I work in the insolvency sector and have been visiting this site for, if my memory serves me correctly, 3 years now. As the years have passed and my knowledge has increased, I have not visited as much as I did in my earlier days.
My concern after reading a large section of the more recent post on the forums is this site seems to have gone through a transition from a forum to a lead generation website. Everywhere I look there are adverts for 'selected' companies, there are 'Recommended' companies listed also. Where does the list of 'approved associates', for want of a better expression, come from. There certainly appears to be no reference to watchdog or governing body reviews.
To compound the problem, I spoke to an old college of mine who is still working in the sector, and to my astonishment he told me recently he challenged advice given on the site by Melanine Jiles and the post was removed. This seems odd, as he assures me there was no lude content or theatening demeanor to the message.
If I may ask, who owns this site and choses the sponsors? And do they still present this as a forum, or accept it has evolved into a business of its own, as judging by the number of leads being generated and the amount of adverts, someone is turning a tidy profit.
This message is in not meant in a accusatory fashion, however for years I have been referring clients to this website for free impartial advice, and I begin to doubt this is what is still offered.
The forum is not a lead generation site, people are able to make a choice as to the IP they use and people who post on here and are happy with their IP are bound to recommend them. IVA.com contains a lot of companies, and reviews from genuine clients for those companies.
I would doubt that any challenge to one of the IP's would be removed without good reason. That does not happen.
The site is still impartial, and I am sure there will be a lot of other posters who will back me up on this.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
I have no idea what you are talking about Paul - although I have not been on the forum much over the last couple of days.
There has been no recent challenge to any advice I have given on the forum, so far as I am aware, but if you would like to e-mail me directly I would be very keen to trace the post you refer to. I would be very concerned if the site was being vetted without my knowledge or opportunity to respond to any alternative opinion posed by other experts or forum members - which actually happens all the time.
I have been posting on this forum for over three years, largely at unsociable hours and the weekends when I am not involved with running my own practice. There are several other posters from other firms and, so far as I am aware, anyone can join the forum in the same manner I did. To suggest that we give up our time purely for lead generation purposes is pretty insulting to be frank.
And my signature block linking to my website has not been changed or amended in all of the time I have been posting, and I am sure would be removed if it was deemed inappropriate.
Please send me the details of the link you refer to, as I want to look into this as soon as possible.
I have actually been very pleasantly surprised that when posters are asking for advice, not only is the advice comprehensive, but at no time have i ever seen a response from one of the practicing IPs that essentially says you should give me a call, its always have a look at reviews, pick a few IPs and call them.
Doesn't look like lead generation from my point of view unless its really really subtle.
Nothing but positive advice from this forum and it can be trusted - we are all open and honest with each other and the information we share is taken as advice - individuals seeking advice on their own debt situation can chose to use this site or not as a point of reference - the experts give their time to all of us going through the IVA process and it is very much an important part of our life - yes alot of people say thank you to their IP's on this site - others keep themselves from not being identified - but at the end of the day - the site is a comfort for alot of us and it has supported many new comers to make the right decisions. In the end we all say the same - speak to a few IP's before make your decision !
Last edited by luluj on Fri Feb 12, 2010 7:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
There is a solution for everyone .... Just need to stay positive !
Posts and threads are only deleted when it is necessary, and the original poster is always emailed to be told why
The site is monitored, but not vetted. The vast majority of the posters are genuine as are the posts.
I do agree that it is an insulting post to the professionals who give up their valuable spare time to help posters who are in dire straits. No one asks them to do it, they do it because they genuinely want to help those of us in debt.
As previously stated, this is not a lead generation site, and posters are free to recommend IP's or otherwise.
Yours, and other professionals signatures, are fine.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Is there anyone who can check for me whether a post that I have recently been involved in has been locked? I would like to understand the reasons for this - if indeed it has actually happened please.
Not sure where you're getting the lead generated info from? I visit and post daily on this site and posters are directed to www.iva.com to read reviews and advised to contact a few IP's before making a final decision.
Of course posters who have personal experience of IP's good or bad will and should voice their opinions.
I'm glad you've been referring clients to the forum as the advice is free and often comes from those who have been in the same situation as themselves, so there's a more emotive connection. Please continue with those referrals as I'm sure your clients will benefit and thank you for it.
As has already been said, abusive or advertising posts maybe deleted but in the main, posts remain for all to read.
I will email Admin about this, but I doubt it has happened. You know how much time I spend on here! Your posts are always very professional and wouldn't be deleted.
It's possible that a thread has been deleted which contained something it shouldn't have, but I doubt it would be anything to do with anything you have put.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
you're right to question Lulu. Paul previoulsy posted in November 2008.
I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say the concerns are unfounded. If Paul can forward details of locked threads then I'm sure there will be a sensible answer to that also.
No idea - it may well not be, but having looked at the posters profile he does mention a company I have heard of.
We have to give all posters the benefit of the doubt. I have emailed admin and hopefully they will come back to us about this.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
He won't get any - and he should realise by now that us genuine posters will all stick together and defend the forum to the death!
Last edited by kallis3 on Fri Feb 12, 2010 8:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Hi
No post of Mels have been locked or removed as far as I am aware and the forum hasn't changed for a couple of years so I am not sure what PJHughes has noticed. What adverts are you referring to ? No one on this site is allowed to solicit for business and never has been
Regards
