There should be no adverse entries on your credit file dated later than the commencement of the IVA and, in common with all adverse entries, they will stay on the file for 6 years. Most IVA's run for 5 years and so you will have a year to wait for the adverse entries to be removed, following completion of your IVA. In the meantime you should check your credit files with the 3 main credit agencies and ensure that there are no adverse entries that are dated after the commencement of the IVA. If there are, contact the lender concerned and request that the entry is dated back to the date of the IVA. If there is any delay in doing this contact the data controller at the lender to make a complaint. You may also be able to apply for a mobile phone contract (or you may have one already) so ensure that payments are made on time to the phone provider. This should quickly establish a credit record. You may also be able to obtain a credit card with certain providers who accept customers with blemished credit records. Provided that you maintain timely payments to the account this will also improve your credit rating. We do hear of surprising instances where clients are able to obtain competitive loans very soon after the completion of their IVA and so each lender is likely to have a different policy and shopping around for a loan may well be worth the effort.