Life after your IVA starts here
From completing your IVA to rebuilding your credit history, our guides walk you through the journey, one step at a time.
Note: This information is intended for people living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It provides general guidance, and not financial or debt advice. Reside in Scotland? - Visit our Trust Deed page instead.
Note: This information is intended for people living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It provides general guidance, and not financial or debt advice. Reside in Scotland? - Visit our Trust Deed page instead.
What you need to know about your credit history and IVAs
Rebuilding your credit score takes time
When it comes to your credit score, it’s common to expect everything to change the moment your IVA ends. In reality, your credit history, and therefore your credit score, will  update over time. This can be over several months or even years.
Frequently asked questions
The main difference between an IVA and a Trust Deed is where they are available. An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a form of debt relief available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A Trust Deed is the equivalent debt solution in Scotland. While the legal processes and timings are different, both are designed to help people deal with their debt situations and work towards a fresh start.
An IVA stays on your credit report for six years from the date it starts. If your IVA lasts less than six years, it will still remain on your credit report until that six-year point.
It’s common for your credit score to still be low after your IVA ends. Your score reflects your wider credit history, including the IVA itself, and the fact you may have had limited opportunity to build recent positive borrowing history.
Your score won’t change overnight just because the IVA has finished. Rebuilding takes time, and your credit history updates gradually.
Start by checking that your records are up to date. Keep your completion certificate, review your credit reports with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, and check that your IVA is no longer showing as active.
You should also check the relevant insolvency register and make sure any information that should have been updated has been corrected.
Start with small, manageable steps. Check your credit reports for errors, make sure your details are accurate, get on the electoral roll if you can, and keep regular bills and payments organised.
If you choose to use credit again, take it slowly and only borrow what you can comfortably afford to repay. Building a positive credit history is about consistency over time, not finding a quick fix.
An IVA can limit your mortgage options, or larger credit options (like a loan) in the short-term after your IVA completes. This is because your IVA marker and defaulted credit accounts remain on your credit file for six years after the start of your IVA.Â
There are some specialist mortgage lenders that may be able to offer you a mortgage after completing an IVA—but be aware that they usually charge higher interest than the market average.
You can speak to your Supervisor about whether you may be able to settle your IVA early. They’ll want to understand the context for how you’re able to settle early and they can talk you through your options. If you're in the final months of your IVA, this might be unnecessary depending on your circumstances.Â
When your IVA completes, your unsecured debts contained within your IVA will be settled.
Start building your credit today
Please wait until you’ve successfully completed your IVA before considering Loqbox membership.
Improvements to your credit score are not guaranteed.
Missing payments to Loqbox or other credit accounts may harm your score.


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