Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Payday Loans Increase the Need for IVA Advice

IVA advice firms categorise debts in different ways. Some debts are more important and are described as being priority debts. Other debts should, in theory, only be repaid once priority debts have been dealt with. A mortgage or rent payment is clearly a priority debt in the eyes of anyone who provides IVA advice. Non-payment of housing costs could lead to homelessness, a generally avoidable outcome. Payday loans (like a payday loan, credit cards, store cards, or a normal bank loan) are non-priority debts. Of course you should pay them if you can afford to, but only after you have covered essentials like your mortgage or rent.

The knowledge of IVA advice professionals does not extend as widely as might be hoped. Individuals who are facing mounting debt problems often don't find it easy to break down a financial problem methodically as described. That's not surprising when you consider the huge potential costs (in interest and charges) associated with not repaying a payday loan. It's also not surprising if the means for direct collection of the money owed is granted to the payday lender at the point of borrowing.

The end result is that even when people cannot really afford to, a payday loan is often fully repaid. Frequently this leaves people with insufficient funds to pay their mortgages or rent so, if they can, they must find the money somewhere. What's the easiest way to get the money? Taking out a payday loan seems to have fitted the bill for a million people around the UK in the past year.