cleardebt advised me to have a 'celebratory bonfire' with all our paperwork

[TheArtist]

With this type of industry, the bad apples do tend to take the attention away from the decent, hardworking individuals.

[in-a-mess-indeed]

Quote My personal experience with RSM and now, so far, with GT ( despite their bad press) has been good. However, my impressions of several companies are not good.
Whilst on my current rant, I would also like to mention ..... the advice often tendered here is to speak to your IP ( I have said it myself). Now, in the case of any fortunate enough to have chosen Mel's team, this is good advice. However, for many, if not most, of the rest of us, we have as much chance of speaking to our IPs as we have of swimming to the moon and back in our lunch breaks!

I have also used the "Speak to your IP" quote, however if people cannot get hold of their IP directly then this is breach of terms as a supervisor is it not? I am led to understand as they are paid to be that persons IP (this is what the charges and fee are for after all) and should speak when requested to their clients, if the IP decides that the context of the required discussion can be solved with a call from an admin case worker then the IP can offer this, but if the client in the IVA is still not happy and wants to speak to the IP then a second request with an added sense of urgency should be made. And if that is ignored then a complaint should be made through the proper channels of that IVA company, perhaps an Expert will confirm or correct this so I am not miss leading anyone? There are many firms out there of course but we cannot tar them all with the same brush.

You mention Foggy that your experiences are good so far with GT so I assume you don't have the problem of getting hold of your IP if you have needed? I am sure you agree directing those as you say less fortunate on how to get hold of their IP and make people aware they being fobbed of all the time or ignored by their IP should not be tolerated.
[:)]

[TheArtist]

IAMI - i understand totally what you say. Unfortunately we are not in a position to call the shots. You, I and others need them, not the other way round. I could argue for them, that their workloads are massive, criteria changing etc etc ZZZ, but I wont. I have mentioned also 'Speak to your IP' but what other choice is there. All in all, whether we like it or not, patience is the only answer. It doesn't hurt to have a good moan but the fact is it will not change anything. NEVERTHELESS, it is not amiss for these companies to treat their clients with humility and respect. That costs nothing.

[in-a-mess-indeed]

I Totally aggree TA, I am not suggesting that a moan is not a good thing this is an open forum after all I just felt this direction of the thread we could clarify to new readers that An IVA is not always a bad experience, the IP's are being paid to do a Job and yes with some companies it seems like a task to get hold of an IP but there are things put in place to nudge things up higher when there is no reponse to requests, my point was mere a "anyone looking in thinking about an IVA, dont think you can't speak to your IP, this is what to expect and if it does not happen and this is what to do". Treating clients with respect does cost nothing your right, I get the feeling from some posters that some companies can give the feeling of trying to punish because they are in a postion instead of priase for doing all they can to repay and doing and IVA.

[Foggy]

TA, in-a-mess, the message that should be going to those thinking of entering an IVA is to research, and then research some more. If they read my comments about how nigh on impossible it is to speak to an IP, they need only to read around the forum to find those IP's who DO communicate.

As we have seen, nudging requests higher does not usually help. Some firms have an active policy NOT to allow us mere mortals near IP's (like the doctor's receptionists of old). If you are one of the thousands of clients with the firm formerly known as CSSVA, getting hold of their one and only IP will be difficult to say the least!

I feel that ease of access to an IP, or otherwise, is a crucial consideration in choosing a firm to represent you.

In-a-mess ..... I have had no cause, yet, to speak to my IP at GT. I was just imported there from RSM, where I chatted to an IP regularly. Should the need arise and I get no joy I will be mentioning it, never fear

[MelanieGiles]

Most of you have only the exerience of this and other forums - along with your own individual cases to gauge opinion over. I am told by the regulators - and we have three different ones in my practice! - that they get very few complaints from people in IVAs, which leads me to believe that the vast majority of current IVA clients must be relatively happy with the arrangements they entered into and the quality of service from their chosen IP firms.

That said - of someone wants to speak with their IP directly - that IP should make themselves available as the appointment of Supervisor is a personal one rather than attaching to the firm concerned. I would think that the regulators would take a very dim view to any IP who point blank refuses to personally intervene in a client complaint.

[Foggy]

I think the regulators get few complaints because the complaints procedures are rarely explained to the debtor. We have had one poster in the last week or so who has repeatedly asked about the complaints procedure in her firm and been completely ignored to date.

As to escalating to regulators, you say you have three in your firm alone .... how do we mere mortals get to know which regulator to contact?

I have been with two firms and IP's so far and have never been advised as to any complaints procedure or which regulator to turn to in the case of an unresolved complaint.

And, of course, the regulators only concern themselves with procedural breakdowns, not in the inequity of a situation.

[in-a-mess-indeed]

This is what i don't/cant understand, how can these companies be ignoring requests about their complaints procedure, I found an IP complaints procedure within a minute online doing a google search, it on the insolvency practitioners association website with links to complain and tel numbers. I think this whole thing really highlights your earlier comment, Research, unfortunately not everyone in need has the time for this as when a need is required it is because in "most" cases help is required now before I lose my house or before the bailiffs arrive etc. I was lucky enough to find this lifeline Forum before i selected my IVA company and I am one of the lucky ones to be able to say I have spoken to my IP, not often but I know I can without any hesitation and normally within 24 hours of a request, in fact it was my IP who did all the set up telecom interviews before my IVA was proposed. The current problem may be perhaps that due to IVA's currently on delays due to the whole VAT first then PPI causing delays, if it was me and I had done my 5/6 years i want my CC and i want it now I don't want to complain and wait possible 2-4 months for a complaint to go through any regulating body, This is how I would feel anyway. I really do feel for those that are waiting and can't get anywhere. Anyone that wants the link for the complains page for the IPA website let me know, I am not saying it the solving issue but I think any ammo to use for those companies that are too busy to deal with clients can only be a good thing.

[Cairo]

Hi Foggy,

fruitcake has informed me she cant log onto this forum any longer. Is it a technical reason is she blocked?

Thanks

[Niobe]

Are you something to do with fruitcake Cairo?

[Cairo]

yes I'm her husband and now it looks as if shes barred without any given reason or are we too close to the truth

[Niobe]

I doubt it is anything to do with that at all, all views are welcome.

You will need to contact Andy about this as he will be the one who locks posters out.

[Cairo]

that would be great, how do we contact Andy?

[Foggy]

Hi Cairo, I know of no reason that fruitcake should be locked out. As Niobe says, we welcome all view, as long as we remain civil and don't get defamatory (laws n'all!). If a poster sails close to the wind a simple word in the shell-like usually sorts things out, I doubt Andy would lock anyone out without a warning.

If you go to Andy's profile ( under the members tab above ) you will find his contact details.

[Niobe]

If you go to the 'Ask Experts a Question' link on the left hand side of the page then you will find his details there.