What you can do if you’re not currently bankrupt You have a variety of options to manage your debts: 

 

 

 

Set up a plan with a debt management company (DMC) or with a free debt advice centre, both must be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The advice centre or DMC works out your monthly payments. You’ll have to give details about your financial situation, e.g. your assets, debts, income and creditors. The advice centre or DMC contacts your creditors and asks them to agree to repayments (they don’t have to) Costs There will be no costs associated with setting up a DMP through CMA advice centres. However, it will be your responsibility to make monthly payments to all your creditors. Some DMCs charge for setting up a DMP that may include, a set up fee and a handling fee each time you make a payment Make sure you understand the costs and structure of your plan as some companies will take their fees in the first few payments with nothing being paid to creditors. Eligibility DMPs can usually only be used to pay ‘unsecured’ debts, e.g. debts that haven’t been guaranteed against your property. Your plan can be cancelled if you don’t keep up your repayments. 

 

 

An Administration Order is a way to deal with your debts if you have a County Court or High Court Judgment against you and you can’t pay in full. Your total debts must be less than £5,000. You make one monthly payment to your local court. The court will then divide this money between your creditors. Get an Administration Order Fill in an application for an Administration Order (N92), and return it to your local court. The court decides: 

 

 

The arrangement is known as a ‘composition order’ if you can’t pay all your debts. 

 

Costs The costs for an Administration Order are deducted directly from the amount the court orders you to repay. This amounts to 10% of your debt. 

 

 

You must: 

 

 

An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is an agreement with your creditors to pay all or part of your debts. You agree to make regular payments to an insolvency practitioner (IP), who will divide this money between your creditors. You will need to have a reasonable amount of disposable income and/or assets that can be realised to take into an IVA. Get an Individual Voluntary Arrangement Use an insolvency practitioner to get an IVA. Your adviser can give you guidance on where to find a licensed insolvency practitioner. Your insolvency practitioner works out what you can afford to repay and how long the IVA lasts. You’ll have to give details about your financial situation, eg your assets, debts, income and creditors. Your insolvency practitioner will contact your creditors. The IVA will start if the creditors holding 75% of the total value of your debts agree to it. It will apply to all included creditors, including any who disagreed to it. Costs There are usually two fees: • a set up fee • a handling fee each time you make a payment which usually is taken directly from any contributions made. 

 

Make sure you understand the costs before asking an insolvency practitioner to act for you. Your responsibilities Your IVA can be cancelled if you don’t keep up your repayments. Public records Your IVA will be added to the Individual Insolvency Register. It’s removed three months after the IVA ends, however it will stay on your credit record for six years. 

 

 

Debt Relief Orders (DROs) are one way to deal with your debts if you owe less than £30,000, have little spare income and don’t own your home. If you get one, your creditors can’t recover their money without the court’s permission and you’re usually freed (‘discharged’) from your debts after 12 months. You get a DRO from the Official Receiver (an officer of the Insolvency Service), but you must apply through a debt adviser. Your adviser will be able to refer you to a DRO Approved Intermediary who will be able to help you complete an application. Costs The Official Receiver’s fee is £90. Your adviser will tell you how and when to pay it. 

 

 

You’re generally eligible if you meet all of these criteria: 

 

You can check the Individual Insolvency Register to see when the restrictions end. The restrictions usually last 12 months. They can be extended if careless or dishonest behaviour caused your debt problem. For example, you were untruthful when trying to get credit. The Official Receiver will tell you if they should be extended. To extend them, you’ll be asked to agree to a Debt Relief Restrictions Undertaking. The court can issue a Debt Relief Restrictions Order if you don’t agree. What you need to know DROs can be cancelled if your finances improve or you don’t co-operate with the Official Receiver Your DRO is added to the Individual Insolvency Register – it’s removed three months after the DRO ends your DRO will stay on your credit record for 6 years. 

 

 

All bankruptcy applications are now made online. Costs The cost of bankruptcy is £680, which can be paid in one go by cash/card or by instalments using a card. An application cannot be made until the full amount has been paid. An adjudicator will look at the application and a decision will be made within 6 weeks or less. Providing the adjudicator is happy the criteria is met, they will make a bankruptcy order and appoint an Official Receiver to administer your bankruptcy. 

 

To be eligible you must not meet the criteria for any other form of insolvency and prove you cannot afford your repayments, e.g. give details of your income There is a suggested minimum amount owed of more than £750, including any interest and charges. 

 

Your responsibilities include, providing information about your financial affairs to the Official Receiver, collecting and handing to the Official Receiver, all your account books, records, bank statements, insurance policies and other papers relating to your assets and debts. You may have to attend an interview at the Official Receiver’s office at a later date. Requirements will include having to: 

 

 

Exiting Bankruptcy: If you have been deemed to have enough income to be able to make payments then these will continue for three years, although you will usually be considered discharged after 12 months. Your bankruptcy will be on your credit record for six years. 

 

 

If you have a lump sum available that would cover part of your debts you can ask your creditors if they would accept a part payment and write off the rest. Alternatively, they may allow you to make monthly payments for a set period after which any amount outstanding is then written off.