Clear Your Debts With An IVA

Since its conception in the 1980s, individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) have been an increasingly popular option for individuals that have a debt mountain that they are finding difficult to climb. Initially, were set up to help businesses facing bankruptcy but they became popular with members of the public once their advantages became more widely known.

An IVA is an agreement that you make with your creditors. You agree to pay a specified amount each month (usually at least $300 a month) for no more than five years, or a one-off lump sum (for example from remortgaging your home) and your creditors agree to write off the rest of your debt.

The reason so many people are setting up IVAs every year is down to the huge benefits that can be had if you are finding it difficult paying back your debts. Once you enter into an agreement, all interest and late payment charges are frozen for the duration of the agreement, plus you are unable to be taken to court by your creditors and once the full amount of the debt is received by your creditors, your credit rating will improve.

If you have amassed a large number of credit and debit cards, store cards, catalogue debts, overdrafts and personal and business loans, an IVA may be your best option to possible reduce your debt by up to 75%. Though you must be in a position to be able to afford either a lump sum or a monthly payment of at least $300 per month.

You will need to hire an insolvency practitioner to propose an IVA to your creditors – you can not do it yourself. How much they charge you will depend vary on the area that you live and experience of the practitioner. Many will include their fee in your agreed monthly IVA repayment, so at least you will not have to find extra money to pay them on top of your IVA repayments. Always shop around for a reputable insolvency practitioner as hiring an incompetent ones will lead to you wasting the money that you pay upfront for fees.

To qualify for an IVA you will need to have a minimum of around $20,000 debt. Also, 75% of your creditors (in monetary terms) must agree to the terms and repayment scheme of the IVA. So long as 75% agree, those who do not agree will be legally bound to accept it. However, if less than 75% agree, the IVA will fail. If that happens then you can change the terms of the IVA and try again, though this will involve paying more fees to your practictioner.

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