Advantages & Disadvantages of a DMP

Deciding if a Debt Management Plan is right for you depends on careful consideration of the pros and cons for your personal circumstances.

Advantages of debt management plan

  • Debt management is an informal arrangement that avoids the need for formal insolvency procedures such as an IVA or bankruptcy.
  • By reaching agreement with your creditors a DMP may suspend actions against you such as CCJ's (County Court Judgments).
  • Creditors will, in many cases, freeze interest payments.
  • Your monthly debt repayments may be reduced.

Disadvantages of debt management plan

  • The arrangements are informal. Your creditors can change their mind at any time.
  • Your credit rating may still be harmed.
  • While such arrangements reduce your monthly repayments to make them affordable it usually means you will pay more in total over a much longer period.
  • Interest will usually continue to be charged on your debts particularly on your arrears which may be charged at higher rates than your original loan rate.
  • Unless your debts are less serious you could end up in debt for a very long time. In the worst case you may find you have no real prospect of getting out of debt and becoming debt free.

Is a DMP right for me? »