E-Insolvency provides information and resources for people who are thinking about filing bankruptcy but also those looking to avoid bankruptcy.
To avoid bankruptcy the person in debt must first contact E-insolvency so that all the bankruptcy alternatives can be explained and do something about it. There are a number of solutions such as:
An IVA is a formal alternative for individuals wishing to avoid bankruptcy.
The IVA was established by the Insolvency Act 1986 and constitutes a formal repayment proposal presented to a debtor's creditors via an Insolvency Practitioner. Usually (but not necessarily) the IVA compromises only the claims of unsecured creditors, leaving the rights of secured creditors largely unchanged. An IVA is ideal if you have been refused loans to clear debt.
An IVA is a contractual arrangement with creditors and can be as flexible as an individual's own circumstances; they can therefore be based on capital, income, third party payments or a combination of these. An IVA is ideal alternative to bankruptcy to clear debt.
Creditors take a decision at a creditors' meeting called to consider the IVA proposal. The return to creditors is often higher than they would receive in bankruptcy. A vote is taken - by value. More than 75% in value of those creditors who vote at the meeting by person or by proxy must agree in order for the arrangement to be approved. If any of those voting are 'associates' (usually business associates, friends and family) then a second count is taken and 50% of non-associated creditors must approve it.
Debt management plans
Please don't panic if you have been refused credit or loans in the UK you can still clear debt with a debt managment plan. If you have enough money left over after paying your priority creditors and essential expenses, you may be able to arrange a debt management plan.
A debt management plan is an arrangement with your creditors to pay back the debt by regular instalments. Instead of you speaking to your creditors yourself to arrange the plan, a Debt Management Company (DMC) does it for you. Usually you have to pay for this service although there are some DMCs who will do this for free.
The advantages of using a Debt Management Planare that:
- you make only one payment under debt management. The monthly amount is divided fairly between all your creditors
- you don’t have to contact your creditors yourself, under debt management, this is done for you.
- debt management is a strong alternative if refused a loan in the UK.
The Protected Trust Deed (PTD) is a formal arrangement that is used in Scotland where a consumer debtor grants a ‘deed’ in favour of the trustee which transfers their assets to the trustee for the benefit of creditors.
Provided certain conditions are met, the Trust Deed may be registered as “protected”, thereby preventing creditors from petitioning for the debtor’s sequestration.
The main advantage of entering into a trust deed are that it takes the pressure off as all correspondence and the Trustee will handle all of the communications from a persons creditors.