Geoff
Hibbert, 18/06/2008
Since the introduction of IVAs the IVA teams at many of
the country’s top insolvency companies have
dealt with over two hundred thousand IVA cases.
In this time they have developed the most up to
date and complex systems which can provide the
exact criteria required to accept an IVA.
I the early days, when the law was new an IVA
was a very simple document. To get an IVA
accepted a client just showed that he was
offering more that would be offered that if he
or she was to go bankrupt. However with floods
of applications creditors soon objected to
this.
Nowadays the criteria required to accept an IVA
couldn’t be more different especially because
all the major banks leave the decision to
accept an IVA with professional representatives
of large accountancy firms such as Price
Waterhouse Coopers and KPMG and in some cases
ask them to block vote against any IVA
proposal.
The typical IVA
criteria required to accept an IVA are now
the following:
• Debts greater than £15,000
• 3 or more creditors. This cannot be three
debts to the same bank such as Barclaycard
visa, Barclay Loan and Barclay’s overdraft. The
Criteria required to accept an IVA must be
separate institutions although such as Halifax
and Bank of Scotland being part of the same
group they are treated as separate
creditors.
• Disposable income over £200 per month, assets
to release or a 3rd party to contribute into
the arrangement.
• You must be able to pay creditors at least 25
pence in the pound dividend. Many IVA cases
fail because applicants cannot afford to make a
decent monthly payment. 25p in the pound is
becoming increasingly rare as an acceptable
amount with most creditors looking for 30p and
above.
• You should have a regular income stream.
Those who have some good months and some bad
months will have to make sure they can make a
regular payment. Some IVA cases fail because
applicant’s income is irregular or unreliable,
when making an application be sure to use the
amount you can rely on coming in.
• Applicants must be able to show they have
allowed for reasonable necessary living
expenses such food, utilities, travel costs,
council tax etc. Creditors are constantly
criticising those who state too much or too
little for food. Some IVA cases fail because
applicants spend too much on car hire purchase
payments.
• The insolvency practitioner must make a
positive 'Nominees Report' which portrays a
professional opinion as to whether the
Individual Voluntary Arrangement - IVA is a
bonafide offer. He or she will decide whether
the applicant is going be reliable and perform
the IVA successfully.
If these criteria are met, the IVA team will
explore all available debt solutions and
recommend an IVA where appropriate. However, if
any of these criteria cannot be met, the
Company is unlikely to recommend an IVA. In
these circumstances the Company may recommend
an alternative solution for the debtor which
would typically be debt management or debt
counselling reputable debt management
company.
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