Informal arrangements
An informal arrangement (IA) is a way of dealing with your debts. You agree to make regular payments over a period of time to your creditors (people you owe money to). Find out how an IA works, how it affects you and where to get help setting one up.
How an IA works
An IA is one way to help you deal with your debts. You contact your creditors (people you owe money to) and ask them to agree to accept regular lower repayments towards all or part of your debts. Your creditors don’t have to accept your IA and can cancel it at anytime.
Get free help and advice about debt
You can get free and independent advice about IAs and if they are the best way to deal with your debt problem from organisations like Advice NI.
Your IA responsibilities
You are responsible for making all the agreed repayments and keeping your creditors up-to-date about your finances.
If your financial situation gets worse, for example, you lose your job, you can try to negotiate another arrangement. If your circumstances improve, your creditors may expect you to increase your repayments.
Cost of an IA
There is no cost to set up an IA but small repayments may not cover any interest or charges. If this happens, the amount of debt you have to repay and the time it takes to pay it off can increase.
Steps to get an IA
Get free and independent advice to help you find the best way to deal with your debts
You can set up an IA yourself, but you should make sure that it is the right way to deal with your debts. To set one up and make sure it’s the right way to deal with your debts, get free help and advice from organisations like AdviceNI.
Other organisations can help you set up an IA, but they may charge a fee. You should get them to confirm their costs before asking them to help you with the IA.
Step one
Work out a budget. This will show you how much you can afford to pay your creditors each month after you have paid essential living expenses (like your rent, mortgage and household bills).
Step two
Write out your IA, showing what you can reasonably afford to repay and over what period of time.
Step three
Write to each of your creditors explaining your situation and asking them to accept your IA.
You can get free advice from organisations like AdviceNI if your creditors don’t accept your IA.