Expenditure and pets

[busy40]

My dog has just had to have 2 emergency operations which the insurance did not cover. The total debt is £800. The vets have said i can pay this off in installments but im not sure how much more i can tighten my belt to cover this cost. I did not mention that i had a dog when i started my IVA just over a year ago as i just assumed they would tell me to get rid of the dog (a much loved family pet). My first yearly review has just passed and i once again failed to mention the dog. It wasnt until i joined this site that i now realise i may have made a mistake. Is it too late for me to try and add the dog to my expenditure or will i have to wait until next year??

[MelanieGiles]

An IP would never tell you you had to get rid of your dog. Pets are part of the family, and I personally would starve if anyone told me I had to get rid of my beloved Yorkshire Terrier - and most people would. I once dealt with an IVA for a lady who had 13 dogs, and that was accepted!

Speak to your IP about the Vet's bill and offer a solution to repay the costs at the same time as maintaining perhaps slightly lower IVA payments. So long as this does not cause you to miss more than 3 IVA payments, I am sure that this will be acceptable.

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[Skippy]

I love your attitude towards pets Melanie. Dave has said that he will buy me a kitten for my birthday and s/he will come first - if we are short of money at the end of the month I'll buy the cat food and we'll live off beans on toast! I haven't told Dave that bit yet, but he's a big softie when it comes to animals!

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[Adam Davies]

I also love Melanies attitude towards pets and her attitude towards starting a family or having more children.
I think your a big softy at heart Mel

Andy Davie
IVA.co.uk Spokesperson

About me:
http://www.iva.co.uk/andy_davie_profile.asp

IVA Helpline: 0800 197 4838
http://www.iva.co.uk/iva_helpline.asp

[MelanieGiles]

Don't tell my staff that - they'll be wanting a Christmas bonus next!!!

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[busy40]

Phew, what a relief. I was really worried and although i didnt include the dog on my original expenditure its nice to know that i dont have to hide the fact that i have him as i truly beleived they would tell me to get rid of him. The big knot in my stomach has definately eased. Many thanks.

[busy40]

Rang my IVA company today (One advice/Harrington Brooks) and was told they dont allow for pets. Ah well it was worth a try.

[MelanieGiles]

I despair at these benchmarks set by some firms. IVAs are supposed to be about individual circumstances, and not a "one size fits all".

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[Skippy]

I'm sorry, but animals are something I feel very strongly about. Don't these people realise that they are part of the family? Would they expect you to rehome the kids - presumably not so why should you not be allowed to have pets? Ok, I appreciate that if you go out and get a big hungry Rottweiler once your IVA has started then it's a bit different, but if it's an existing pet then it should be included.

Right, Skippy getting down off her soapbox now!

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[lily]

Its a good job I am not in an IVA right now, I had 4 newborn kittens to hand rear, they cost 25 pounds a week to feed on the milk, they have seen the vet 3 times since birth, £52 pounds a visit. I would lay my life down for them.

lily

[Adam Davies]

Hi
What a ridiculous stance !!!
THEY don't allow pets................I bet the creditors do.
Can you try and get something in writing and let this forum know ?

Andy Davie
IVA.co.uk Spokesperson

About me:
http://www.iva.co.uk/andy_davie_profile.asp

IVA Helpline: 0800 197 4838
http://www.iva.co.uk/iva_helpline.asp

[Skippy]

Sorry, I've just jumped back on my soap box and I'm going to rephrase what I said in my earlier post - so what if you want to get a big hungry Rottweiler? I thought an IVA was to give you a fresh start - a lot of people are on their own and having a pet would make a big difference to them.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[MelanieGiles]

I absolutely agree as a pet lover and an Insolvency Practitioner. Some people seem intent on making the IVA road as difficult as they can and then blame this on lenders. I accept that lenders want to see best foot forward, and these days seem to want to get an extra few pounds on top of the contributions offered, but they genuinely expect their customers to lead a decent life - clearly unlike some members of the insolvency profession. No wonder bankruptcies are on the up and IVAs are down - and that is a great shame for people who genuinely wish to repay as much back as they can afford.

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[catullus]

I have to say that generally I don't have a problem in getting a budget for a pet.It might make other expenses more difficult to justify but pooch comes first!!

I would ask One Advice to confirm their stance in writing and post the letter on this board. That's what it's here for!

[johnz]

Can I just say that if anyone does get a new pet, make sure you also get pet insurance. And check the clauses. My pet insurance luckily renews itself every year, so no matter what I've claimed for the previous year, the cover goes back to what it was at the beginning of the new insurance year. Which is good for me having a cat with Asthma, kidney disease and pancreatitis and another with a heart murmer. The last bill for the cat with Asthma a couple of months ago was near 1K.

Another thing to watch for is increased excess'. While my insurance is very good, one of the downsides is that the excess increases with the animals age. Now they are over 10 years old I now have to pay £90 excess + 15% of the bill. Which is getting a tad expensive.

Still, my cats are my babies and I wouldn't change them for the world.

Johnz