The forecast is still decidedly cloudy in the housing market

Whilst fish & chips, afternoon tea and owning your own home are classically British traits, our continental cousins in France and Italy are still happy to pay rent for their homes. So is this preference toward ‘bricks and mortar’ investment healthy?

For many years this model of owning a home did indeed make sense. Location flexibility was required by only a few employers and as families tended to stay close to their roots, purchasing a house as an investment and something to pass on to the kids (or to sell and fund a retirement) worked out as a great all round option.

Then along came the Eighties’ and with it a housing boom and an even tougher bust with interest rates soaring toward 20%. Then in the late Nineties and most of the Naughties came along another considerable period of house price rises, until the financial turmoil and fall out from the now infamous Sub-Prime lending.

This has left many British families who had gambled their financial futures on house price rises starting to sweat and require debt advice UK. Sure a period of negative growth had hurt a little bit – and indeed a blanket drop of approximately 30% across the UK (London excepted!) did initially look a bit scary.

• Prices were sure to rebound… weren’t they?

Sadly, some three years on and we are still awaiting this rebound and if the latest figures from the Halifax House Price Index are anything to go by, in the year May 2010 to May 2011, a further 4.2% has been eroded from the value of our homes, with the average UK home now worth a touch over £160k.

• So with no real sign of prices returning to late 2007 highs, where does this leave ‘Alarm Clock Britain’?

In short, whilst no high street banking executive or government official would admit to it, there are still a number of UK families who are technically insolvent. This is because the total of their personal debts exceed the total value that could be raised by selling all of their assets.

• Ok, but what does this actually mean?

Being insolvent doesn’t necessarily mean that millions of people are about to be declared bankrupt, instead it means that a little bit like Greece, they need to implement some austerity measures in order to avoid the murky shadow of debt creeping ever further over them and start to repay some of this borrowing.

It also means that somewhere between 10 & 15% of UK mortgage holders are still in ‘negative equity’ meaning that their possibility of moving is restricted, unless they effectively find another deposit to help them secure a mortgage.

For example, a couple who earn £40,000 between them and bought a £200k house with 100% mortgage (i.e. a £200,000 mortgage) in 2007 could now expect that house to be worth less than £200k today.

If that couple had lost their jobs through redundancies and now wanted to move to a similarly sized house in a new area for a new job, then they could be some thousands of pounds short of the amount needed to repay their original loan.

In addition, under current mortgage lending criteria, most lenders are not offering mortgages for any less than 85-90%.

So, with this kind of scenario stopping people already on the property ladder from moving, then it’s up to the first time buyer to help oil the wheels of recovery for the housing market.

• If you are struggling with personal debt or have mortgage arrears due to debt problems, call Lewis Alexander today using 0800 018 6868, calls are FREE from a land line.

Doorstep loans - YES or NO

A doorstep loan or cash loan is usually the loan of last resort which carries a very high rate of interest. Most door to door loans have high interest rates due to the short nature of the loan.

If you find you are borrowing money from companies such as Provident, Shopacheck or Greenwoods, you may wish to contact us for debt advice UK about how to manage repayments.

Call our personal debt helpline today in confidence using 0800 018 6868.

Become clear of debt with direct help & advice

If you are struggling with your finances and require personal debt help or advice, try using a company that offers a free helpline as a starting point.

Companies that charge you for advice are not helping you!

IVA companies, that originally set up as sole IVA providers, are now chasing vulnerable debt management clients, as they are unable to sustain the levels of enquiries they had become accustomed to over the last few years whilst solely providing personal insolvency solutions.

This is strange as the models of some of these businesses were originally based on IVA operations but they seem to be operating in all sectors of late. When a personal insolvency company starts to move in a particular direction that it has been known to have portrayed previously as weak or a little none compliant, it can NOT only be based on changing times, they are possibly struggling to maintain existing levels of turnover from sole provision of the original service offered and this some what compromises the high esteem they may have previously been held in by some!

