Sep 6, 2022

The number of individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) is set to rise by up to 11 per cent this year as the cost of living crisis continues. According to a new report from debt recovery specialist TDX Group, an Equifax company, the cost of living crisis is set to particularly impact those who are already in debt. TDX has estimated that the number of people in IVAs will rise by seven per cent in 2022, and may even reach 11 per cent by the end of the year. “The pandemic has left deep scars on the UK economy, and now, as the Ofgem energy price cap increases once again, household finances are set to get worse before they get better,” said Phil McGilvray, managing director of TDX Group. “As more consumers are driven into debt, more will ultimately end up relying on an insolvency solution, so it is becoming increasingly important that this group is adequately supported.” TDX has called for the credit industry to offer more support for the worst affected and most financially vulnerable. “Demand for credit is rising, financial vulnerability is rising, and more and more people will not be able to make to keep up with their debt payments,” added McGilvray. “With more choppy waters on the horizon, we must ensure we are putting a ladder down for the most vulnerable in our society, so they can climb back out of difficulty safely.” The research also found the number of people classed as ‘financially vulnerable’ has risen from 2.7 per cent in 2020 to 4.4 per cent in 2022. 27 per cent of the most financially vulnerable are reliant on benefits, and April’s energy price rise of 54 per cent was enough to push 81 per cent of them over the 15 per cent change in disposable income which is required for an insolvency practitioner to reassess a consumers circumstances. This means that four in five debtors would now likely be eligible to hold a meeting to review their repayments.