www.iva.co.uk

I contacted IVA-online.co.uk and entered some details for some advice on an IVA/DMP and they got back to me, ran through a few basics over the phone, had a debt management specialist call me back tonight and go over a few more things - estimated i may be able to pay back £225 per month etc.

Then they gave me a list of paperwork i have to find and a representative will call at my house tomorrow to go through it with me.

The thing is i've been stung with trying to go through an IVA before and ended up losing money and had CCJs added to my credit file which i did not have before.

I must point out the IVA did not fail last time, it didn't even get that far because there were some discrepancies in our income/expenditure thing that needed to be ironed out before proceeding and i just never went back with them after that but as i was told to stop paying my creditors that is how the CCJs occured.

Anyway, these other people are not taking any payments like this last lot, i'm not sure if this is the norm or that it just varies between companies??

I'm just looking for reassurance that this is doing the right thing because they said once i've signed the agreement i cant make anymore payments to the creditors and i dont want this to make things worse because then my only option would be to go BR.

I cannot comment about the practices of the company you have chosen to represent you - but if they have provided you with a list of documents they require then you will need to have those available.

Have you asked this firm which IP company they are going to refer you to, as I do not think that they do this sort of work in-house - but are probably information gatherers. Might be useful to find out which IP firm they favour just to ensure you can check them out as well.

We read this forum for a few weeks then started making a few minor posts. Alot of people on this site speak very highly of Melanie Giles and Ian Millington (I think that's his name) - Sorry Ian if it's wrong.

We personally contacted Melanie about 2 weeks ago, after a shakey start on my side things have started to move from my point of view (most of the initial paperwork sent back today to Melanie). I cried at Melanie once and spoken to her and she is very straight talking and no nonesense - I and many others on here really like her and the way she works. I have sent her emails and posted late into the evening and I have always had a response this alone was invaluable as it put my mind at rest.

It might be worth giving her a call and seeing what you think?

Good luck! x

I would find out the IP wwho would be representing you and then have a look at the reviews on www.iva.com, these are very important as its what the clients say about the service they have recieved.

Manke sure you are 100% sure and comfortable with any decisions that you make as 5 years is a long time and you need to feel happy and confident in the people you choose to represent you.

Good luck
Emma