Apply for and submit applications for a Debt Management Plan or IVA
A Debt Management Plan (DMP) is an informal debt solution that can be used to help you pay back what you owe at an affordable rate. A DMP will allow you to reduce monthly payments towards your debts to one affordable amount. This is done by negotiating reduced rates with your creditors based on your disposable income after completing a full breakdown of your current personal circumstances.
If you’re struggling to keep up with loans and credit cards, a DMP may be able to help. They can also be beneficial if you prefer someone else to deal with your creditors on your behalf.
If you’d prefer to make one set payment each month to help you budget more effectively, a DMP may also help you do this.
Get in touch with a debt advisory service to devise a monthly budget to see if you can afford to make debt repayments.
All unsecured debt - like personal loans, overdrafts and credit cards - can be included in a DMP. Priority bills like your mortgage aren’t usually included.
All your debts are consolidated so you only have to make one single payment each month, making it easier for you to manage your finances.
Remember that it may take longer to repay your debts because you’ll be paying less each month.
If we find that you are eligible for a debt relief order, we will be able to refer you to our partner for your application to be processed. For residents of Northern Ireland there is a fee of £90 which must be paid before the application is submitted; for residents of England & Wales, there is no fee to pay. If we find that a DRO is not suitable for you, then we will look into other debt solutions that suit your current circumstances.
A Debt Management Plan is a potential option for paying back non-priority debts like loans, credit cards, store cards and so on, with debts repaid in one single monthly payment.
Loans
Credit Cards
Store Cards
Payday Loan Debt
Previous Energy Bills
Overdrafts
Debt Management Plans are unsuitable as an option for priority debts, such as…
Mortgages
Current energy bills
Rent
Current court fines being recovered by a bailiff
Current council tax arrears
Income tax
Fresh Start UK has helped more than 12,000 people gain control of their finances and become debt-free. If you’re struggling with debt and finding it tough to keep up with your bills, speak to an advisor today.
Online Debt Advice24 hour set up.
Flexible.
We have successfully stopped interest and charges for 99.9% of our customers
Informal arrangement based on your affordability.
In place until your debts are paid.
There is no guarantee interest and charges will be stopped.
No guarantee creditors won’t take legal action against you.
No debt write-off, like some other solutions.
Reduced/missed payments to creditors show on your credit file.
A DMP is an informal flexible arrangement where you maintain a regular affordable payment towards unsecured debts. There are fewer criteria needed to be eligible for a DMP than an IVA and this can be reassessed at any point to ensure payments are affordable. Not all credit has to be included in a DMP, and assets owned do not affect eligibility for this option.
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An IVA is a fixed formal arrangement which can only be applied for when debts owed are more than £5,000 and outweigh any assets you may have. Generally, an IVA would require a minimum monthly payment of £100. If an IVA is possible, some debt can be written off through this and you would usually be debt-free after 5 years. This can sometimes be extended to 6 years if you have a property with sufficient equity.
A DMP does not officially show up on a credit file as it is an informal solution. However, if an account has not already been defaulted due to missed or reduced payments, then a default would usually be applied once the monthly minimums are no longer being maintained.
The length of a debt management plan depends on the amount being paid to your plan per month, how much debt is being paid and how many different accounts you need help with. The more that is paid each month, the shorter the timescale would be. Extra payments can also be made at any point which speeds up the time of the plan.
Yes, as long as they give authority to us for you to speak on their behalf and can sign documentation that is sent to set up the plan. If your partner/family member already has a plan with us and they want you to speak with us, they can prove authorisation for you to speak with us on their behalf. This helps if the client is ill, struggling to deal with finances or overseas etc.
It cannot be guaranteed that interest and charges will be frozen with a DMP. However, we negotiate with your creditors to stop all interest, charges and action against you and in 99.9% of cases we are successful.
Money Helper has replaced the Money Advice Service and brings together the support and services of three government-backed financial guidance providers: the Money Advice Service, the Pensions Advisory Service and Pension Wise.