Your right Pennyless I have lots of questions and I am feeling quite scared and in the dark at the moment which is not good, I know it shouldn't be like that and I should be dealing with someone who I can call anytime to ask any questions I have. With DFD I feel when I call them I am just bounced around from person to person and no one seems to really know whats going on. I am disapoint that the person I dealt with initally hasn't contacted me really. It certainly not good to feel this way so early in the process. I know I need to face this now before it moves along any further and move to another firm. I just don't know how to go about it. Do you think I should just ring DFD tell them I've changed my mind and ask for my paperwork to be returned to me? This is what I feel I want to do but I'm worried about starting the whole process over again and how long it will take to get my paperwork back from DFD esp with the postal strikes that are currently happening. I have just cancelled all direct debits for my creditors I know the phone calls will start soon and I'm worried about that too
Thank you Nic and everyone who has replied to my post its great to finally feel like we have some support. Like many of the people who's posts I have read we don't want to discuss our situation with our family and friends and its just so wonderful to have people to talk to who truely understand and don't judge, Thank you all so much
3 Princesses - I was in the same boat as you - tried 7/8 companies some of the advice I recieved even I knew was nonsense and three companies tried to inflate my figures - when I said I did not want to do that they said then the only answer was b/r - all of them said that at the end of the day. I found Melanie - she took me on board and obtained a little under 100% approval for a complicated (to say the best of it) IVA - since meeting Melanie I have never looked back. If I were in your position I would go to her and I can promise you without fear of contradiction that you will be in very safe hands indeed - both before and after.
3princess if overly concerned about "callers" change your number, alternatively just speak to them and tell them your going through an IVA. You should at sometime early in your IVA proceedings receive a letter template (If DFD do this..otherwise theres templates on these forums) to copy and send to all your creditors explaining that your applying for an IVA and the name of your IP.
You shouldn't of worried about forgetting to call Tina....she is a real gem and I'm sure had you rang her later she would of been fine. Tina was my main point of contact at Melanie Giles Company and although I have spoken to others also at the Company,any one of them, including Tina stays fully up to speed with clients and I have not once came across any "conflicting" information from any of them.
I am sure you'll be fine but as I say my only concern would be having to "wait" for advice and also not being able to chat to someone not fully up to speed with your case.
In any event theres loads of posters on here that will help you and also a few experts who are never too far away.
I came into this world with nothing and still have most of it left!
Thank you Pennyless. I have just called DFD again. I explained that I sent my paperwork back and have heard nothing since and just wondered if I could have an update as to whats happening. I was told that they received my paperwork yesterday and that someone would be contacting me in the next couple of days to discuss how the case was going, this is pretty much the same thing they said last time I phoned so still not feeling anymore confident about it
I certainly should have called Tina back and I wish I had now I really do
I would call Tina back now 3 princesses, it's not too late as others have said. Tina is lovely I remember her putting my mind at ease on my initial call.
IVA final payment left the bank on the 26th January 2013...looking forward to a debt free future.
We would be happy to pick your case up again if you feel that you would like us to take another look - no harm in that, and at the day Tina will refer all decisions on cases to me for my approval. You know where we are if you need us!
Hi Melanie, I thank you very much, I will give your office another call on Monday morning, when half term is over, the children are back at school and I can hear myself think again lol. I am feeling very unfortable with DFD as they aren't giving me any information as to whats going, they don't seem to know! I will look forward to speaking to your team again Kind Regards Sarah
Thanks Elv5 so many people speak so highly of Melanie and her team I can see that they are clearly one of the best. I just need to get my confidence back as I have lost it in the last week through lack on communication, if it wasn't for all the great people posting on this forum I don't know what I would have done. I'm sure I'll be feeling much more positive once I have spoken to Melanies team on Monday Kind Regards Sarah
After you have spoken to Melanie's team your confidence will return - try not to worry - Melanie will tell you that is her job to worry not yours! Keep your chin up and please let us know how you get along. Melanie is the best - believe me!
Thank you and from what I have read on the forums I certainly do believe she is the best. I will certainly keep everyone updated as to how I'm getting along, the forum is such a wonderful support I'd have been lost without it. I hope one day soon I will be able to help others in my situation, as you have all helped me, hopefully after sucessfully starting my own iva.
I do still have one concern that constantly worrying me regarding my new bank account
Originally we set up our new account with Halifax. Because our credit ratings were still ok at the time of applying for the account they offered us a reward current account with visa debit card (overdraft was offered but we declined of course). They did offer us a cheque book which I accepted as I use cheques to pay my childrens pre-school fees. I assumed that this would be ok as we have no overdraft or cheque garantee card so we can't go overdrawn by using a cheque. Is it ok to have a cheque book? The account has all been set up and I have transferred some money into it although we have not moved our direct debits or saleries yet they are currently still with our old current account, I will be changing these over for next months payments
However before I do this I want to check one point. After setting up the account some days later I have noticed that Halifax are now part of the Lloydstsb group. We owe no money to Halifax but Lloyds our are biggest creditor 65% to 70% of our debt is with them. Will this cause a problem with my Halifax account because of them being oart of the Lloyds group or will it be ok as they are not one of our creditors just part of the same group? I don't want to transfer all our DD's and saleries into the account if its likely to be closed once our Iva begins. Just for my own peace of mind I have also opened a Co-op cashminder account. I have done this merely as a fall back incase I do have any problems with Halifax but I would rather stick with the Halifax account if I can as its a better account, for a start it rewards us £5 a month just for paying our saleries in so thats a bonus! I would be really grateful if one of the experts wouldn't mind answering this one for me and of course I would be very grateful for anyone elses advise too. Its really worrying me if its going to be a problem I'd rather just transfer everyhting to co-op now rather than having to do it again but I would rather stick with Halifax if its not going to be a problem. Thanks in advance everyone
Perfectly fine to have a cheque book - and a good idea I would say if this is how you pay your childcare. There is no set-off between Lloyds and Halifax so your bank account should be safe.
Just to let you know that Tina is away next week, but Melanie Nicholas will be covering if you are around.
