Getting started
DepositPack vs doing it yourself on DPS, TDS and MyDeposits
DPS, TDS and MyDeposits disputes are free — you upload evidence yourself. DepositPack assembles a pack from what you enter: formal letter, evidence index, per-charge responses, dispute summary and key dates. DIY suits simple cases; DepositPack suits when preparation is the hard part.
A balanced comparison: what free scheme portals provide, what DepositPack adds from your entered details, and how to choose.
Raising a deposit dispute through DPS, TDS or MyDeposits costs nothing. DepositPack costs £29. This guide compares the two routes — which preparation each expects from you, and when paying for assembly makes sense.
What the free scheme route gives you
Every government-backed scheme offers free Alternative Dispute Resolution. You can log in, describe the dispute, upload photos and documents, and respond to the landlord’s claims. For many tenants — especially with one clear charge and obvious proof — that is enough.
- No fee to raise the dispute
- Official adjudication if you and the landlord cannot agree
- File upload boxes for photos, PDFs and messages
- Works fine when your evidence is already organised and your case is simple
What the scheme route does not do for you
Schemes provide the portal, not the preparation. You still write your arguments, label your files, and respond to each deduction separately. Adjudicators see whatever you upload — including unexplained photo folders and single emotional emails that are hard to follow.
What DepositPack adds
- Formal dispute letter drafted from your entered case details
- Evidence index linking uploads to specific deductions
- Separate written response to each proposed deduction
- Dispute summary and short timeline from your tenancy dates and facts you provide
- One downloadable PDF to email or upload alongside scheme files
- Preview the pack before you pay the one-off £29
Choose DIY (free scheme portal) if
- One small charge you can disprove with a couple of clear photos
- You already have a written timeline and labelled evidence
- You are comfortable writing calm, itemised responses yourself
- You have time before the deadline to format everything properly
Consider DepositPack if
- Several deductions need separate responses
- Evidence is scattered across your phone, email and WhatsApp
- You want a formal letter and evidence index assembled from what you enter
- A scheme deadline is close and you have not started writing
- You want to preview a finished pack before spending money
Side-by-side
- 1DIY on DPS / TDS / MyDeposits
Free. You organise, write and upload everything. Best when the case is simple and you have time.
- 2DepositPack then scheme
£29 one-off for a structured PDF from your entered details. You still raise the dispute on the scheme yourself.
- 3Citizens Advice / Shelter first
Free rights guidance if you are unsure about protection, eviction, or whether to dispute at all.
Bottom line
DepositPack is not mandatory, and the scheme route is not inferior — they solve different problems. If you can prepare a clear submission yourself, keep the £29. If assembling the letter, index and responses from your evidence is the bottleneck, DepositPack does that work. Neither guarantees an outcome. Preview free at depositpack.co.uk before deciding.
Ready to build your dispute pack?
Answer a few questions, upload evidence, and generate a structured response for £29 before you send it.