Hi e_b
I quite agree with Melanie and Oliver when they say that in the main creditors will not attend the Creditors Meeting (although they are given notice of the meeting and can decide to go if they like). The only creditors who are likely to attend would be trade creditors if you had been in business.
Re the question do you have to go to the meeting yourself? The standard answer is again no. However, you can go if you like. The pros of going are that it is an opportunity to meet with your IP face to face and ask any questions you still have. Also, if the creditors want to modify the proposal in any way, then it is easy for you to discuss these changes with the IP. As such, if the journey is not to far, I would say go in person.
Of course, if the meeting is being held far from where you live and it is not convienient (and to expensive) for you to go, then you don't have to be there. However, as Debt Dummy says, you just need to make sure you can be contacted by phone at the time of the meeting. This is so the IP can notify you that the IVA has been accepted and discuss any modifications if necessary.
James Falla
Expert in IVA, Bankruptcy and informal Debt Management solutions, with extensive experience of solving personal debt problems over the past 10 years. I am regularly featured on BBC News, Finance Programs and Radio.
Visit my blog at:
http://jamesfalla.blogs.iva.co.uk