The ins and outs of an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement) can seem confusing, least of the question of what advantages it might have for you. We explain some of the key benefits and some considerations you can think about before taking further individual debt advice.
They Have Legal Status
After formal instigation, your creditors are bound by the terms of the IVA. You get an unequivocal picture of how the agreement will run and for how long.
The Calls And Letters Wanting Payment Stop
Once in place, your creditors are not allowed to call you or send letters demanding payment.
Fresh Interest And Charges Are Halted
By law, once its running, creditors have to respect the IVA and can’t add any more interest and charges to the debts.
A Halt To Fresh Court Action
Again, once legally implemented, no more courts actions for those debts is allowed if you abide by the terms and conditions.
A Move Towards Restoring Credit
By keeping to the terms and conditions, you are paving the way to reviving your credit score after the IVA has finished,
Much More Private
There are no announcements in local newspapers. It’s possible your name will appear on the Insolvency Register, but this is on the specific internet pages only and thus likely to stay more private.
Work Status Considerations
Unlike bankruptcy your work status is generally not affected. Qualified professionals may welcome the greater privacy aspect, due to some stigma sometimes linked to debt.
Other Considerations
All The Debts Must Be Included When Arranging One.
It’s not possible to leave any out (as may sometimes be possible with other options) but this may have a silver lining for some people. It can mean that the debts are simplified; all covered under one legal agreement with one monthly payment, assuming you abide by the agreement.
How To Successfully Complete
Quite simply, you must keep to the terms and conditions throughout, typically for at least 5 years or more. This includes keeping up to date with monthly payments. If necessary, sometimes a ‘repayment holiday’ can be arranged in adverse circumstances but it prolongs the life of the agreement. On the other hand, it does mean you could keep to the terms and conditions and complete successfully. A good debt advice team should be able to successfully guide you through each stage.
About Credit
During the agreements lifespan, normally the way forward is no regular credit cards. Instead use pre-pay plastic cards, which still afford you the convenience of being able to simply pay on plastic when you need to. You pay money onto the card, use it and top it up again for the next time.
There are many companies claiming to offer help and advice for arranging this debt management option but it is important to take impartial independent advice to make sure it would genuinely be the best solution to your individual debt problems. If you are thinking about arranging one, make sure you have all the information on this and other options before you commit.
About the author of this article:
From over a decade professionally supporting people who are cope with unmanageable debt, we can help you decide whether an IVA is right for you – or not. There is no substitute for impartial expert debt advice so we advise you only to proceed after taking up good quality individualised advice.
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