Monthly payments can only be determined once an income and expenditure has been completed with an advisor. Depending on the solution entered into, a percentage of your debts could be written off. How much will depend on the programme and your unique financial situation.
The above factors are not guaranteed and are dependent on the debt solution that you enter into. Please see below for information on the advantages and disadvantages associated with some debt solutions.
If you're in debt it can feel like there is no escape – but in three simple steps, we could help you start to deal with it. We can and put you in touch with an expert to who can provide advice and recommend a practical debt solution based on your situation.
Simply fill in our form and answer a few questions so we can see if we can help you
Complete the form and we'll arrange your free, confidential call with an appropriate expert
Your debt expert will go through your options and help to find the right solution for you
Debt management
plan (DMP)
Individual voluntary
Arrangement (IVA)
Debt Settlement
Equity release
bankruptcy
Other Options
In the case of an IVA, Protected Trust Deed or Debt Settlement Plan, your lenders may agree to settle for less than your current balance owing. The reason is because they know there is the very real chance that someone with serious debt problems will simply walk away from their debts, leaving them with nothing. And from the perspective of your lenders, something is better than nothing.
Most debt relief programmes will allow you to keep your assets. However, there are some options which may require you to give up some or all of your assets including bankruptcy and sequestration. Your debt advisor will help you find the option that's right for you.
Outstanding Finance loans are typically accepted into most debt relief plans. Your advisor will be able to assist you with more information.
How long it will actually take you to become debt free will depend on the amount you owe, how much you can afford to repay each month and the programme you enter into. Your debt advisor will discuss all of your options with you and let you know how long each programme would take to complete.
All debt relief solutions affect your credit rating in some way. Your credit rating may be affected for up to 6 years and you may have difficulty obtaining credit in the future, depending on which programme you enrol into. Nevertheless, if you are having financial problems it is very likely that your credit rating has already been negatively affected, particularly if you have missed a payment. The good news is that no matter what your credit rating is, you can always rebuild it over time and this process can begin as soon as your debt relief plan ends, as long as you remain debt free once the plan has ended.
Nobody can guarantee that your lenders will stop contacting you completely, under all circumstances. Once you are enrolled in a debt relief programme, your advisor will do all they can to help reduce this contact. Some debt solutions do obligate your lenders to stop contacting you upon acceptance into the programme, such as with an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), Protected Trust Deed (PTD) and Debt Relief Order (DRO). However, if you stop making your payments then your lenders are legally permitted to begin contacting you again.
If you aren't satisfied with the results you're getting with your current debt plan provider or if you are experiencing financial difficulties in managing your existing programme, you are free to switch to a new programme at any time. However there may be consequences in switching programmes such as interest being re-added to the debt and lack of protection from lenders during the cross over period. Simply fill out the form above and one of our debt advisors will contact you to discuss your situation and to determine whether it might be suitable for you to switch your plan arrangements.
The Money Advice Service is an impartial service set up by the Government to help people manage their money. To find out more about free debt advice, debt counselling, debt adjustment and credit information services, visit www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk