IVA Information

If you’re thinking about an IVA, it is essential to get the best information possible. This is because although an IVA can be a manageable way to resolve your debt problems, it can also represent a commitment of up to five years. Getting good IVA information is an important part of deciding whether you want one.

This article provides IVA information and an overview of the IVA process to help you make an informed choice about how to solve your debt problems.

What Is An IVA

The Insolvency Act of 1986 introduced the IVA as an alternative to bankruptcy. An IVA enables debtors to try and reach a settlement with their creditors which usually involves the repayment of the debt in monthly installments and a reduced repayment amount. An IVA is a legally binding contract between debtor and creditor.

Information About The IVA Process

You find an Insolvency Practitioner to act on your behalf to draft and propose the IVA to your creditors.

The process of applying for and setting up the IVA usually takes about 4-6 weeks, which includes activities like fact finding, collecting evidence, drafting the IVA proposal, sending the proposal to the creditors and waiting to hear whether it has been accepted.

During this time, in the majority of cases, the debtors will only need to take part in minor activities at this stage like providing evidence and signing the documentation.

The IVA that is proposed to the creditors is based on what the debtor can realistically afford to pay over a five year period. In most instances, it is be made up of sixty monthly payments, although it can also include lump sum contributions such as from the release of equity from a property.

Whether or not an IVA is approved by the creditors depends on its receiving a 75% majority in favour of it. Most lenders have standard terms for what they will accept, which normally includes a reduction in the overall level of debt by as much as 75%.

When the IVA has been approved, it runs for a five years. During this time payments are made on a monthly basis into a fund governed by the Insolvency Practitioner. The money in the fund is used to pay off the creditors and the Insolvency Practitioner’s fees.