A Debt Management Plan is a flexible solution, but can you use it to write off debt?

Included in this article:

• Is debt automatically written off in a DMP?
• How to use a cash lump sum to write off debt
• Options for getting a cash lump sum together

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Is debt automatically written off in a DMP?

Unlike formal debt solutions like an IVA, Bankruptcy or a Debt Relief Order, a DMP does not offer automatic debt write off. The essence of the Plan is that you will still pay everything that you owe in full but based on lower payments over a longer period of time.

This is one of the major downsides of this type of debt solution. You are committed to pay all for your debt. You will normally be facing a very significant extension to the number of months and years over which you will have to make payments.

Having said that it is a flexible solution. It is possible to negotiate DMP debt write off. Once you have started making payments you can offer creditors lump sums to settle debts. Creditors are often keen to clear bad debts and may be happy to write off a certain amount of your debt.

The level of debt write off in a DMP is typically much lower than a formal solution like an IVA. However it is still worth negotiating either yourself or through a DMP provider.

Struggling to get your head round all of this? We can help. Call us (0800 077 6180) or complete the form below. The advice is free and confidential.

How to use a cash lump sum to write off debt in a DMP

A lump sum settlement is the offer of a single cash payment towards a debt, on the agreement that any remaining debt is then written off. Using lump sum offers in this way can help you to write off significant amounts of debt and ensure that your DMP is paid off faster.

This is attractive to your creditors is because if you are making small payments towards your debts each month, it will probably take a very long time to pay them in full. Chasing and collecting multiple small payments from you also bears a cost they would rather not pay.

The level of informal debt write off will vary. It could be 50% or more, so it is worth negotiating. It is also better to wait until you have been in a DMP for over 6 months. By then your debt will have passed to collection departments or agencies who have more power to agree settlement deals and forgive debts.

One great advantage with DMP debt write off, is that you can settle debts individually rather than having to deal with all your creditors at once. This means you only need smaller lump sums to start getting the debts cleared.

Options for getting a lump sum together?

Clearly to be able to offer a settlement and try to get some of your debt written off you need to have access to a lump sum. If you are lucky enough to be able to borrow money from friends and family then this is obviously a great option.

However if you have no-one who might be able to lend you funds, the alternative is to start saving a small amount of your disposable income each month to put towards a lump sum.

Making agreements with your creditors by using lump sums in this way is an extremely good way of writing off debt while you are in a DMP and ensuring that the time it takes to repay your creditors is significantly reduced.

Want more advice about writing off debt during your DMP? Call us (0800 077 6180) or complete the form below and we’ll call you back