Question about my IVA

[lisaMB]

Im really not happy with them Michael, They were more than helpful when my husband was in his IVA then could not decide if we would be charged an exit fee, then it was something else they didn't know..eventually i asked for all my documents back so i could make arrangements for repayments and that took three emails!
I do wish i had never signed up with them.

[country girl]

As I am sure you have gathered I am not happy with Payplan either. They were fine when I first started my IVA but it has steadily gone downhill and I too wished I had never signed up with them. I do think they should be understanding to your situation but sadly I think they do not care.

[lisaMB]

I don't think they care either.

When i have all the paperwork back from the dwp and know where i stand i will email my case officer and tell him what's happened and how i intend to proceed..i just hope they accept.

I wasn't aware of their close relationship with the banks until i read another thread this evening.

[MelanieGiles]

"Payplan do not allow me to speak with my IP"!!! That is shocking, and I do not think that the IP's regulators would take to kindly to that sort of behaviour. Who do these people think they are?!

IPs take personal responsibility and suffer personal liability for their cases - my clients are never denied from speaking to me, and can do whenever they want to.

[Michael Peoples]

We have four IPs and last month we did less than 50 IVAs. Our clients can speak to their IPs because like Melanie they are not in some sort of 'ivory tower' but maybe when you are handed hundreds of cases per month from the banks you do not need service!

[lisaMB]

I was told to write a letter to my IP last time i asked because he does not speak to clients...I did, low and behold...no reply

If i write an email to my case officer and offer him a full and final offer, if they decline could they push for bankruptcy if they know that is my intention if they do not accept?

[Pandy]

LisaMB,
Why are you arranging with your husbands creditors, get him on a DRO now and get that bit behind you. One less thing to worry about and it will free up a bit more money for you.

[lisaMB]

Peejayel, we have been to cab..and they say i have to wait for all the benefits to get back to us so we know what our income is because if we get awarded more than we put on the expenditure form then they will use that as 'extra' income?
It's been a horrible waiting game since before xmas, will be glad when its all over.

[MelanieGiles]

Not too sure that Payplan are getting as many bank referrals these days Michael.

[The Major]

Hi Michael

I notice you say you did less than 50 IVAs last month I take it this is down on normal, I recently discovered that Birmingham County Court are now processing less than three bankruptcies per day with one part time clerk when two years ago were processing twelve per day with three full time staff, do you think Insolvencies have dramatically dropped and more people are paying a pound a month to Stepchange or the likes, or are things improving and more are now managing their debts without having to do an IVA or go bankrupt

[MelanieGiles]

The IVAs in my firm is now less than 50% of what they were 3 years ago. IVA numbers generally, are however not that much down. Where firms like mine and Michael's cannot do, is compete with the IVA factories, who are paying sometimes in excess of all of their nominee's fee to acquire the case from lead generators and debt management companies. This would throw our firms into a loss making situation, and effectively put us out of business.

I wish it could be different - I would love to have more cases to deal with, and have a team of very experiences and hardworking staff who I am trying my best to keep busy - but it is a sad fact that this industry has simply become too greedy.

[Michael Peoples]

We are down on cases and as Melanie says we cannot afford to pay huge sums for leads. Some firms use the IVAs as a means of generating other work like selling insurance policies, energy switching services, monthly bank account fees and the like. If they make enough money from these products they can afford to pay large sums for the leads but we do not sell anything.

I do think that there are a lot of people out there who should be bankrupt but cannot afford the fees and as a result they are paying £1 a month via unsuitable DMPs but I would not blame Stepchange for this. The fees are too high and should be reduced but I doubt very much if this will happen.

It is a shame overall that firms like ours and Melanies are being squeezed when we can provide a more personal and in my opinion professional service. However unless clients can come to us directly while we also improve our own marketing, clients will be left to those factory firms who buy data or the bank funded 'charities'.

[Foggy]

..... and the insolvency world will be a much poorer and harsher place.

[MelanieGiles]

The words "will be" are sadly a reality Foggy.

[lisaMB]

I am so annoyed with payplan!

I have kept in regular contact with them regarding my iva while i have had my 6 month break, as i have explained we are waiting to hear back about benefits etc and have given them updated on housing benefits, basically as much information as possible as im getting the information myself.
It hasn't yet been confirmed if we will be getting disability allowance yet or what group we have been placed in regarding esa as we are appealing the first decision.

As i have said i have been paying back £100 pewr month to payplan as a reduced payment as my payment break has ended.
I emailed my case officer and asked how long i could pay the £100 as they hadnt agreed this with creditors etc...So i get an email today asking me if i want to go to a meeting with the creditors and ask to pay the £100 per month and extend my IVA.

I wasn't under the impression that i had to extend my IVA if my circumstances changed, through to no fault of our own!!

I have emailed him back telling him how ill i am because of all the pressure im under and have told him im looking at bankruptcy.

Im so mad, they don't care about how ill my husband is, or how ill our situation is making me. ..Im just worn out, i don't even want to get up in the morning..