Debt solutions overview
There are lots of debt solutions available – which one will be suitable for you depends on your personal circumstances. Aside from the options below, you may be able to reach an informal arrangement with the people or organisations you owe money to (also known as your creditors) to make payments based on what you can afford after essential household outgoings. Under this sort of arrangement you would also ask them to freeze interest and charges.
(i) Debt Management Plan
This is an arrangement set up between you and your creditors whereby you pay back what you can afford on non-priority debts that aren’t secured against your home after taking into account your household bills. It sets out how much you will repay and agrees a timetable for repayment. You normally make one monthly payment to the debt management organisation which in turn pays your creditors for you. Debt Management Plans are usually arranged for you by a third party and many charities and organisations can arrange one for free.
Choosing a debt management plan provider
Before you decide to take out a debt management plan it is important to get some advice. There are debt advice charities who offer this service for free. The debt advice charities listed in our debt advice locator tool will be able to help you work out if a debt management plan is the right solution for you. They can also give you advice on other options for dealing with your debts.
(ii) Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)
Warning!
Setting up an IVA can cost several thousand pounds in fees – made up of a set-up charge and an annual management fee.
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement is a legally binding agreement between you and the people you owe money to. It freezes your debts and allows you to pay them back over a set period, usually five years. Any money you still owe is then written off. You can apply for an IVA if you owe more than approximately £15,000 and you’ll usually have to repay at least 20p of every pound you owe, with a minimum monthly repayment in the region of £200. The IVA is set up by a qualified professional called an Insolvency Practitioner, who will work with you to put together an appropriate proposal to take to your creditors for approval.
What you can use an IVA for
An IVA can be used to help pay off many common debts, including overdrafts, personal loans, credit and store cards, catalogue and hire purchase, mortgage shortfalls, Council Tax arrears and money owed to HM Revenue & Customs. However, you can’t use an IVA to pay off, for example, your mortgage and other debts secured on your home, some rent arrears, certain types of car finance, magistrates’ court fines, maintenance, Child Support arrears or student loans. Check with a debt advice agency what else might be excluded or included.
How to set up an IVA
You have to set up an IVA through an Insolvency Practitioner. There are fees to pay to the Insolvency Practitioner which are usually taken from your monthly payments. You should not have to pay any up-front charges before your IVA has been set up. An IVA is a legally binding agreement so you need to make sure it’s right for you. It’s really important to get free debt advice before you take one out to discuss whether there are other options available to help you manage your debts.
(iii) Debt Relief Order
A Debt Relief Order is an official order that freezes your debts for a year. It can only be granted in particular circumstances and for certain debts. It costs £90 to arrange a Debt Relief Order and you can pay in instalments over six months – however, you need to have paid the fee in full before your application will be looked at.
Who can apply for a Debt Relief Order?
You can apply for a Debt Relief Order if:
You have qualifying debts of less than £15,000 – see the next section for what count as qualifying debts
You are on a low income and have £50 or less spare each month after paying your household bills
You don’t own things of value or have savings over £300 (note that a house with negative equity still counts as having value)
You don’t own a vehicle that is worth more than £1,000
You have lived, had a property or owned a business in the last three years in England, Wales or Northern Ireland
You can’t apply for one if:
Your creditors have applied to make you bankrupt but the hearing hasn’t yet taken place (unless your creditors agree that you can still apply)
You have been given a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order or Undertaking
You have petitioned for bankruptcy but your petition has not yet been dealt with – however, this doesn’t apply if you’ve petitioned for bankruptcy and the judge has referred you for a debt relief order instead
You’re currently bankrupt
You have an Individual Voluntary Arrangement or are applying for one
You have had a Debt Relief Order (see next section) in the last six years
You have been given a Debt Relief Restriction Order or Undertaking
Qualifying debts
These include, credit cards, overdrafts, loans, catalogues, in-store credit agreements, rent, rates, utility and phone bills, benefit overpayments, money owed to HM Revenue & Customs and more. They don’t include child support and maintenance, court fines and confiscation orders or student loans. For a full list of exclusions, check with a debt charity.
How you apply for a debt relief order
You can only apply for a Debt Relief Order through an approved person known as an intermediary. Most free debt advice providers have approved intermediaries who can help you. Once you have applied and paid the fee, and if you are eligible, an Official Receiver will grant the Debt Relief Order.Talk to a free debt advice service before deciding if this option is for you.
(iv) Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a way of dealing with debts that you cannot pay. While you are bankrupt, any assets that you have might be used to pay off your debts. After a period of time (usually one year), most of your outstanding debts are written off and you can make a fresh start.
Applying for bankruptcy
To apply for bankruptcy in Northern Ireland, you will need to fill out a Petition, where you list the reasons why you are applying for bankruptcy, and a Statement of Affairs, where you list all of your assets and debts.
Going to court and fees
There are three fees that you will have to pay when you go to Court.
The deposit of £525 towards the costs of administering your bankruptcy, paid to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
The court fee of £115. In some circumstances the court may waive this fee; for example, if you are on certain benefits.
The fee payable to a solicitor before whom you swear the contents of your statement of affairs. You should expect to pay around £7 for this service.
The Court will then usually do one of the following.
Issue a bankruptcy order.
Request further information before making a decision.
Reject your petition, and possibly suggest an alternative to bankruptcy.
Once you are declared bankrupt
Once you have been declared bankrupt, you must hand over any assets and your financial share of your home to an appointed trustee. This person will either be an Official Receiver or an Insolvency Practitioner. Who manages it will depend on how large your assets are. Your creditors have to make a formal claim to the trustee for the money they are owed. You can’t make direct payments to them and they can’t ask you for payments.
Who is bankruptcy suitable for?
If you have no real way of paying off your debts then bankruptcy could be a suitable option. However, don’t make this decision alone. Talk to a free debt advice agency first.
Offer in full or final settlement
If you have a lump sum that would cover part of your debts, you could ask your creditors whether they would accept a part payment and allow you to write the rest off. Alternatively, they may allow you to make monthly payments for an agreed period after which the balance is written off.
(v) Write-offs
In exceptional circumstances where you have no available income, savings or assets – and you can show your creditors that your circumstances are unlikely to improve in future (for example, if you are severely ill) – it may be possible to ask your creditors to write off your debts. Talk to a debt advice charity to find out if this solution could be suitable for you.
More help if you’re struggling:
If you’re struggling financially, other help may be at hand to help with day-to-day expenses or other outgoings. There are many benefits available to people on low incomes, but the benefits system is changing so make sure you know what you’re entitled to.