Lewis Alexander Financial Management urges people to seek advice from specialist debt companies and the consumer should ask the company offering the advice if they are privately or publicly owned. This can sometimes be evidence to the consumer of the true intent behind the company ethos, will they at all stages be compliant in their dealings, advice and debt solutions offered, whilst trying on the other hand to obtain income of sales to sustain hungry investor appetites? Or, are they privately owned and investing in their clients future high level of service by concentrating on improving the service experience current clients enjoy?

The real intention of any personal debt company should be to help the vulnerable consumer clear personal debts as quickly as possible. This is not all ways the case.

Please note that only an IVA can clear debts in 60 months or 5 years.Conditions do apply.

Debt Management will clear your debts and suits many people but no fixed time period or end date can be promised, any individual or company claiming to be able to offer an exact end date for the debt management plan is lying!

For friendly advice regarding all personal debt solutions, please call FREE using 0800 018 6868

Credit Cards & Debt Help - IVA or Debt Management?

Credit cards are the biggest problem in most peoples financial arrears. Most of us try and keep up with the plastic before paying anything else, such as rent and mortgages! Yes, people are actually paying for their mortgages and their rent using their credit facilities. When we try and explain to vulnerable consumers that they must prioritise their debts by paying the most important first, they seem shocked as though the credit card companies will be upset.

An upset credit card company is much better than an eviction order from your landlord or your mortgage lender advising you that they are to repossess your home or ask you to vacate your rented dwellings.

We can't stress enough the importance of making the repayments on loans or other debts secured against your home.

Credit card companies only want you to pay the minimum on your credit card repayments, if you pay more than the minimum required you will be clear your debt and then you won't owe them any money, this is not good for your credit card company, however, it is the right direction for you!

The interest on credit cards is designed to increase not reduce, these companies are waiting for you to suffer a change in personal circumstances such as a death in the family, loss of job or less hours at work, split from partner or divorce. These changes in circumstance are not all ways negative unpleasant ones. A new baby or a wedding can easily set us back for years. The credit industry has a much clearer crystal ball than the vulnerable consumer. They can see your changes before you know you are due them. it is just the way credit companies work but please do not let them work you out of YOUR home!

For further information on how to clear credit card debt and other personal debt help, please call free using 0800 018 6868 or contact us online....

IVA take up rate 12% of Debt Consolidation enquiries!

The take up rate for the personal IVA at Lewis Alexander is 12%.

The company specialises in the Personal Debt Management sector and has done so successfully since February 2003. The information released is based upon enquiries that are generated from the initial enquiry to a live conversion into a Lewis Alexander client. The IVA work is outsourced to preselected Insolvency Practitioners.

The remaining 88% splits down into 63% opting for a Lewis Alexander Debt Management Plan and the final remainder choose options such as bankruptcy and loan options where available.

The figure is surprising as the general market place of personal debt advice and help services seems to be direct selling the IVA! Lewis Alexander are proud to offer the client a full explanation where necessary so as to enable the consumer to make an informed decision. This could be adopted as best practice amongst all companies and implemented on a compliance basis by a regulator.

The industry could then adopt an accepted standard conversion rate for a compliant fee charging advisory service.

The main problem Lewis Alexander has encountered with the funding and floatation's of IVA PLC companies, dating back to 2004, is that the individual choosing to enter into an IVA over a Debt Management Plan or Voluntary Petition for Bankruptcy is no different in there make up, they are still only human! The point being is that the individual is open to exactly the same changes in circumstances over the next 5 years that has created the need for action in the first place. The Debt Management Plan may not be as rewarding in fees as an IVA to the operating company but is sometimes a preferred approach for advice when the advisor has the experience the client does not!

Yes, companies are in business to make money but at this end of the financial sector there should be an element of caution as the detriment to the consumer can be catastrophic if the consumers IVA fails due to their lack of continuity of payment etc,,

The Debt Management Plan is not a legally binding agreement and is informal between client and creditor. Therefore, the "City of London" or financial institutions raising funds for floatation's have avoided Debt Management Companies in the main. This is why some of the IVA companies or IVA factories have scurried around making acquisitions that seem still to be proven on a profitability basis. These companies surely could not have floated as Debt Management operations but did create great projections and share rushes, then proceeded to buy Debt Management companies in a bid to keep their bottom line positive and reduce the cost per client acquisitions.

