Individual Voluntary Arrangements- A New Alternative to Bankruptcy

This May, the Department of Trade and Industry in the UK found that there were 10,091 bankruptcies in the first quarter of 2005. This represents an increase of 24.5% on the corresponding quarter of last year.

Bankruptcy can leave an individual feeling ashamed, depressed and out of control. Furthermore, for many the stigma of bankruptcy can be too much to bear.

However, there may be an alternative to going bankrupt which can also help people in serious debt to make a fresh start.

The Insolvency Act of 1986 introduced The Individual Voluntary Arrangement (also known as an IVA) as an alternative to bankruptcy.

The idea behind the introduction of the Individual Voluntary Arrangement was to enable people facing financial difficulties to come to a formal agreement with their creditors rather than having to face bankruptcy. If an IVA is agreed between the debtor and creditor:

• Interest on the loan is frozen

• Legal proceedings are stopped

• The overall debt is reduced.

An Individual Voluntary Arrangement is generally seen as a more favorable option than bankruptcy from both the debtor's and creditor's perspective. This is because there are no fees or legal proceeding involved with an IVA, unlike with bankruptcy. Furthermore, from the creditor's point of view, an Individual Voluntary Arrangement offers a greater repayment of the debt than would otherwise be achieved if the debtor were made bankrupt.

IVAs represent an exciting new opportunity to those facing serious debt to both avoid bankruptcy and to make a fresh start.

Mike Curry is the head of Clear Start- a free national support service for those facing serious debt. Clear Start offers independent advice on debt management and individual voluntary arrangements. For more information please visit Clear Start.org

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Debt Relief Information:

Related Articles


Debt Settlement
What is debt settlement?Debt Settlement is a process to settle your debts with the creditors. With debt settlement, a third party or you yourself negotiate with your creditors to come up with a reduced debt that you agree to pay.
Are You Beating Up On Yourself About Debt?
When you hear the word "debt", whats the first thought or feeling that comes to you? For most people debt is "bad" or it becomes the "enemy" and is something that should be avoided like the plague.Having debt does not make you a bad person.
How to Avoid Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal way to offer folks with high interest debt a fresh financial start in life. In case you are considering personal bankruptcy as an answer to your debt problems, you are not alone.
Bankruptcy - The Easy Option?
Incredibly, since the changes in the bankruptcy law in April 2004, debtors are more likely to petition for their own bankruptcy rather than their creditors! You would think that most people who have been threatened with the prospect of being made Bankrupt would be riddled with fear of the possibility. It is more widely referred to as the "Big B" rather than the dreaded word itself.
Debt Management Systems
What is a debt management system, and when do you need it? Like any kind of management system, debt help systems can be good or bad. We will take a look at what you can do to manage your debt better.
Debt
We all know about debt. If you don't have too much as an individual you can increase the quality of your life, but with more than you can handle it can make your life a nightmare.
Save Money When Going Out
It seems as though whenever we go out for the night, it costs much more than we originally intended to spend. Having a 'night on the town' shouldn't cost you a whole weeks salary.
Learn The 15 Debt Elimination Steps You Must Take Immediately!
What Everybody Needs To Know..
Can You Escape the Trap of Ever Growing Debt?
It's difficult not to be concerned when facing numbers like these:43% of U.S.
Bankruptcy 101
Bankruptcy still remains a mystery in the eyes of many consumers. This article will review the facts of bankruptcy as per written law.
Debt and Financial Optimism in the UK Continue
With £1.3 trillion pounds worth of debt in the UK, Scotland's Citizens Advice Bureau has welcomed a new Bill to regulate lenders and protect borrowers from creating un-repayable levels of personal debt.
Life After Debt - Strategies for Dealing with Problem Debt
Honorably and ethically rid yourself of burdensome debts using the little known Negotiation Strategy, without having to experience the loss of control and privacy associated with filing for bankruptcy, consolidation, or credit counseling.The inability to reduce debt and saving money are the two biggest obstacles preventing Americans from living financially sound lives.
The ONE Law You Should Be Breaking
There is a law all smart people break.Parkinson's law.
You Can Make Financial Resolutions Anytime
The New Year often brings with it a desire to right the wrongs in yourlife. From this desire springs the tradition of New Year resolutions.
Top Ten Reasons People File for Bankruptcy
1. Eliminate the legal obligation to pay many of your debts.
Bankruptcy Abuse
Bankruptcy is little more than a smack on the hand these days. Creditors are certainly not going to look at you as a wise credit risk after bankruptcy, but that will probably not stop them from extending credit to you anyways.
Fast Track Out of Debt
You go to the mail box and scan - a couple fliers (nah), your magazine subscription (yes!) and bills (groan). Every month the bills show up and as you sigh and take out your check book you wonder if you will ever be free.
Bankruptcy: What the New Law Means to You
On April 20 of this year, President Bush signed a bankruptcy reform law. When this law goes into effect in October of this year, it will be much more difficult for Americans to use Chapter 7 bankruptcy to get a fresh start on their financial lives.
Debt Consolidation Versus Debt Negotiation
Debt consolidation versus debt negotiation are two options that are available to you if you need debt assistance. When your monthly bills become too much for you to handle, it makes sense to use debt consolidation or debt negotiation for solving debt and credit problems.
Drowning in Debt? Tips and Tricks for Getting Out of Hot Water with Creditors
Do you, like millions of other Americans, feel like you're sinking in an ocean of credit card debt? Well, fear not--there are many options for reducing your debt way before you have to be concerned about receiving notices or daunting telephone calls from debt collectors. The important thing to remember is to be proactive in handling your credit card debt.