I made my final payment to The Debt People in April 2011 a year later I still have not got a completion report. I have chased them on numerous ocassions and I fully understand about the VAT case! What gets me is that The Dept People have been telling me I will have a report in a couple of weeks since last October and I just dont know where to turn. Even though its been over 6 years since I first had an IVA by credit file wont update unless I send them a completion report! Anyone else completed an IVA recently with The Debt People? Any advice on what to do would be greatly appreciated.
You need to ask them specifically what is delaying the closure of your case, and get them to guarantee a timescale for you by which time they can assure you that you will receive the completion certificate.
Hi Helena, I am in the same situation as yourself, though fortunately not quite 12 months yet. The Debt People haven't contacted me once since I made my last payment, other than a refer a friend and get 200 quid for Christmas flyer. I actually phoned them following my final payment & was advised that all completions were on hold owing to the VAT issue. I left it at that as having lurked on here it seemed fairly obvious that The Debt People were one of the firms that had taking the sit on our backsides and do nothing until we get our VAT back approach.
By early March my patience was starting to run out so, I decided to phone them. They didn't even bother to take my name however, I was advised that HMRC had acknowledged that they would be repaying them this month & they were hoping to start issuing completions in early April. End of April I hadn't heard anything, so I contacted them again. Advised that the VAT had only been partially repaid might be 1 month, possibly 2 or even longer before it would be fully recovered, we don't really know.
So, it would seem that the issue is still the VAT and they are unwilling to find a way around this. I certainly wont be advising any friends of mine to use this company & I hope any one out there who might be takes note of this.
I'll give it another month then I guess I'll follow the advice and try and get a commitment out of them, but I wont hold out too much hope; customer service doesn't seem to be their strong point - 'non existent' would be an appropriate phrase.
Thanks for all your comments. A quick bit of advice for CS2012 and any other users who have been desperately waiting for their completion certificate. Contact DEMSA! Since I contacted them last Monday they contacted The Debt People directly and I received my completion certificate on Saturday![:D] I am amazed because just prior to contacting DEMSA I gave TDP one last chance and again they said we are waiting for the refund from HMRC for the VAT. I am so pleased that I contacted DEMSA. They were amazing!
It's a shame it came to you needing to involve the regulators; but hey, whatever it takes!! Let's hope your experience helps a few of the other posters in a similar situation. Congrats on getting your certificate and good luck with cleaning up your credit file!!! x
As I said earlier, I haven't been waiting twelve months yet & I wonder if the fact that twelve months had elapsed, was the criteria which forced such rapid action once pressed by DEMSA? Anyhow, I'll give them until the end of the month then go straight down the DEMSA route, as opposed to a 'last chance' which I don't feel The Debt People AKA Dawson White deserve.
Just to make a point that DEMSA are not a regulator but a trade association. Glad to see that their intervention has helped on this occasion however, and this may provide another route for other posters who are experiencing difficulties with their IP firms if they are members of one of the trade bodies.
A spokesperson for The Debt People says “We have noted the comments regarding the issue of non closure of certain cases to allow the VAT refund following the ruling in the recent Paymex case. This is in accordance with guidance received from the Regulators and accepted industry practice relating to this matter. As explained to our clients it is our intention to start closing those cases which have remained open to facilitate the Paymex refund once the refund has been received and applied to the cases to which it belongs. We are pleased to confirm that such refund has recently been received and therefore as previously advised we will now commence applying the funds to the cases and then closing those which are able to be closed. If those clients who wish to receive confirmation that their case is being closed please contact The Debt People by email directly with the appropriate reference details and we will respond”
Stephen Quinn FCA FABRP
Licensed Insolvency Practitioner
Director of Insolvency MoneyPlus Group
I am very frustrated with the Debt people, I will be emailing them with regards to stephen Quinn's post dated 6th June 2012 to see if it makes a difference. I call every month if not twice a month since making my last payment September 2011. I get the same response from whoever I speak to about VAT. It will be a year before I know it and my credit file will not be ammended. When I used the Debt people they seemed very professional and I must add that they were throughout my IVA. However, since finishing I have tried in vain to get my completion certificate. I am giving them until the begining of July and sending a letter too, I will then have to contact DEMSA as suggested by one forum user. If that fails, I will contact Watchdog and see if they can investigate why we have to keep to our agreement and terms and the Debt People have not stuck to the agreement by completeing the IVAS as was promised. I feel that Stephen Quinn has made a suggestion but does not realise how hard it has been for those trying to get a completion certificate. As a director I feel he should be the one to inform the company that they should of contacted the clients and not ignored them. I had to contact them after months as I had not heard anything. Something has to be done and action taken as the clients are just being fobbed off time and time again. Watchdog would be the best soultion if nothing is done within the next month or so!
I know how frustrating it must be for you and everyone else waiting! The VAT issue has caused problems beyond the control of IPs and they are doing their best to clear backlogs but it has caused problems. That's no excuse for ignoring you though.
Have you tried their internal complaints procedure? It would highlight to the company how difficult it is to communicate with them and hopefully they will act on that for the benefit of you and future clients.