Lewis Alexander has previously rejected take over bids from a certain IVA company due to this mind set as described above. The take over would have affected the success enjoyed by both client and employee when clearing debts, coupled with the excellent balance of impeccable client retention rates with outstanding abilities to generate new enquiries that convert into acquisitions.

The cost to an IVA company to generate an acquisition had reached £1000 over the last 2 years and in some cases more. These companies business models are costly and when compared to the Lewis Alexander CPA of an IVA at £150, it seems outrageous. Is the sector finished as a direct sell arena and where will the money makers move next?

We can confirm that the only PLC involvement at Lewis Alexander is Profitability, Liquidity & Capital.

UK Debt Consolidation Company launches Larry the Loan Broker

Lewis Alexander Financial Management has launched a secured loan broker called Larry the Loan Broker. Larry is based on a Texan theme and was delivered on time and in budget by not normal mEdia of Manchester.

Products on offer include secured home loans, payday loans, unsecured all purpose loans, debt consolidation loans and refused a loan help and advice.

Lewis Alexander believe the new brokerage should only compliment the existing IVA and Debt Management departments, making the company a "Turn Key" solution for consumers seeking help to clear personal debts in the UK.

Larry will be advertised online and on national UK television. This is a very similar model operated by Lewis Alexander. The Larry DRTV advert is due to air in the Spring of this year (2008).

For further information or to apply for a personal loan in the UK visit Larry online @ http://www.larry-the-loan-broker.co.uk/

IVA Companies Failing to Maximise! warns Uk Debt Management Specialist

IVA companies are finding it increasingly difficult to convince consumers to enter into an IVA.

Some companies push the IVA over other options available such as Debt Management or Bankruptcy. The consumer does not get a fair explanation and then the end result can be quite a shock for the person who has entered into the IVA.

Ability to borrow can be delayed for many years after the IVA has ended and certain restrictions can be very tiresome.

Debt management plans have been given a hard time with bad press over the years but it is quite amazing how many people prefer to take them and when operated by a good company those clients also complete the plans!

Lewis Alexander advise many people every day, help is available 24 hours, call free 0800 018 6868

IVA, Debt Management, Bankruptcy Help & Loans

Regardless of the type of personal debt you may have, you will at some point of dealing with your problem, consider one of the following options available to clear debt in the Uk,

Debt Management, IVA, Bankruptcy, Consolidation Loans, Debt Advice

for more help and advice if you are currently suffering please contact us free today for a consultation.

FISA registration APPROVED for Lewis Alexander Limited

FISA (Financial Industry Standards Association) have approved the Lewis Alexander Limited application for registered membership.

The membership is based on a one year probationary period as set out by FISA.

The Lewis Alexander team are elated by the news of successful membership and look forward to the compliant benefit of such accreditation. Lewis Alexander do hope that the news will entice other finance companies of all sizes to aspire to such industry standards to remain compliant and consumer friendly.

Lewis Alexander Debt Management Help, UK TV Advert

As seen on national TV in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

30,000 Brits head for Bankruptcy by End of March 08

The BBC reports that 30,000 plus UK residents are facing Bankruptcy in the first 3 months of this year. Lewis Alexander believe that the figures are lower than the reality will be!

Debt help and advice needs taking early to stop debt collectors in their tracks.

In Debt on DLA? Debt and Disability Living Allowance Uk

Financial difficulties and debt are often neglected when a family has to start dealing with the onset of disability.

The disability can cause a major drop in income as well as a major increase in expenses.

Get the debt help you may need if disabled and in debt

Call the Lewis Alexander debt helpline today!

Insolvency Advice Uk

http://www.insolvencyadviceuk.co.uk/ Launched by Lewis Alexander Ltd IVA & debt help

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