My annual review is coming up and I'd just like to ask a question.
Since my last review my childcare costs have decreased due to daughter starting school. Should I leave the childcare costs the same or not ? Is my practitioner likely to ask questions ?
I found when my lad started school that childcare costs didn't actually decrease because he had after school club to be paid for and care in the holidays was more expensive. My IP at the time agreed to leave the figures "as is". But this was in discussion with the IP, rather than letting it lie.
My opinions are merely that .. opinions based on experience. Always seek professional advice.
IVA Completed 23rd July 2013 .... C.C. 10th January 2014
Foggy wrote:I found when my lad started school that childcare costs didn't actually decrease because he had after school club to be paid for and care in the holidays was more expensive. My IP at the time agreed to leave the figures "as is". But this was in discussion with the IP, rather than letting it lie.
Thanks for the info. Did you have to provide evidence of your after school club/holiday care ?
I had a set allowance for childcare (quite high if i'm honest), with just the one son who was 9 when we started our IVA. I never once had to provide invoices / receipts for childcare as simply argued I had arrangements with my sister (who has 2 girls) and we'd take it it turn in looking after each others kids - feeding them, taking them swimming, having then over for sleepovers in the holidays etc so it was swings and roundabouts - we never billed each other. To be honest, the older my son became, it got more expensive when he went to secondary school - having to wear school logo uniform etc plus the growth spurts he went through, my god was it expensive for uniform! plus after school clubs etc, the list went on. I think at that point my IP didn't dare question things with me!! No way was my son going to suffer just because his parents got into debt! Hope this helps a little.
IVA started Sept 2012, Full & Final accepted Aug 16th 2016 & CC issued 10th Jan 2017
Foggy wrote:I found when my lad started school that childcare costs didn't actually decrease because he had after school club to be paid for and care in the holidays was more expensive. My IP at the time agreed to leave the figures "as is". But this was in discussion with the IP, rather than letting it lie.
Thanks for the info. Did you have to provide evidence of your after school club/holiday care ?
I was never asked to justify or provide evidence -- they simply accepted the figures I gave. Not all IP's will be so trusting, I imagine. Some firms are more realistic than others.
My opinions are merely that .. opinions based on experience. Always seek professional advice.
IVA Completed 23rd July 2013 .... C.C. 10th January 2014
Your I&E should be completed as accurately and honestly as possible. If your IP decides to check for evidence or look at your bank statements this could cause a breach of your IVA.
Last edited by Lisa Thomas on Tue Feb 07, 2017 10:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
A reduction in childcare costs can lead to a drop in tax credits so you may not be better off anyway. I agree that a new I&E would be appropriate and may not lead to an increase in contributions anyway.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Dont forget that when a child starts school there is lots of other bills associated with it. I.e school uniforms, shoes, dinners, trips etc. Put everything down and especially letters regarding school trips
That was precisely my point Andy. It was (and still is) one thing after another when they're at school! it all adds up. I've found it more expensive at school the older our son has got as school is more strict with uniform - must have the logo rugby top (do rugby for all of about 6 weeks per term!) correct football boots / socks etc and just when you think you're all good - the kid goes and grows a foot in height!! H e went through 4 sizes of the school blazer in under 2 years - they don't come cheap! But I was honest with all this, as honesty is the best policy.
IVA started Sept 2012, Full & Final accepted Aug 16th 2016 & CC issued 10th Jan 2017
I agree honesty is the best policy -- as I said, with my IP, we looked at the figures and decided to leave it "as is". We did later add in an allowance for school lunches.
We were clobbered, Kazza, by the fact that our schools colour is purple !!! Asda, Tesco and the like sell every colour except purple !!!!
My opinions are merely that .. opinions based on experience. Always seek professional advice.
IVA Completed 23rd July 2013 .... C.C. 10th January 2014
Oh Foggy - SNAP! Purple??!! seriously! Yep, not a colour the usual places we shop at sell eh - so we're bound by buying from the school! Poor kid reckons he looked like a belly dancer in his pe kit as his top and shorts had got that small for him (he didn't bother mentioning this till sports day!) and even the pe kit is special colours and has to have a school logo on it! arrrgghhh! Oh that has made me smile - knowing we're not the only ones with purple uniform!
IVA started Sept 2012, Full & Final accepted Aug 16th 2016 & CC issued 10th Jan 2017
PE Kit !! We have to have white with logo for when they are away from school, purple for in school and yellow (house colour) for sports day ( 1 bl**dy day!) !! AND a school logo'd sun hat !!
My opinions are merely that .. opinions based on experience. Always seek professional advice.
IVA Completed 23rd July 2013 .... C.C. 10th January 2014
