Debt relief order, anyone got any experience? Advice?

[pickledparsnip]

Hello

Trying desperately to sort out my debts of just under 10k. Have split with my partner who I am still living with, and he has recently become unemployed. I stay at home with our son, so as you can imagine money is pretty tight. We've been paying nearly £300 a month back and can no longer afford this. I am trying to sort out living arrangements away from ex as it is awful living together but being separated.

I went to see the cab last week and was advised to get a debt relief order. My ex thinks it is a bad idea as he can pay back what he owes monthly (uh with what money? He is really unreliable) and I'm stupid to willingly bugger up my credit rating (it's not that great anyway!). I am not sure if he wants me to be indebted to him for years with regards to money, or if he wants access to my credit. Neither is going to happen as far as I'm concerned.

I've done some research into DRO and it does seem like the best option, but am genuinely scared of it as it seems so incredibly serious and final.
I am also pretty embarrassed as I had every intention of paying back the money that I borrowed, but I simply cannot afford the repayments.

Anyone else had any experience with debt relief orders? Did you regret it or do you believe you did the right thing? The stress I feel towards this debt is bloody awful, feel on edge every month wondering if we can afford the repayments.

Thank you

Thank you, I have gone through the step change calculator. And it advised a dro was the best thing as it works out as a deficit in my general bills, by tive just checked the value of my car and some sites are giving a figure over £1000 so that means I can't do that 🤔 I will check mse thank you again

Sometimes if you need your car for work and it's not worth loads, they might let you keep it, worth asking. If you owe £10k for example and your current car is reliable and economical to run, there's not a huge benefit to your creditors to sell it and buy the unknown that is another £500 car for example.

The creditors will get a tiny amount more money off you, but if the £500 car uses more fuel, costs more in tax and insurance, or breaks down, needs tyres etc, worst case scenario is that you can't work and they'll get nothing.

I’m so glad to see people still communicating, I have a dro, and honestly it’s the best thing I have done! Although one question in my clear score it states I had a ccj whilst on this but I never received a letter????