www.iva.co.uk

I can't quite believe it but I've just completed and emailed my 4th annual review to my IP. The time has flown by and we thought about an IVA for a good year before we took the plunge so had we done it straight away we might be finished now.

In 6 months time we need to go through the equity release process, based on current prices the value of the house and the balance on the mortgage are the same so this should just be a formality.

I'm glad we took the iva route it was always important to me to pay back as much as possible. Our original payment was £305 and it's now £759, with bonus and o/t we've paid £11.5k this year so I think in the end we should be somewhere near 80/90p in the £.

I think in some ways we've had it easier than most as we've kept 50% of pay rise, o/t and bonuses. I've also got a company car and reading threads on here I'm grateful for that when it goes to the garage.

The hardest things for me is the shame. We've never told anyone it's like our dirty secret and even when it's over I don't think we'll tell anyone. We have a teenage daughter and one day I'd like to tell her so she doesn't repeat our mistake.

We hope to move when our daughter finishes school so hopefully this time next year we'll be 12 days from our final payment and opening a saving account so the standing order can been changed to go towards a new house.

To all those starting out stick , I can't believe we've completed 4yrs already.

Hi, nice positive post. I'm not far behind you and I think it's flown by as well!. I've also kept this a secret from family and friends which doesn't help in many ways but it's the easiest option.

Good luck the light is at the end of the tunnel and you have plans already. Well done

I am also keeping it a secret from family and friends, for shame I suppose. I'm just starting out and I'm looking forward to finishing off. My payment is only £100 at the moment but I am expecting it to increase!

A lovely positive post that will no doubt give others hope that things in an IVA aren't always bad. You'll have dealt with your debts and it'll be up to you if you tell anyone or not. I only told my youngest daughter (she's 20 now) as she was the only one affected by the IVA the others had flown the nest. I do believe that it has definitely helped her with money management. hope the last year goes smoothly for you, all the best.

Nice to see something positive about IVA's. Well said.

Personally though, I have found it cathartic being able to discuss my IVA, albeit only with immediate family/close friends.

On the whole, I get positive support. Doing this, I even discovered one of my mates is in an IVA, and he too had 'bottled it up', and was quite relieved to be able to discuss it at last with someone in the same boat.

Personally therefore, I would suggest being open with your nearest and dearest. There is nothing for us to be ashamed of, and it clearly stresses a lot of people out if they cannot confide in anyone on the subject.

There is nothing to be ashamed of and well done so far. It is nice to hear a positive post rather than complaints about PPI and completion certificates.

Thank you for the lovely comments.

I know in my logical brain we shouldn't be ashamed but that stigma still exists maybe once it's finished I'll feel differently. I do admire those of you who can talk about it.

We've never taken PPI so glad for that right now.

You should be very proud of yourselves, and having never taken out PPI there should be no reason why your IVA will not conclude on time.

Congratulations Why me, you are nearly there.

I just completed my 4th review in May and payments remained unaltered. If fact my payments have never altered since I started.

Like you, no-one apart from the wife knows about the IVA, although as my extravagant spending has stopped, some of my close friends may suspect things may have changed financially for me.

My other half wont tell anyone about our IVA. I, on the other hand, have told several people but a lot of that was to explain why I can't always do things like I used to and how when I say I am skint it is because I really have no money spare!

Congratulations Why Me on getting so far - you are so close to that light now that others starting out can only hope for. Telling others can be hard, its sometimes easier if you can tell those close around you so no pressure is put on you and you can have that extra encouragement and understanding when you need it, as llamedos has found out but everyone is different. You have us here to turn to when you need a listening ear or some support. Best wishes for your final year