kelse
I'll try and give you some unbiased advice!
1 Personal recommendations are always useful, and a lot of the posters on this site are already in IVA's with various firms with a varying degree of feedback. It is worth spending a day or so exploring other people's experience, and ask direct questions on the forum with regard to particular firms.
2 Check out the IP's success rate both at getting cases through creditors meetings and cases which are successfully completed. A high percentage rate of success at meetings indicates that the IP is trusted by the creditors and works hard to get the case through. A lower rate of completed cases, however, may indicate that the IP is inflexible and does not assist clients when they are already in their arrangements in the event that things go astray.
3 Always try and meet your IP, or a senior member of their staff personally. You need to trust these people with your money for the next 5 years.
4 Ask lots of questions - partcularly the "what if" ones. You need to know that those guys are going to be there for you if you need additional assistance, and that that you can actually speak to the IP personally if necessary.
5 Make sure the IP clearly explains all of the options available to you, and allows you to make a balanced choice based upon the advantages and disadvantages of each scenario.
Good luck in your search, and with the outcome of your decision in due course.
Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.
View my IVA blog at:
http://melaniegiles.blogs.iva.co.uk
