How IndividualVoluntaryArrangements.net helps you choose the right way forward
These guides explain how IVAs work, but you don't have to work it all out on your own. IndividualVoluntaryArrangements.net offers a free, confidential IVA check for people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who are struggling with unsecured debt. We look at what you owe, what you earn and what you can realistically afford, then explain whether an IVA is likely to suit you or whether another option would serve you better.
Our team is based in Newcastle upon Tyne and works by phone and email, so you can get help from home at a time that suits you.
What the free IVA check covers
- A clear picture of your debts, income and essential costs
- A clear view on whether an IVA is likely to be suitable
- An explanation of the alternatives, including free options
If you're starting to look at your options, or you're already in an IVA, these guides explain what to expect at each stage. They cover the downsides as well as the benefits.
Understanding IVAs
Costs and practicalities
If things change
Tools and comparisons
Who our IVA help is for
The guides are written for anyone weighing up an IVA, but our free IVA check is designed for people in a particular position. You live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you owe money to several lenders, and the payments have reached the point where you can no longer keep up without borrowing more or falling behind on bills.
- You owe money to two or more creditors.
- Your unsecured debts add up to around £7,000 to £10,000 or more.
- You have a regular income and some money left after essential bills.
- You want a fixed end date rather than paying minimum amounts indefinitely.
- You've tried informal arrangements, and they haven't solved the problem.
If that doesn't sound like you, the guides are still worth reading, and we'll happily point you towards an option that suits your circumstances better.
How to use these guides before you speak to us
You don't need to read everything. Most people find it helpful to start with what an IVA is, then check the eligibility criteria, and then read whichever guide matches their biggest worry, whether that's their home, the fees or their credit rating. Reading two or three guides first means you'll get more out of your conversation with us, because you can focus on the questions that matter most to you.
Questions to note down before you call
- Roughly how much would my monthly payment be?
- Would I need to release equity from my home?
- Which of my debts could be included?
- How would an IVA affect my job or my partner?
- What would happen if my income changed?
Why people choose to talk to us
People usually get in touch because they want straight answers without a sales pitch. Our free IVA check is built around that. We explain things clearly, we're open about the downsides of an IVA as well as the benefits, and we'll tell you if a different solution looks better for you. You choose when we contact you, by phone or email, and there's no obligation to go ahead with anything.
Our team is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, and we help people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you'd like to read about your own area first, our areas served pages cover local councils, housing and living costs across the North East.
What happens after you send an enquiry
We review your details
We look at the information in your enquiry so we're ready to talk about your situation.
We contact you at your chosen time
Someone from our team gets in touch by phone or email, at the time you picked on the form.
We talk through your options
We go through your debts, income and outgoings and explain which solutions are realistic for you, including whether an IVA is likely to suit you.
You decide what to do next
There's no obligation and no deadline. You can take time to think, read more or speak to a free adviser before deciding.
Guides for particular situations
Some circumstances raise questions of their own. Alongside the guides above, these pages look at situations we're often asked about:
- Self-employed and contract workers: how income from a business is assessed, in our Hartlepool guide.
- Couples with joint debts: linked IVAs and shared household budgets, in our North Tyneside guide.
- Retired people and pension income: later-life debt and equity release, in our Morpeth guide.
- Shift workers and overtime: variable pay and bonuses, in our Sunderland guide.
Ready to talk about your own situation?
Guides can only go so far, because every household's figures are different. When you're ready, fill in the short form at the top of this page. It takes less than a minute, and someone from our team will be in touch at the time you choose to talk through your options and answer your questions.