Almost there with plucking up the courage

[MelanieGiles]

Mike

I feel that we are now 90% of the way there with your settlement, but let's not count chickens! Hywel has worked on your case personally, and we do not usually do this type of work but in your case it was simply the very best thing to do.

We are keeping everything crossed for you in Cardiff, pending the agreement of the final creditor, so hopefully this will be sorted by the end of this week.

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[mike.s]

Hey Mel,
So not countin' those chicks yet, very cautious not to break any eggs! Know so much it is all new to us all and very much grateful for everything, thank you for all the help and support. Cannot thank you, Hywel and your team enough for all you have done so far, more light than I have had for a long time! End of the week cannot come quick enough! On pins at the moment!
Cheers

Mike

[hymers]

Hi Mike
I just wanted to wish you well really. I am 15 months into an IVA. Between us my husband and I owed over £95,000.We had previously already sold our house to try and get rid of some debts but we had so many that there is only so much juggling you can do before it comes to having to do something else. Please please pick up the phone if you have not already and speak to an IVA specialist. I could not face this myself it took me weeks but when I did I now really think it was 1 of the best thing I have ever done and they gave me advice and re-assurance all the way leading up to the approval of my IVA and also constant advice when I requested it about dealing with requests for monies owed. I also worked in a sort of legal abckground for a while so this helped me to deal with pesterers for money also. You have to be really firm and know when to actually say that you are in an IVA but DO NOT TELL ANYONE YOU OWE MONEY TO THAT YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT THIS UNTIL YOUR IVA ADVISOR TELLS YOU TO because there are other things you have to do first eg get a new bank account make sure any salaries are changed to be paid into the new bank account etc. PLEASE PLEASE I am begging you to pick up the phone to a firm because until you do it's just going to get worse. Both my husband and I cried when we heard our IVA had been approved because my health was suffering big time I had already been retired on ill health (I am almost 40 years old) but receive a pension so that together with the fact that my husband earns quite a bit meant we could do a feasible IVA because we still had enough left after living expenses etc to offer to pay each month. Once in an IVA there are other things you can do to help yourself eg careful budgeting and buying different makes of food etc getting discount vouchers of the internet, only using your car when you have to eg petrol spending (plus the walks are making me fitter!).It's a whole learning curve. Believe me I know how important it is for you to speak to someone I shook so much and eventually the chest pains I thought I was having a heart attack together with the lack of sleep I knew I had to call someone to get it sorted out. Make that first phone call and you'll feel much better I am certain of it.When this was happening to me my mam died at the same time and how I coped then I'll never know my husband and I are a good team.
ALL THE VERY BEST MIKE SINCERELY ESPECIALLY AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN EVERYTHING IS MUCH HARDER. I REALLY MEAN THAT.
J
x

[mike.s]

Hi everyone,
Merry Christmas! Just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and thank you all for your help, advice and support over the last couple of months, don't know what I would have done without you all!
MBNA have accepted a settlement and have been paid, big weight off my shoulders. A big thank you to Melanie, Hywel and the team!
Just a bit of a downer today, got a letter from Goldfish saying they wont accept a settlement offer and they want the whole amount paying and interest will continue to be added. Don't know what will happen now, I guess br is the only option as I don't have the money to pay them in full. Trying to put it to the back of my mind so it doesn't spoil Christmas, would have been nice to have had everything settled though. Have to wait and see if Hywel and Melanie has any suggestions after the holiday.
Anyway hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and thank you all again!
All the best
Mike

[MelanieGiles]

Hi Mike

We will deal with HFC when we are back at work in the New Year. There is no way you will be going bankrupt, but this is best discussed with you "off-line".

Don't let this spoil Xmas - it really isn't worth it, and i am not even sure that the letter you have received is from the same department we have been dealing with.

