I am having some problems with Debt free direct as they are not moving my PPI claim on so they will not complete my IVA. I was wondering who they are regulated by so I can approach them about the service I am currently receiving?
Thanks
Any opinions expressed are merely opinions, based on my experiences.
Hi xxxxx72,
Please drop me an email (address is in my profile), with all your contact details and I or a member of my team will get in touch to discuss your issue further.
Look forward to speaking to you soon.
Regards,
Judith Anderton
Just to explain further, for those with similar issues, of which there seems to be way too many.
I started my IVA in Feb 2007, never missed a payment and paid as much back on my debt as I could as I chose to do the right thing. I agreed to 60 months of payments and was assured that my IVA would be closed within 6-8 months of final payment. I paid my last payment Feb 2012 and am still waiting for closure.
18 months on and I have now been told that, due to a problem with one of the PPI claims that Equity In Finance submitted on behalf of DFD (I've recently been told that EIF is a sister company of DFD), I will be waiting for a further few months to close my IVA. I doubt very much that my closure is in sight because they haven't even mentioned the VAT issues for my case, which I have seen others complain about which is causing further delays.
I had a choice 8 years ago... take the easy option of bankruptcy, or take the hard route and do the right thing of paying back as much as I can by taking an IVA. If I could make that choice again, I WOULD CHOOSE BANKRUPTCY. Dealing with this for 7.5 years is complete mental torture and its virtually impossible to progress with life whilst under an IVA. Furthermore, contrary to what you may think, an IVA does follow you for life because if you get asked at any time whether you've been in an IVA, you have to say yes. (and did you know that anyone, and I mean anyone, can search your name on a Gov website and it'll say whether you're in an IVA or not?
Think again if you're considering an IVA. There are many others with the same issues. Just google "IVA closure problems" and see how many links take you to sites discussing problems with DFD and EIF.
Last edited by xxxxx72 on Fri Aug 30, 2013 6:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Any opinions expressed are merely opinions, based on my experiences.
Hi there and welcome. If you wander around this forum you will see that you are preaching to the converted
The site you mention isn't a Gov site, but that of the Insolvency Service. Luckily when the IVA has completed your name will drop off that one !
You will also find that these PPI closure problems are confined to only a few ( albeit the biggest) firms and many are closing successfully, despite having the same issues with PPI -- it CAN be done, it's just that some firms appear more pig-headed than others. The PPI delays are contrary to their regulators guidance.
My opinions are merely that .. opinions based on experience. Always seek professional advice.
IVA Completed 23rd July 2013 .... C.C. 10th January 2014
Well as expected I had a chat with someone from DFD promising me regular contact and updates, and that they are "prioritising" my case, which every person tells me every time I call.
For the past 9 days I've not heard anything. The chap said he would email me his contact details and a status but nothing as yet.
Still hoping for the best...
Any opinions expressed are merely opinions, based on my experiences.
I know DFD are trying their best to close files as quickly as possible and it does seem someone has prioritised your file. It is a shame that delays are taking some of the good out of the IVA but at least you are debt free and only the certificate is holding up total closure.
Managed to call DFD this afternoon.
They have drafted a variation yesterday which they will send me next week. I can confirm the variation by email so they can send the variation to the creditors and call a meeting with the creditors in 28 days after. If the creditors agree, then they will close the IVA and send me a closure certificate by Oct 2013. If any PPI does come back from EIF (which I doubt) then I can just forward it to DFD.
If this works then there is hope for anyone out there in the same sticky situation as I am right now... waiting 18 months for an IVA closure due to PPI delays.
The only question that remains:
Why wasn't I given this option a year ago?
Any opinions expressed are merely opinions, based on my experiences.
Thanks Michael. You're right, I should keep looking at the positives. I am actually debt free again, and DFD has done their part to help, and I am grateful and patient with them for that.
Thing is, my wife is 33 in Oct and she wants to have a baby, and we want to buy a house... neither of which we will do unless we know I am able to get a mortgage within a year.
Time waits for no man.
Any opinions expressed are merely opinions, based on my experiences.
It has taken a long time for the various firms to have full legal advice and ensure that everything is done correctly. No doubt DFD have spent a lot of money on legal advice to ensure debtors and creditors are treated properly and a year ago DFD may not have been able to close the file.
I can understand your frustration and best wishes with the baby and the househunting. The variation should be a rubberstamping issue and you should be off the register in time for Christmas. Try and stay positive and try not to dwell on things that were beyond anyone's control.
I have been in insolvency for almost 15 years and the Paymex/VAT issue combines with the PPI issue has caused more problems in the past couple of years than everything else combined throughout my career. Families like yours have been innocent victims but the IP firms have had untold problems also which now seem to be coming to an end.
Thanks again Michael, it is so good to hear from experts like you because it puts this into perspective. IVAs really shouldn't be so cumbersome. Its a great solution to a big problem in people's lives but to complicate them and drag them out so much is a let down.
It must be said though, I definitely know that I will NEVER get into that situation again. I've learned my lessons.
Any opinions expressed are merely opinions, based on my experiences.
Hi xxxx72,
I was in the same position with PPI - Payments completed Oct 12 and PPI was holding it. I managed to get in touch with Judith at DFD via here and she did a great job. We had a variation meeting on the 5th August 13 to keep the 1 x PPI claim that was outstanding and holding it all up separate. The variation was approved and Judith made sure I received a copy of my completion certificate via e-mail when it was ready and this was on the 8th August 13. I did however achieve 99.3p in the £ and this was without equity release. Abit better than the 83p in the £ originally predicted.
Judith did a fab job in getting it all sorted. Make sure you e-mail everything as a record now you have her as a contact. Im sure it will all come good. We are now off the insolvency register, its off our credit files (all but 2 of our creditors who we are chasing up)and looking forward to a bright future. Good luck
Wow thanks for the great post Cattyalice71!
I got word today that things are proceeding and that a date has been set for the variation meeting, so full steam ahead! You're right... regular communication is the best.
Holding thumbs...
Any opinions expressed are merely opinions, based on my experiences.
All is looking positive xxxxx72 which is good news. Companies really are doing the best they can to get these issues resolved, its probably the waiting and not knowing that is the hardest part, as with anything communication is key so at least you know why things are taking so long. Glad to read all is moving forward positively - best wishes with your exciting future plans
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font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by Foggy
Hi there and welcome. If you wander around this forum you will see that you are preaching to the converted
The site you mention isn't a Gov site, but that of the Insolvency Service. Luckily when the IVA has completed your name will drop off that one !
You will also find that these PPI closure problems are confined to only a few ( albeit the biggest) firms and many are closing successfully, despite having the same issues with PPI -- it CAN be done, it's just that some firms appear more pig-headed than others. The PPI delays are contrary to their regulators guidance.
