPP – it depends on individual circumstances, and could run for around eight years or more depending on the levels of debt and repayment amounts.
Agreement to the Debt Payment Programme needs to be obtained from all creditors, although in some cases the Accountant in Bankruptcy has the power to overrule creditors and pass the DPP regardless.
One requirement of entering a Debt Arrangement Scheme is the inclusion of your DPP in the public DAS Register. This means that your financial situation is no longer private, as the online register can be accessed free of charge by members of the public. Details held include your full name, date of birth, home address and any business addresses.
Failing to make at least three agreed payments on time can lead to a revocation of the Debt Payment Programme. This would enable creditors to take legal action against you, and potentially backdate all interest and charges. A revocation may also occur if you subsequently apply for your own sequestration.
Debt Report
Our debt report is completely easy to use and is a great starting point for anyone with over £5000 of debts looking to take control of their debt issues. By providing us with details of your incomings and outgoings we can suggest the most appropriate way forward for you.
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Whether you are a sole trader or a limited company director, we can help you work through your current financial problems including money owed to HMRC
Business DebtsSequestration is the Scottish version of bankruptcy and may be suitable for you if you do not have the money to pay back your debts
Find out MoreA Trust Deed involves making a monthly contribution to your debts for up to four years. After this time any remaining debt included in the Trust Deed will not need to be paid.
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A Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) lets you pay off your debt through a series of manageable instalments over a reasonable length of time.
Find out MoreOur Insolvency Practitioners are regulated by ICAS or the IPA and our firm is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
Fees and Information: There are fees associated with our services. These will be fully explained before entering into any of the personal debt solutions referred to on this website. Full details of our fees and how these are charged are fully explained to you prior to you committing to any particular service.