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[emma_t]

Hi mike
Thats got to be a reasuring post from Melanie who knows your situation first hand.
You have been on such a journey this last few months and I so hope you have a great Christmas with your family[:)]

I know they are running a business but it seems a calous time of year to send letters like that, just before Christmas.
For some people something like that could be the last straw..

Best wishes and I hope its all sorted in the new year
Emma x

[Soulgrowth]

Hi Mike

I have been otherwise engaged for a few months ... but I am sooo pleased to see that your journey continues to evolve in a positive way [:)]

Debbie

www.familyceremonies.co.uk

www.soulgrowth.co.uk

[Adam Davies]

Hi Debbie
Hope your well and it's good to see you posting again
Regards

Andy Davie
IVA.co.uk Spokesperson and Website Manager

About me:
http://www.iva.co.uk/andy_davie_profile.asp

IVA Helpline: 0800 197 4838
http://www.iva.co.uk/iva_helpline.asp

[Martin2011]

Good luck Mike, sounds like Melanie is confident, so hoping you've had a great Christmas day.... All the very best for 2008...

Martin

[mike.s]

Thanks guys and a big thank you Melanie,
Put it right to the back of my mind (well as much as I could) and had a lovely Christmas! Hope you all had a great Christmas and got some nice presents. I got a boxed set of all the Morcecambe and Wise Christmas specials, so going to sit and watch them today, after we've played monopoly! Not back on the market until tomorrow so I'm making the most of my time off with my family, still lots of games to play and sweeties to munch on
Best wishes to everyone and thanks again
Cheers
Mike

[mike.s]

Hi guys,
Had some fantastic news today, still in a bit of a daze and pinching myself but the news I have been longing for for so long has arrived.. I'm completely debt free!!!!!!!!! A big, big thank you to Melanie and her team and a huge thank you to Hywel, who has worked so hard for me over the last few months. Thanks guys I really cannot thank you enough, this means so much to me!
A huge thank you also to Andy and everyone on the forum who has helped me so much with advice, support, kind words of comfort and a shoulder to cry on, and for being there for me. I really don't know where I would be now without this forum and all you guys, thank you all so much.
I feel like a huge weight has been lifted and I can now finally move on with my life with a fresh start, older and much wiser!
So thank you again Melanie, Hywel, Tina, Angela and everyone else on the team, and all you guys on the forum, your help and support has been amazing and has helped me back on my feet! So the end of a thread, but a very, very happy one.
Thanks again guys!
Best wishes
Mike

[emma_t]

Hi mike

I remember your very first post and wow what a way you have come!!

I am so thrilled for you and your family it must be such a relief for you and I couldn't be more pleased.[:D][:D][:D][:D]
You have always come accross as such a nice bloke and a real family man and I really wish you all the best for your future[:D]

SO pleased to see this update
Very best wishes
Emma x

[aguise]

Hi Mike I am truly thrilled to hear this news. I looked back at your first posts and they were desperate and frightened and look at this one now. I am so pleased the forum has helped. I think yours is one of the true success stories.
Keep posting though mate and let us know how you are. You could give great encouragement to people with those terrible first fears.

All the very best to you and your family. enjoy life now without that debt.

Ang xxx

[chris.g]

That's great news Mike, you and your family must be over the moon. Stick around for inspiration to the rest of us,
xx

[Adam Davies]

Hi Mike
A clip from your first post on this thread,in October
' I really don't know how I will find any extra money to pay them, I will end up robbing Peter to pay Paul again and get further into debt and this will only postpone the inevitable. I really don't know what to do'

And now
'Had some fantastic news today, still in a bit of a daze and pinching myself but the news I have been longing for for so long has arrived.. I'm completely debt free!!!!!!!!! '

Just shows you how that no matter how bad your situation there IS a solution to your debt nightmare.
Melanie and her team have worked wonders with this case and I'm sure Mike would agree are worth every penny that they earn
Well done Mike and well done Melanie

We will keep this record thread close at hand so that we can inspire new members that may be feeling the same as Mike was some five months ago
Regards