www.iva.co.uk

I was in an IVA with Money Debt and Credit for five years to June 2013. All 60 payments went to them. In July 2013 my IVA went to Grant Thornton but because the IVA was finished there was no further action needed e.g. not income reviews or further payments: they never asked for or received a penny: I just got a letter saying the IVA was transferred but there was no need for action.

After a year, in June 2014 Equifax and Experian cheerfully dropped by IVA from my credit file but Callcredit did not. So, (yes belatedly) I called Grant Thornton to get my certificate of completion. They tell me I’ll have to wait SIX MONTHS because they never got round to closing my IVA.

I have complained over the phone but the very rude man I spoke to refused to pass me on to anyone I could raise my complaint with and basically told me, that while he cheerfully acknowledged it was their fault there was nothing that could be done and by law it takes six months (I’m not sure I believe that)

So two things: firstly how can I get redress for Grant Thornton’s appalling maladministration of my IVA and secondly how can I get this closed more speedily.

Also, while I appreciate I could have chased up my certificate sooner I was so pleased the IVA had been completed and I’d successfully complied with all of the terms, made all the payments etc. I assumed not one but two insolvency practitioners could get the basics right!

Any help?

Hi -- the person who told you it was 6 months by law was probably the cleaner as they appear to know very little about insolvencies!

The GT complaints procedure is shrouded in mystery, but they posted this a while back:

From earlier posts, this is the GT complaints procedure (if it gets as far as complaining to the Regulatory Body (IPA, in this case)the complaint will be against the IP ( who is the member) not the company (who is not):

1 If a client expresses unhappiness with the service provided by this firm, then in the first instance the concerns will be dealt with by the manager responsible for the area that gave rise to the complaint and you will receive a formal response in that regard within one month of the date of this letter. Should we require additional time to investigate the matter, you will of course be advised accordingly.

2 If the matter cannot be resolved by the relevant manager, you can then direct your complaint to my designated senior member of staff Mr Paul Madden at Grant Thornton, Waters Edge, Clarendon Dock, Belfast, BT1 3BH.

3 If you continue to be dissatisfied with my firm's response to your complaint, you can then write to Ms Fiona Beighton - the Head of Quality & Risk Management who deals with any complaints arising from the firm's recovery department - at Grant Thornton UK LLP, 30 Finsbury Square, London, EC2P 2YU.

In the unlikely event that my firm is unable to resolve your complaint you can then complain to my regulatory body – the Insolvency Practitioners Association.

Thank you so much - I will complain. I note however that the IPA's code of conduct, with which the IVA supervisor is registered, says IVAS should be closed promptly