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An IVA (individual voluntary arrangement) is an alternative to bankruptcy introduced by the government as part of the Insolvency Act 1986. This article provides an overview of IVAs and suggests what readers should watch out for when looking for IVA advice.

What Is An IVA

An IVA is an alternative to bankruptcy introduced by the Insolvency Act of 1986. It enables individuals facing serious debt problems to make a proposal to their creditors to reach a settlement. If the proposal is approved by a majority of the creditors, then the IVA acts as a contract that binds all parties and prevents any further action.
A standard IVA will offer to pay whatever the debtor can afford each month into a fund over a five year period, until the debt is cleared. With an IVA:

• Interest on the loan is frozen
• Legal proceedings are stopped
• The overall debt is reduced

Why Is It Important To Get Good IVA Advice

When considering an IVA it’s vital to get the best advice possible, and to work with an organisation that is both professional and independent. By getting unbiased advice you can be sure that you are making the right decisions and can be confident about the choices that you make.
Good IVA advice is also important because signing up to an IVA can involve a commitment of up to five years, so it’s important that you understand what you’re getting into.

What To Watch Out For When Looking For IVA Advice

There are some companies who may try to convince you to sign up to an IVA even if it’s not appropriate for you. Furthermore, some organisations offer IVA services but because they don’t specialise in them, they may not actually be the best people to take advice from.

What You Should Check For When Looking For IVA Advice

• That the IVA advice you’re being offered is impartial
• IVA Advice should take into account the perspectives of both the debtor and the creditors.
• IVA advice should be compliant with appropriate licensing and regulation
• Advisors should have IVA and debt management experience
• All IVA advice and supervision processes and systems should be defined and governed by experienced professionals.

Mike Curry runs a free IVA advice line called Clear Start, to help people facing serious debt to regain control of their financial situation. For further information please visit http://www.clearstart.org or telephone freephone 0800 138 5445.

If you are in debt over your head and wondering if you will ever find a way out, the answer is yes! Serious financial problems can make life miserable and cause a great deal of stress and worry. Many people have found themselves in the situation of avoiding calls from creditors and wondering how they will ever get out of debt. Debt relief is not impossible. There is a way out of debt and you can be on your way to financial freedom in a shorter period of time that you ever thought possible.

Making minimum payments on your unsecured debt is almost pointless. It could take 30 years or longer before you are able to pay off your debts. Debt relief companies can help you reduce the amount of interest you pay so that more of your payments go toward paying the principle amount. Living from paycheck to paycheck is no fun and can make you feel as if you will never find the path to financial security. There is relief in sight from those overwhelming debts, endless calls from creditors, and harassing letters.

When seeking debt relief, there are several options, one of which is bankruptcy. This is an option for some, but changes in bankruptcy laws have made it impractical for most. Debt consolidation loans are another option. You may be able to consolidate all your debt into one monthly payment and reduce the amount of interest you are paying, saving you a lot of money in interest and fees. Another option is contacting a debt relief company that can contact your creditors on your behalf and negotiate the terms and payment amounts, saving you hundreds or more dollars each month.

There is a lot of conflicting information about debt relief and what is the best way to go about solving your financial problems. Contact a professional debt relief expert today and you can be on your way to financial freedom and security.

Ken Austin is the webmaster at http://www.hazeydee.com and http://creditrelief.kraustin.com