Food allowance - again!

[lynchmeistress]

I know I've posted about this before but I need to know my footing before I approach my IVA company which is Debt Free Direct. We have just had a review due to change in circumstances and ask for our payments to be reduced substantially. I have just had the paperwork through this morning stating that the payment had been reduced by £25 and not the £200 we were hoping for. After looking through the reasons were are prepared to accept the findings except in one area and that's the food allowance. Baring in mind this includes all cleaning products etc as well as food we have been aloud £260, this figure has not risen since our IVA began in Oct 2005 and as we all know food has gone up astronomically can you advise how we would go about appealing this figure as although we asked for £350 per month (2 adults) we would like to have £300 at the very least - this would only be £40 per month more.

[ianmillington]

The problem is that to reduce contributions the Supervisor will have to call a meeting of creditors to vary the IVA.

The problem here is actually not of DFDs making: The banks, whose representatives will vote on your variation, go by the (rather stingy) CCCS guidelines, and the figure you would like (£350) is way above that. Typically on approval of an IVA creditors will expect 2 adults to spend about £260 on food, otherwise they will seek to modify the proposal. So you are to a degree stuck. You might get £260-£280 but no more I suspect.

If I may make a prediction here: In 1 or 2 years time the greatest cause of dissatisfaction amongst people in IVAs will be the application of these guidelines in determining contribution levels.

Ian

[Lola]

Hello!

We only get £400 for the month for food and toiletries and we are two adults with two young children, so need nappies, shedloads of wipes, formula etc.

I would suggest looking at other areas of expenditure where you are not taking the maximum to try and make up the shortfall. Are you allowing £50 a month for emergencies and things like that?

[lynchmeistress]

I think after reading all the other posts on this matter we are going to have to admit defeat on this one and pull the belt in another notch. Thanks everyone for replying to this and previous. We are half way through now so the cup is half full now not half empty!

Andrea

[goulda]

I do feel sorry for all posters who appear to have unrealistic creditors bet they can't survive of the allowances we have to

I have just completed the I/E form to send to Grant Thornton

last year I was allowed £310 this year I am claiming £350 which is based on £85 per week (two adults). As I have posted before due to my medical condition I am permanently on a low salt and low fat diet therefore I have to buy fresh meat,fish etc no tinned or processed food. I suggest that a weekly budget of £85 should be acceptable to my creditors bearing im mind some weeks my wife and I go over this amount.

Maybe it is time creditors lived in the real world and perhaps IP's should be leaning on the creditors more to get them to be realistic

[ianmillington]

Lola makes a very good point, take a long hard look at a what you spend and make sure you are not missing out on any of the allowances.

To pick up on goulda's very valid contribution, if there are specific circumstances that mean that one or more members of your family have special requirements at an increased cost, then the creditors will be prepared to look beyond those allowances.

Ian

[plasticdaft]

Lola makes a very good point, take a long hard look at a what you spend and make sure you are not missing out on any of the allowances.

To pick up on goulda's very valid contribution, if there are specific circumstances that mean that one or more members of your family have special requirements at an increased cost, then the creditors will be prepared to look beyond those allowances.

Ian

Does being a greedy b***** count???

[ianmillington]

[:D]

[chris.g]

haha, nice one plasticdaft..

[plasticdaft]

Can I assume that I must stop eating crispy roasted duck 7 nights a week???

Sorry to make light of what is a very serious subject. The wife and I took the calculator and pen and list round asda's last night and were even working out how much of a baragin the bargains were. We hounded the poor lady who was about to put reduced stickers on the packs of 2 garlic baguettes and the packs didnt even hit the shelf,they were in our trolley and we got 8 baguettes (4 x 2packs)for 36p a pack instead of 99p a pack!!!(no vampires in our house eh!!)
Also went to our local tesco to find out that if you take your gas or electric bill in you can get £5 off a £30 shop for up to 6 bills(must be in the last 6 months),so next week we will shop at tesco and get £85 worth of shopping for £75(the wife and I will split up and do 2 smaller shops!!)
Every little helps as the advert says,especially if you are trying to feed a family,and its not easy to do,but then its not an easy situation that we find ourselves in.

(10 jammy doughnuts for 16p on way out of tescos to,that will do for pudding!!!!!)

[goulda]

thanks plasticdaft for winding me up - can't eat any of them

[kallis3]

Another bargain you can sometimes get at Asda is a whole portion of the curry they sell on the takeaway counter. We've had all sorts of flavours in the past and they are reduced to about a fiver. Makes loads of portions. Don't get them very often though - have to be there at just the right time!