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Talking about debt doesn’t need to be complicated but if it you need some clarity, take a look at our jargon buster.

Debt Jargon Buster

A lot of the terms and phrases used within the debt world can be confusing. We’ve created this handy jargon buster to help you make better sense of your debt.
a
APR
Annual percentage rate (APR) is how interest is shown, and it tells you how much the interest would increase the debt in a year. For example, an APR of 100% would mean your debt would double in a year. The higher the percentage, the more expensive it is to borrow.
Arrears
This is the term that is used when you do not meet the contractual payments for your bills — including your debts Failing to keep up with payments will result in arrears accumulating, and you will need to pay an additional amount as well as your contractual payment until the arrears are settled.
Assets
An asset is something you own that can be sold to raise money, such as a property, vehicle or shares.
Attachment of Benefits (AOB)
This means deductions could be taken from your benefits if you fail to keep up repayments after a County Court Judgement (CCJ) has been issued. The attachment of benefits will cease once the debt has been paid.
Attachment of Earnings (AOE)
When you fail to pay a creditor, after having been ordered to do so through a County Court Judgement, the creditor can then go back to court to get money taken directly from your wages. The amount deducted from your wages will be decided by the court and is known as an Attachment of Earnings. This will continue until the debt has been paid in full.
b
Bailiffs
If you do not pay a CCJ once it has been granted, then the company can use bailiffs to enter your home to remove goods to cover your debt, and these items will be auctioned off.
Bankruptcy

This is a formal insolvency solution that you or your creditors can apply for. It has serious consequences. When you are declared bankrupt, your interest in possessions that can be sold, including your home — whether owned wholly or jointly — are transferred to a Trustee.

Bankruptcy Order

The bankruptcy order is granted by the court following a bankruptcy application, made by you or your creditors. Once the order has been made, you will be officially declared bankrupt.

c
Charging Order

If you default on a CCJ, then a final charging order can be served. This allows the court to secure the debt on an asset, for example, a house.

County Court

The first stage of civil action taken by a creditor over arrears on an unsecured debt, which may result in a CCJ requiring you to make payment, and sometimes pay the cost of the application, based on what you can reasonably afford.

County Court Judgement (CCJ)

If you have not kept up your payments towards your debt and have not made any attempt to reach an agreement with your creditor/s, they can apply to court for a formal judgment to decide on how you will pay back your creditor/s and any associated cost of the application.

Credit File

This shows your credit history, including applications made for credit. This file is held with credit-reference agencies and is updated by information provided by your creditors. On your credit file will be a credit score which is used by prospective lenders to assess the level of risk in lending money to you. Your credit score can be damaged by defaults on your record.

Creditors
A creditor is someone you owe money to.
d
Debt-Collection Agency

These companies will be hired by creditors to pursue you for money owed if you fall into arrears and do not make an arrangement directly with them. These companies do not have any additional powers.

Debtor

The person who is in debt.

Debt Management Plan (DMP)

A debt management plan is an informal agreement made with your creditors to repay them based on your affordability. Usually a third party company manages your DMP and pays money to your creditors each month based on a % of the overall level of debt. You continue to pay into a DMP until all of your debt is paid in full.

Debt-Relief Order (DRO)

Also known as a ‘mini’ bankruptcy. You must meet the qualifying criteria to apply for a DRO.

Default

Failure to keep to the terms of a credit agreement. A creditor will normally send a default notice if you have missed several payments.

Default Notice

A creditor will issue a default notice if you miss a payment and break the terms of your credit agreement. The notice will include information on the breach and how you can rectify this. The notice could also include details of any compensation owed and how long you have to rectify the matter. It is likely that this default will be registered on your credit file.

Dependant

This would be your children or any other person you care for that would rely on you financially, as they usually do not have their own source of income.

Disposable Income

This is the amount of money you have left after you take away all your living expenses from your take-home pay (income).

Dividend

A dividend is the amount of payment issued, or distributed, to your creditors based on the income received into your chosen debt solution. These payments are typically made monthly on a DMP or IVA.

e
Equity
The amount of money left after you deduct your outstanding mortgage balance from the current valuation of your property.
f
Full and Final (F&F)

A full and final settlement means that you ask your creditors to let you pay a lump sum instead of the full balance you owe on the debt.

h
Hire Purchase

This is where a person will pay for something but will not own it until after all of the payments have been made. This is most likely a car, but the term can refer to other items to include white goods

i
Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

An IVA is a debt solution available to insolvent people. It is a formal agreement between a person and their creditors, in which the person agrees to pay a percentage of their debt back in affordable monthly payments, usually over five years.

Insolvent

When a person is not able to pay debts as and when they are due, or when a person does not have enough available assets to pay all their debts, they are classed as insolvent.

Insolvency Practitioner (IP)

An Insolvency Practitioner is specially qualified in insolvency and has been granted a licence to practice. All practicing IPs are regulated by a professional body. Formal Insolvency solutions generally require an Insolvency Practitioner to oversee them – for example, you cannot propose an IVA without an IP who is willing to act on your behalf to supervise the arrangement.

j
Joint Debt

Where more than one person has signed the credit agreement. Usually, the debt is ‘joint and severally liable’ which means that each party to the agreement has joint liability.

Joint Liability

Where a debt in the name of more than one person — typically a mortgage/loan held in a couple’s name, each named person is liable for the whole debt. Therefore, if one party enters into a debt solution but the other does not, the joint creditor can pursue the other party for the full amount of debt.

m
Magistrates Court

The magistrate’s court usually deals with non-payment of fines or maintenance orders. The court can make an order that will allow bailiffs to call and take away your possessions to be sold to clear your debts. It’s often worth taking professional advice from a solicitor or Insolvency Practitioner at this stage.

n
Negative Equity

This is when the outstanding secured debt amount is more than the current market value of your asset – typically a home or vehicle.

Nominee

The Nominee is an Insolvency Practitioner who prepares the documentation required for an IVA before it is accepted. If accepted, the Nominee will typically become the Supervisor.

p
Proof of Debt Form

The form used by any of your creditors to make a claim for them to be included in an IVA or bankruptcy and receive a dividend.

Preferential Creditor

This is a creditor who is entitled to receive payments in priority to unsecured creditors. From 1st December 2020, HMRC became preferential creditors in respect of certain types of debts owed to them.

Proxy

This is where a person can appoint another to attend a meeting and vote on their behalf.

r
Repossession

If you have borrowed money against an asset and the creditor fails to recoup money from you, then repossession is possible. The company will regain the item, usually a vehicle or home, and this will be used for either full or partial payment of a debt owed to them.

s
Secured Creditor

A creditor who has specific rights over some or all of the debtor’s assets. These are priority creditors.

Secured Debt

This is where money is borrowed against any asset whether it is a home, vehicle or even furniture. If the terms of the contract are broken, the item(s) could be repossessed.

Sole Liability

A debt in one person’s name.

Supervisor

An Insolvency Practitioner who has been appointed to look after the IVA.

t
Trustee

This is the person in Bankruptcy that takes control of your assets. This can be done by the official receiver or by an Insolvency Practitioner appointed as a Trustee. The main duties include the disposal of any assets that you have and also the distribution of monies amongst all the creditors.

u
Unsecured Creditor

A creditor who does not hold security.

Unsecured Debt

These debts are not secured on any property or assets. Typical unsecured debts are credit cards, store cards, personal loans and catalogues.