What is a Trust Deed?

A Protected Trust Deed or Scottish Trust Deed is a legally binding formal debt solution, available to residents of Scotland. It’s an alternative to insolvency, for people with debts exceeding £5,000, allowing you to freeze interest and charges, and commit to affordable monthly repayments, usually over a 4-year period. Once complete, any remaining debts are written off.

Trust deeds can be voluntary, however, to receive legal protection against creditors you will have to make it a legally binding ‘Protected’ trust deed.

Is a Protected Trust Deed right for me?

A Protected Trust Deed is a good option for people with high debts, who are struggling to deal with high interest rates and charges on their repayments.

A Protected Trust Deed can grant you legal protections from creditors and allow you to write off debts at the end of the repayment period. If you are a Scottish resident with high debts to multiple creditors, a Protected Trust Deed may be the right option for you.

When should I consider a Protected Trust Deed?

If you have a large amount of debt, are struggling with repayments each month, relying on credit or overdrafts, or are regularly being contacted by creditors about outstanding payments, – and you live in Scotland – then you could consider a Protected Trust Deed with its legal protections and the prospect of being able to write off some of your existing debt.

What debts are covered by a Protected Trust Deed?

A Deed of Trust includes all unsecured debts:

• Credit cards
• Personal loans
• Council tax arrears
• Rent arrears
• Overdraft
• Store cards
• Car parking charges
• CSA arrears
• HMRC debts
• Overpaid tax credits
• Payday loans
• Buy now, pay later debts

Any unsecured debts not included in the PTD will remain outstanding when it ends.

How do I apply for a Protected Trust Deed?

The first step is to reach out for debt advice from a regulated firm, such as MoneyPlus Advice. From there we will:

1. Review your current debts and financial situation, then give you all the information to make the right choice for you.
2. If you decide a Protected Trust Deed is right for you, we will draw up the proposal, and send it to your creditors.
3. From there, your creditors have 5 weeks to accept.

Am I eligible for a Protected Trust Deed?

To qualify you must:

• Be a resident of Scotland
• Have over £5000 in unsecured debts
• Be making enough each month to cover your proposed repayments
• Have an income that isn’t just benefits
• Not have been bankrupt in the last 5 years

What debts can’t be included in a Protected Trust Deed?

Though a Trust Deed includes nearly all unsecured debts there are some exceptions. These include:

• Student loans
• Debts obtained fraudulently
• Fines
• Any secured loans

Living with a Protected Trust Deed

A Protected Trust Deed is recorded on a public register and is a long-standing, legally binding agreement over several years. During the period of the agreement, your creditors will expect you to ensure your expenses stay within a reasonable level so that you are able to repay as much as possible towards your debts. It’s important to consider the day-to-day of living under a Protected Trust Deed.

Financial
With a Protected Trust Deed, you should see your financial situation improve as you’re paying a more manageable monthly amount. Similarly, as all interest and charges will be frozen, you won’t have to worry about potential changes and unexpected increases in your monthly repayments.

Career
In most instances, entering into a Trust Deed will not affect your current or future employment, though we would always advise checking your contract or speaking to your HR department before signing any formal agreements.

Other than keeping on top of your payments month to month, little will change while repaying your Trust Deed.

Mortgages and renting with a Protected Trust Deed

Will a Protected Trust Deed stop bailiffs?

Once entered, a Scottish Protected Trust Deed protects you from legal action and creditors can no longer contact you for payments. This includes sending bailiffs to your property. So long as your creditors agree to the terms of your Trust Deed, and you keep up with the monthly repayments, all creditor contact will be ceased, with all future correspondence being handled by your Insolvency Practitioner (IP).

What happens if a Protected Trust Deed fails?

If a PTD fails, it may lead to sequestration.

Will a Protected Trust Deed affect my assets?

While you may have to sell off some assets to offset costs towards your creditors, it’s likely you will be able to keep a car, provided it is valued at less than £3000. If the vehicle is valued at a significant amount, you may be asked to sell it or trade it for a less expensive one.

If your car is on finance (and the repayments aren’t excessive) they will be included in your monthly repayments.

Any savings you have prior to your Trust Deed will likely be included in your agreement. When creating your monthly budget, a ‘contingency amount’ (up to £30 a month) will be allowed for savings, as well as an ‘irregularities amount’ for unforseen household repairs.

Can you pay off a Trust Deed early?

If your circumstances change or you receive a large windfall whilst completing your Trust Deed, you may be able to settle early.

The offer will have to be made by your Insolvency Practitioner (IP) who will write up a proposal and put it to your creditors. This is known as Variation, and for it to be agreed, at least 75% of creditors that respond have to say yes to it.  

Still unsure or want to know more?

If you think a Protected Trust Deed in Scotland could be right for you and would like to know more, or if you want to explore other debt solutions, the team at MoneyPlus is here to help. We know that no two financial situations are the same, which is why we approach all our customers with the individuality and care that they deserve.

To find out more, simply get in touch today and start living better.