Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA)
What is a Personal Insolvency Arrangement (PIA)?
A PIA is a formal agreement with all your creditors that will write off some of your unsecured debt and restructure any remaining secured debt.
If you have secured debt and unsecured debt that you cannot repay, a PIA could be the right choice for you.
Is a PIA right for me?
A PIA is a formal agreement with all your creditors that will write off some of your unsecured debt and restructure any remaining secured debt.
Abhaile – Free mortgage arrears support
Abhaile – Free Mortgage Arrears Support
If you are insolvent and in arrears on your home mortgage you could be eligible for a FREE consultation with a PIP. This is available as part of Abhaile – a State-funded Scheme to help distressed mortgage holders. The PIP will seek to identify a solution to resolve the borrower’s debt problems, keeping them in their home where it is possible to do so. The panel of PIPs who participate in the Scheme is available here
The Scheme has been set up to help borrowers who are :
- Insolvent (cannot pay their bills in full as they are due).
- In mortgage arrears on their principal private residence; and at risk of losing their home.
- In a home that is not disproportionately large for their needs.
The purpose of the Scheme is to help people in serious arrears to find the best available solutions, with the help of professionals who have expert knowledge of mortgages, insolvency, bankruptcy and/or repossession. The priority will be to find a sustainable solution that keeps a person in their home, where possible.
If you think you or someone you know may be eligible for the Scheme you can:
- Contact a PIP directly and they will carry out an eligibility assessment, or
- Contact a MABS office or the MABS helpline (0818 07 2000). They will carry out a short eligibility assessment and refer the person to the appropriate service.
In addition to the panel of PIPs, Abhaile contains two other panels to help debtors. All three panels can provide free advice and help to an eligible borrower.
The other panels are:
- A panel of solicitors, established by the Legal Aid Board, and
- A panel of accountants was established by the Citizens Information Board.
Benefits
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Protection from your creditors
Your qualified professional advisor (also known as a PIP) will negotiate with your creditors on your behalf, putting an end to any demands for unpaid debt – no more phone calls, letters or visits.
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Affordable repayments
Under this Personal Insolvency Arrangement you agree to repay a percentage of your overall debts that you can afford in monthly payments over a given period of time.
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No surprise changes
A Personal Insolvency Arrangement is a legally binding arrangement between you and your creditors; so it cannot be changed without the agreement of both parties, meaning no surprise changes such as additional interest or charges added along the way.
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Reasonable standard of living guaranteed
While you are making these repayments you are entitled to a reasonable standard of living. You will not be told how you should spend your allocated reasonable living expenses, so you are still in complete control of your spending.
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Peace of mind
Once your final agreed monthly repayment is made and you have kept to the terms of the arrangement, your creditors will write off your remaining unsecured debt and your remaining secured debt will be restructured.
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Credit rating
Entering into a Personal Insolvency Arrangement should indicate to potential lenders that you are proactively addressing your financial situation, and on completion of the arrangement you will be solvent, which means you could be more eligible to obtain credit. However, the decision on whether or not to give credit is up to the lender and this is always the case.
Costs
Just like any other professional providing a service, a PIP may charge a consultation fee in order to determine if you are eligible to apply. After that, any PIP fees are usually built into the PIA repayment plan.
If you are in home mortgage arrears you could be eligible for a free PIP consultation under a State-funded scheme, called Abhaile.
Get Help
How do I get a PIA?
First, arrange to meet with a Personal Insolvency Practitioner (PIP). Part of a network of qualified professional advisors regulated by the ISI, each PIP is an expert in debt advice, so don’t feel embarrassed about your situation; they can and want to help you reach a solution. They will assess your options and prepare a tailored solution that best suits your needs.
PIPs are located around the country and contact details can be found here or by calling the ISI’s information line 01 764 4200.
Related Documents
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Arrange a consultation
PIPs are qualified professionals, regulated by the ISI, with the relevant expertise to help you reach a permanent solution for your debt problems.