I've had an IVA since 1.4.09 and have received a strange letter from British Gas today. I currently have both electricity and gas from them and pay a fixed amount for each on a monthly direct debit. I've never missed a payment - ever.
In their letter they say that they have been notified that I have been declared bankrupt (I am not - I have an IVA) and they may not be able to continue to offer me a credit meter.
I called them and they didn't seem to understand what an IVA was and how it was different to bankruptcy! I was transferred to another department who said simply they would transfer any balance across from my old accounts and continue the arrangement on the same terms under new account numbers. This seems very strange and I wondered if anyone had ever heard of anything like this before?
Debt problems, what debt problems? I'm not in De Thames, I'm in De Nile.
I would also challenge them on who notified them and ask them to provide evidence of your apparent bankruptcy. If their credit system worked correctly then during the summer months you would be in credit with them and during the winter you should only just dip into debt with them, bu we all know their system doesn't work too well!
Approved 3rd June 2009 first payment made on the day.
Offer made and settled - happy days
76.5k debt creditors:- Northern Rock, MBNA, Barclaycard, LloydsTSB and Capital One
Thanks Tele2002, I'll drop them a line for the record.
Has anyone with an IVA had similar letters from utility companies where they've been paying a fixed monthly amount for their gas and/or electricity?
I didn't think the IVA would affect anything like this? What about phone/internet? Anyone had any experience of their suppliers getting sniffy about being on an IVA?
Debt problems, what debt problems? I'm not in De Thames, I'm in De Nile.
Hi
I think that this is the first case that I have ever heard of, in the three year life of the forum.
Did you have debts with British Gas from a previous property going into the IVA ?
Regards
Andy, no never had a debt from British Gas, ever! I tried to search for something smilar and couldn't find anything either so I wonder if it's someone making a mistake at British Gas.
Presumably if you're bankrupt then they would want to consider stopping you having a credit meter? But an IVA by its nature will probably INCREASE the ability of the person to pay as everything is now on a much sounder financial footing!!!
When I rang them the notes on my account said they been told I'd had an IVA so why they've written saying I'm bankrupt is peculiar.
The Insolvency Service website shows me as having an IVA, quite correctly.
Debt problems, what debt problems? I'm not in De Thames, I'm in De Nile.
Hi
Banks tend to lump IVAs and Bankruptcy in the same pot. I wonder if your bank has notified all the companies that you have a direct debit set up with of your IVA ?
It really is very strange
Regards
I didnt think anyone was told about iva's? I've always hated british gas because always had trouble with them. Dont use them nor will I ever again. Hope things work out ok.
The only company that lumped BR and IVA into the same thing with us was the building society - and as long as we continue to pay the mortgage they're not bothered. I did phone and put them straight though!
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
Who else looks at the register? I'm worried because I dont want people to know abour my IVA. Only people who should know. Can the bank cancel my bank account if they find out?
Unfortunately the register is available online. However, I doubt that many people know about it unless they are in the finance industry. I hadn't heard of it before my IVA, and I asked a couple of close friends and they didn't know either.
Regarding your bank account, the only banks I know of that trawl the register and close accounts are HSBC and First Direct.
No one I know is aware of the Insolvency Register. Unless you are in financial difficulties it is doubtful a normal person would.
A word of warning though wonder - a lot of unscrupulous firms also trawl the register and will write to you telling you that you have been missold an IVA and that they can help you sort yourself out without an IVA.
Ignore all of them!
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
Last edited by David Mond on Wed May 13, 2009 6:26 am, edited 1 time in total.
Regards, David Mond, Insolvency Practitioner for over 46 years. Personal Insolvency Practitioner of the year 2012, Personal Insolvency Practitioner of the year finalist 2013 & 2014 awarded by Insolvency & Rescue Magazine and 2015 finalist for Personal Insolvency Firm of the Year.
I noticed today that my DD for electricity has now been cancelled (presumably by British Gas). I also have gas from them and until now, haven't had the same or similar letter.
By the way my bank account is a new one I took out when I knew the IVA process was starting - a Co-op Cashminder account.
I've written to British Gas to ask them what they're up to.
Debt problems, what debt problems? I'm not in De Thames, I'm in De Nile.
Not sure if its totally relevant, but when I was transferring all my debits to a new account, I read the fine print on all the agreements (for the first time) - the homecare agreement with British Gas suggested that they would credit check me to check I could pay. Maybe it is something that they do to their customers on a periodic basis?
Don't get my gas with them any more, but the homecare is a god send (£27 a month, and they've fixed the toilet twice and an iffy light circuit in the 18 months we've had it - quids in!). No other utilities or otherwise stated that they would credit check (even SKY).
Maybe its just British Gas being difficult. Hope all works out for you soon.
