Funds Blog

Manage Your Debts With An IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement)

Depending on your circumstances, and Individual Voluntary Arrangement, or IVA, could be the best solution to your debt and keep you from bankruptcy. IVA’s have many advantages for a debtor, but there are disadvantages as well which can be hindering, so it is best to research all possible debt solutions.

To qualify for an IVA, you must be at least 15,000 in debt and you must have a regular income. If your income doesn’t leave anything left over after your essential monthly bills, bankruptcy may be the better option. An IVA is a legally binding agreement arranged through an insolvency practitioner between you and your creditors, and can last for up to five years.

With an IVA, your insolvency practitioner meets with your creditors and presents them with a plan of repayment. The creditors will usually agree to plan to reduce your debt to pence per pound, sometimes up to 75% less than the original debt. At least 3/4 of your creditors must agree to accept the plan for it to become legal. If they don’t, the practitioner must amend the terms until an agreement is reached. Once it is approved, you pay a monthly sum that is split between the creditors. Part of the insolvency practitioner’s fees will come from that monthly sum.

The advantages of an IVA can be numerous. During an IVA, you are not in danger of losing your home, your amount of debt can be significantly reduced, interest charges are stopped, and the fees associated with an IVA are usually much less than those incurred by bankruptcy. The monthly payments you make will be based on your income, and change with your income as well. IVA’s also have less stigma than a bankruptcy, though both stay on a credit file for six years. With an IVA, the debtor is not prohibited from obtaining credit during the process.

The disadvantages are that setting up and IVA through an insolvency practitioner is expensive, and other than bankruptcy, most other forms of debt solution cost less. Having your finances closely scrutinized for such a long period can also be difficult. Any extra income that comes your way will have to go toward your payments, including employment bonuses, tax repayment, and any inheritance. You will find yourself having to explain any unusual financial activity to your insolvency practitioner. If you fail the agreement, your only option may be bankruptcy.