Trust deed debt advice process

When examining debt resolution avenues debtors soon recognise that there's a vast choice. It is common for debtors to struggle when trying to understand the differences between all the options. For some it can be really stressful coming to a decision particularly since many want to put a plan in place as quickly as possible, however, taking some time to assess the positives and negatives of each avenue will benefit you in the long term.

In this article we will disclose the debt advice process used by good Scottish trust deed advisers. Getting to grips with how they operate is a crucial step for any individual who wants to take an active interest in how they resolve their financial imbalance. Readers ought to bear in mind that the details provided are applicable solely to residents of Scotland; other areas of the United Kingdom have an alternative debt solution option.

One of the first things a protected trust deed practitioner will ask is the total amount of unsecured debt. Not a lot of trust deed providers will want to take a case where the amount owed is less than £10,000, even though there is no minimum figure essential for a trust deed. The complete sum of unsecured debt shouldn't incorporate mortgages or additional financial commitments for example, hire purchase or leases. Related shortfall debts may be relevant but you ought to consult your qualified trust deed professional.

If the amount you owe has become unmanageable and is considerably lower than £10,000 you may want to think about other options such as the debt arrangement scheme, a debt management plan or bankruptcy.

How much your assets are worth is of particular importance to a protected trust deed advisor. Assets encompass a wide variety of things but would normally include a car worth more than £3,000 or home equity. Other things might be an endowment policy or different types of savings (though pension arrangements would normally be excluded). Qualifying assets "vest" in the Trustee and could be needed to help repay creditors.

If you are a homeowner with equity you will have to carefully consider whether or not you have the means to access that equity and put it into the Scottish trust deed. If you do not have the means to complete this, your home could need to be sold. As a result, consideration of the debt arrangement scheme is encouraged as it would protect the home and allow repayment of what you owe in an affordable way.

Prior to entering into a protected trust debt or other kind of debt resolution option you will need to calculate the amount you are able to pay back every month, if this number is less than £150 you might not have the option of a trust deed. For large amounts of debt you may be required to pay back a lot more to fulfil the requirements of your creditors. If you are unable to repay a reasonable contribution you may need to consider bankruptcy as an avenue.

Being able to pay a high monthly payment can sometimes mean that a protected trust deed will not be an option. For example, if the amount that can be pay back each month exceeds the debt total (over three years) consideration should be changed to the DAS scheme or an informal debt management plan.

Some professions have restrictions with regards to formal debt resolution options like Scottish trust deeds. It may be an entry barrier or for roles such as police officers, prison officers or the armed forces there are strict processes to complete before continuing with a Scottish trust deed. Individuals working in the financial services sector should review their employment contracts because this could include relevant restrictions.