Avoid Bankruptcy

By Ivan Dooher

Whatever your debt problem there are a few options you can explore first before resorting to declaring bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy is naturally a last resort, and getting the right advice may well help you to avoid it. Insolvency Practitioners specialise in just this. They can take a good look at your finances and give you advice about the steps that are available to you.

One way of getting out of debt is to enter into a Debt Management Plan. This solution is normally the first port of call when your debts are getting out of hand and you can no longer manage the monthly payments. The first thing to do is determine how bad your debt problem is. You should tally up all of your debts working out your total amount owed to your creditors and the total monthly minimum payments owed.

If the debt is overwhelming your finances, you may want to consider selling any assets you may have. This is not necessarily confined to large items worth substantial amounts of money. Depending on the scale of your debts you may be able to take the pressure off by selling smaller items.

The next thing to do is approach your creditors to negotiate a deal of lower payment. You might think this daunting but your creditor would prefer anything, rather than going bankrupt and having nothing to give. Simply by letting them know that you do intend to pay the debt off somehow but are in a bit of trouble presently, can take off a lot of pressure. Some creditors have set payment plans for people struggling to pay their debts. If they do offer you an alternative payment arrangement, be sure to check all the terms and conditions.

An Individual Voluntary Arrangement or IVA may be a debt solution an Insolvency Practitioner will discuss with you. This is a formal debt solution passed by the government in 1986, as a means to people struggling with their debt; offering them a chance of freedom without any severe consequences; otherwise known as an alternative to Bankruptcy. Your creditors are offered only what you can realistically afford to pay. The Scottish version of the IVA is known as a Trust Deed.

It may seem to go without saying but if you're already in financial difficulties, avoid as far as possible getting into further debt, no matter how attractive the terms may seem. Get the advice you need as soon as possible to deal with the debt you already have and take it from there. - 32519

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