Page 1 of 2

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:19 pm
by Holly_madi
Hey,

I have been doing my Research on IVA's and have found there are so many companies around im finding it difficult in choosing who to go with? Can anyone recommend a good IVA company?
Thank You

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:23 pm
by douglass
Hi Holly, lots of people on here recommend Melanie Giles - she has been an IP for in excess of 20 years, and is a major contributor to this site. Please also remember to ask about upfront fees etc. Hope this helps. D.

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:04 pm
by iva.com
Hi Holly,

If you are looking for an IVA firm you might find our web site useful. We maintain a list of IVA firms and IPs and publish client reviews of the services that they provide.

We recommend looking at several firms before choosing which to work with.

All the best for your search.

Kind regards,
Terry Balfour
IVA.com

IVA.com - The IVA Comparison Site
100s of reviews, All IPs and IVA firms rated.

Use our IVA firm comparison tool to find best IVA firm for you:
http://www.iva.com/iva_comparison_1.asp

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:25 pm
by sonyse2t5
Clear START. I had a great case worker called Alexi that built my case up for the IP. Fantastic support al the way.

They are now part of Debt Free Direct.Try them too.

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:27 pm
by johnpaul
theres freeman jones holly theres no upfront fees with them

JOHNPAUL

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:31 pm
by bagpuss
Hiya xx I went through Grant Thornton and was totally satisfied.

this might help...http://www.iva.com/

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:33 pm
by ray_a
The most important point to take on is can you build a good relationship with this person.

In many ways it is a form of marriage so I would try and meet at least 3 people and see whether there is a basis of building a good relationship. After all they will be supervising you.

Don't rush into it and you have a few weeks to make your decision.

Before you go into the meetings get a full list of all your debts and try and prepare a budget and possibly a cash flow showing how you make your IVA and possibly mortgage payments. Also be realistic in your living expenditure.

In that way the IP can assess your position effectively.

I would also say you can always post on here to assist you and if you are unsure do come back and talk to us as we have lots of experience.

A final point , one I learn't is that IVA's are not set in stone and do evolve so you have to have a flexible mind!

Good Luck

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:39 pm
by Skippy
I would recommend going to a smaller IP practice and not one of the big IVA 'factories' where you will be just another number.

One very important point - steer clear of a company called Synergy. They have caused a lot of heartache to people on this forum - read Scaredkez and Coco's blogs.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:51 pm
by johnpaul
skippy could holly be put on a dmp program and then wait for these sivas to come out

JOHNPAUL

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:51 pm
by BrassicLintus
Holi, phone at least 3 companies for advice - that way you'll get a balanced view.

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 2:58 pm
by Skippy
I think Holly could use a DMP until the SIVA's are available, but I don't know enough about them.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:15 pm
by Holly_madi
Hey thanks for all the advice its good to take on board every ones opinions. Whats the difference between an IVA and a SIVA?

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:23 pm
by johnpaul
a siva is a simple iva and a iva is much stonger one but sivas are not out yet but should be coming soon the diffence is a siva would be offered to creditors for those people who dont have eought debt eg £25k while a siva you would need debts a lot less then £25k the best person to speak to is melanie giles

JOHNPAUL

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:37 pm
by johnpaul
but if you fail a siva might you could do a normal iva
on ivas holly you get 3 breachs over the 5 years if you keep paying into the iva for 60 months you will be debt free creditors will want you to hand over overtime money as they will want 50% or that and any bonus if you have savings accounts they will be a asset and you must tell a ip about it but one good thing about ivas you pay back as much as you can aford to pay creditors and they will write the rest of it of and then debt free the other good side is that if you have a lump of money all of it will have to go to creditors to see if they will accept that as full and final payment if they say yes you will then need to update your credit file but if you do a iva holly you will find it very hard to get things things like sky tv contract mobile phones and bank accounts for 6 years 5 years of that you do the iva and the 12 months later it comes of your credit file

JOHNPAUL

Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:47 pm
by johnpaul
want i mean holly about the lump of money in your case if you went down the post office got a scatch card and won £15k you would offer that as full and final payment or less if you can

JOHNPAUL