plasticdaft wrote:
so are you saying that you review the guideline figures every year? When can we expect to see the figures rise next?
Thankyou for posting a response.
Paul
It’s not long since the figures were last reviewed and they stayed the same for this year. When reviewing the figures again next time, again they will take the above points into account.
CCCS is a registered charity. We take great pride in offering first class help and advice, but we only offer this where we have been able to fully explore and understand your circumstances with you. We want to help you understand these choices and their possible implications but not make them for you.
Perhaps now someone needs to impress on the creditors that the guidelines are only guidelines and not everyone can use them!
Our guidelines are accepted by all creditors, courts and insolvency service (OR's). If the figures are higher for a particular reason make sure your IP/DMP provider notes this on your budget to highlight the reason for this with a meaningful comment (special dietary requirements etc)
CCCS is a registered charity. We take great pride in offering first class help and advice, but we only offer this where we have been able to fully explore and understand your circumstances with you. We want to help you understand these choices and their possible implications but not make them for you.
It is all very well using the retail price index [RPI] as a measure when deciding that allowances for food are to stay the same. However, inflation has gone up but the allowances have not. Second the RPI is based on a huge range of expenses including garden spades and does not reflect the reality of those on low incomes or budgets. Thirdly, the price of staple goods such as pasta, bread, milk, cheese etc have gone up dramatically in the last twelve months while the price of electronic and white goods has come down. This affects the overall RPI rate but impacts greatest on those on limited budgets as a higher proportion of their income is spent on basic living expenses.
Finally, while Sarah says that the guidelines are only that, we have had numerous clients who have been asked for uplifts when their expenses exceeded the guidelines and explanations for the differences were given to creditors. The CCCS have a guideline of £130 per month for fuel and parking which is absurd. Apart from the fact that this figure does not seem to have changed in years despite the massive increases in fuel costs, fuel costs are what they are.
The sooner the guidelines are looked at the better. I find it very surprising that the guidelines were reviewed not that long ago yet it was felt that no changes were needed to any of the items on the guideline list.
Hi
Expenditure allowance that are too tight really do not help anybody in the long run. Petrol should be based on whatever you spend to get to work plus an amount for social use. We so often have posts on here from people that are only a few months into an IVA but are struggling to keep within the allownaces.
Sarah is correct in that there need to be guidelines but creditors need to realise that these are just that and that asking for reductions at creditor meeting stage is going to put any IVA at risk of failing as the debtor will nearly always agree to such demands just so that the IVA is accepted and the chasing telephone calls stop.
Regards
We have just put ours up to around that for us and a 21 year old (plus fiance sometimes!).
I would definitely put down exactly what you spend each week.
You may be able to economise by using own brands or basic stuff.
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
Andy Davie wrote:
Hi
Expenditure allowance that are too tight really do not help anybody in the long run. Petrol should be based on whatever you spend to get to work plus an amount for social use. We so often have posts on here from people that are only a few months into an IVA but are struggling to keep within the allownaces.
Sarah is correct in that there need to be guidelines but creditors need to realise that these are just that and that asking for reductions at creditor meeting stage is going to put any IVA at risk of failing as the debtor will nearly always agree to such demands just so that the IVA is accepted and the chasing telephone calls stop.
Regards
CCCSVA would ask the client to confirm how much they spend each week or month on petrol, the number of miles that they travel and then use the actual figure in the budget. If it was over guidelines, they would add a note on the income and expenditure account to justify the additional cost. Generally creditors are happy with this approach for petrol.
CCCS is a registered charity. We take great pride in offering first class help and advice, but we only offer this where we have been able to fully explore and understand your circumstances with you. We want to help you understand these choices and their possible implications but not make them for you.
I don't have to justify what I spend at all - I just put it down as it is.
Have not had a problem yet, especially as fuel seems to be going up by the day round by me!
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
I always put down what I actually spend as I always keep the receipts for 4 weeks prior to the review and fuel receipts and use these as my average to put on my expenditure sheet.
I've had no problem putting what I actually spend. x
IVA final payment left the bank on the 26th January 2013...looking forward to a debt free future.
I never keep receipts at all. I know how much fuel I put in the car each week, and how much we spend on weekly shopping. It is usually just a top up as the freezer and cupboards are stocked up and we replace whatever we have used.
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
Sorry Chris - CCCS do not allow their guidelines to enter the public domain, but as most insolvency practitioners actually use them, the firm you choose to represent you may well be able to give you guidance with regard to how far your actual figures are away from the guidelines.
