Protected Trust Deeds
May not be suitable in all circumstances. Fees apply. Your credit rating may be affected.
Free debt counselling, debt adjusting and providing of credit information services is available to customers by contacting MoneyHelper.
Using formal legislation, we have helped people reduce their overall monthly debt payments down to one, reduced affordable monthly repayment.
Protected Trust Deeds are a voluntary and legally binding agreement that can replace all your unsecured debt payments into an affordable single monthly payment paid typically over 4 years.
With the help of an Insolvency Practitioner (IP) you will make reduced, affordable repayments to the people you owe money to, and after this period, any remaining unaffordable debt is written off.
Once a Trust Deed is protected, your creditors won’t chase you for payment or add more interest and charges to your debts, and they can’t take any court action.
Trust Deed Scotland® is Scotland’s No.1 Protected Trust Deed provider, specialising in Protected Trust Deeds and the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS)¹.
We’re No.1 in Scotland
More Protected Trust Deed reviews than anyone else in Scotland.
Protected Trust Deed example
Personal Loan
£14,000
Credit Cards
£9,400
Store Cards
£800
Council Tax Arrears
£1,200
Total Debt £25,400
Old
£975
New
£293
Reduced by
70%
* Subject to creditor acceptance. Reduced by figure based on previous contractual payments. Payment subject to individual circumstances. Credit rating may be affected
All Protected Trust Deeds follow the same steps
Just follow our 5 simple steps to regain control of your finances
We understand that dealing with debt can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be.
Every year we help thousands of Scottish residents lift the burden of their debt to then enjoy a brighter future.
We recommend you look at what options are available to you so you can make an informed decision, you can do this by:
We can work out your new affordable lower monthly payment and advise you through your options, some of which can even write off the debt you can’t afford.
If you want to proceed with a debt solution, whether it be a Protected Trust Deed, or an alternative method – We will start working on your proposal to make sure your creditors will accept it.
The next step is to get the Protected Trust Deed approved by your creditors.
Typically you make your first affordable payment once your plan is approved, during this time:
A Protected Trust Deed is a legally binding arrangement in Scotland where you make reduced payments over a typical period of 48 months.
Provided that you comply with the terms, your creditors can’t take further action to recover the money you owe or Sequestrate you.
At the end of the four year period, your unsecured debts are then written off.
The main qualification criteria are that you:
1. Live in Scotland
2. Owe at least £5,000 in qualifying debt
3. Can afford to make a regular payment
You’ll have to keep to a strict budget for the full duration of your Protected Trust Deed: typically forty-eight months.
Your details added to the Register of Insolvencies (ROI), a public register for a period of sixty months. The register is maintained by the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) and is available for viewing by the general public. It contains all details of active Protected Trust Deeds.
Your credit rating will be affected for six years, starting from the date that you enter into the Trust Deed.
You’ll need to check if having one could affect your career. As a Trust Deed is a form of insolvency and entering into one can lead to disciplinary action or dismissal in some sectors, such as those in a legal profession or in financial services. It would usually state in your employment contract if a Trust Deed will affect your job, or you can speak to your HR department in confidence.
Find out more about the benefits and risks of Trust Deeds by calling our experienced debt advice team today on 0141 221 0999.
When considering whether a Trust Deed is right for you, also remember that there are other solutions available to you, that you may find beneficial.
The Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) is another statutory debt solution that shares many of the same benefits as a Protected Trust Deed but has likewise it has its own risks and benefits.
If you are self-employed, it is possible to apply for both a Protected Trust Deed and DAS.
Find out more about your self-employed debt help options by calling our experienced team on 0141 221 0999.
Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Your credit rating will be affected if you enter into a Protected Trust Deed.
However, you may already have a poor credit rating if you have missed contractual payments to the people you owe money to for unsecured debts, such as credit cards and personal loans. If you have already defaulted on any credit agreements with your lenders, your credit rating is likely to have already been negatively affected.
Entering into a Protected Trust Deed, another formal Scottish debt solution such as the Debt Arrangement Scheme or Sequestration, or an informal solution such as a Debt Management Plan, will usually mean that arrears or default notices are registered on your credit report.
When you miss a repayment on a loan or credit card, an arrears or default notice may be issued. This information is then recorded by credit reference agencies and added to your credit report.
This information is usually retained on your credit report for 72 months. The same applies to formal debt solutions, such as a Protected Trust Deed or the Debt Arrangement Scheme.
The typical duration of a Protected Trust Deed is 48 months. This means it may remain on your credit report for a further 24 months after you have been discharged and may continue to affect your ability to obtain credit during that period.
If you are struggling with unaffordable debt, we would always recommend speaking to an experienced money adviser who can explain your options and help you understand how each one may fit your circumstances and needs.
The statistic varies from company to company, but for Trust Deed Scotland, our Trust Deed protection rate is 98.9% based on 2025 data, which also made us the best volume provider of Trust Deeds in the same period.
In addition to having the best protection rates, we also have more 5/5 rated reviews on Trustpilot than anyone else. we’re trusted more than anyone else in Scotland. Our Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) stats are impressive too, with over 99.8% DAS approved by creditors.
¹Scotland’s No.1 Debt Solutions Provider
Trust Deed Scotland® is Scotland’s No.1 Debt Solutions Provider, specialising in Protected Trust Deeds and DAS. Here’s why:
In Scotland, Between 1 Jan 2024 and 30 September 2024 a total of 3,956 people entered into a Protected Trust Deed, 1,884 people were awarded Bankruptcy (Sequestration) and 3,979 people were approved for a Debt Payment Programme under the Debt Arrangement Scheme. These statutory debt solutions total 9,819 people.
During this same period, Trust Deed Scotland® (Harper McDermott Ltd) had 1,212 Trust Deeds gain protection status, had a further 1,186 approved Debt Payment Programmes under the Debt Arrangement Scheme, and a total of 0 Bankruptcies awarded. With a total number of 2,398 formal debt solutions approved during the period, this makes Trust Deed Scotland® (Harper McDermott Ltd) the leading provider overall. Informal debt solutions such as Debt Management Plans are not included in these statistics.
More information on these statistics are available from the Accountant in Bankrupty.