What is the Debt Arrangement Scheme?

The Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) gives you time to pay your debts through a debt payment programme. With a debt payment programme, you make one regular payment to cover most debts. You make payments to an approved distributor who sends money to your creditors for you.

What are the advantages of DAS?

• You get time to repay your debts. 
• You only make one regular monthly payment.  
• Most creditors cannot use court action to recover money. 
• You can keep mortgage or rent arrears out of the debt payment programme. 
• You may be able to get a limited amount of credit during the programme. 
• After you have covered your essential spending, you can put some or all the money left into your offer.  
• You can pay the value of an asset into the programme. 
• If your circumstances change, you may be able to vary how much you pay each month. 
• You may be able to arrange a payment holiday of up to six months. 
• Interest, fees and charges are frozen from the date you apply and are written off when you complete the programme. 
• If you make payments for 12 years and pay 70% of your debts, you may be able to end the debt payment programme early.  

When can I apply to join DAS?

You can apply to join DAS as an individual or as a couple, if all the following apply: 

• You have one or more debts. 
• You live in Scotland. 
• You have money or assets to pay into the debt payment programme. 
• You have had advice from an approved money adviser. 

There are some circumstances where you cannot apply. Contact us for advice. 

What happens if my application is approved?

• You pay your debts through a single, regular payment. 
• The DAS allocates a payments distributor to you. You make your regular payments to this independent company. 
• Your payments distributor contacts your creditors and arranges to pay regular amounts to them for the period of the debt payment programme. 
• Your first payment must be made within 42 days of the date of approval by the DAS Administrator. 

What happens if my application is rejected?

Your creditors can consider taking further action.  

If you think that the DAS Administrator has not applied the law correctly, you can:  

• Ask them to review their decision. You have 14 days from the date of the rejection decision.  
• Appeal to the sheriff court. You have 14 days from the date of the rejection or review decision.