Hi Slapnuts, I totally agree with 12 months to go Judith is superb it has to be said. I too was in the same boat as yourself with fees being paid to that dreadful company for a claim I did myself, I did get them back though, so hopefully that will also happen. I know exactly how you feel, I had a debt of £36000, PPI refunds of £33000, paid in £30500 myself, I saw £2500 of it!!! over a third of that went on fees!!!.
Do keep chasing them and check everything I have recently received a statement from Max recovery who have been overpaid and showing a positive balance, not a vast amount but nevertheless they shouldn't have it, I have now had to write to them to get this back, shoddy work.
Good luck, hopefully things will now get moving, i'm a little concerned though that although we have forum posters from DFD, there does seem to be a plethora of them now, let's hope nothing gets lost in the translation of things between departments.
Om shanti, namesté, good luck to all who are embarking on the IVA journey, it isn't always an easy one but the outcome is the best.
IVA COMPLETED August 2012, received Completion certificate 18.4.13.