Is an IVA suitable for me?
You will generally be suitable for an IVA if you have a regular, sustainable source of income. An IVA is only available if your debts are greater than the value of your assets (including property). If you have a lump sum to pay towards your debts, you may also qualify for an IVA.
How does an IVA work?
An IVA is managed by an insolvency practitioner (IP), who can help you draw up a repayment proposal to send to your creditors. At StepChange Debt Charity we have our own IVA company - StepChange Voluntary Arrangements - with a licensed IP, who will be able to do this for you.
Your IP will arrange a meeting of your creditors during which your IVA proposal will be accepted or rejected. Once your IVA is accepted it becomes legally binding. As long as you keep to the terms of your IVA, none of your unsecured creditors (even those who didn’t vote or who voted against the IVA) will be able to pursue you for any debt incurred prior to approval of the arrangement. An IVA is a form of insolvency so it is important that you get expert, impartial advice before deciding if it’s your best option.
How much are IVA fees?
There are always fees involved when you set up an IVA. The two fees that you'll need to pay will be a nominee and a supervisor fee. The nominee fee covers the cost of setting up your IVA and the supervisor fee is the yearly cost for managing it. The level of fees you'll pay will depend on your individual situation.
At StepChange Voluntary Arrangements our fees are set at the industry standard and we'll make sure you're fully aware of what we're charging. We will include the fees in your monthly payment, so there is never anything to pay up front.
