I need some encouragement.

[Angleparkinn]

A few weeks ago I was convinced that an IVA was the way to go about getting rid of my debts so I rang a few places and decided to give Payplan a go,now today I recieved my letter of authority and request for my details but I`m sat here STILL putting off filling in my details.(hence the avatar!)
Good grief what is wrong with me,anybody else have this trouble?

[MelanieGiles]

Hi there

I think it all boils down to the quality of advice that you have received from the IP you have chosen to represent you, and whether you have given yourself sufficient time to consider all of the options.

As you say you rang around a few places, and chose one firm. What was it that made them stand ahead of the rest of the firms you approached?

And have you fully considered the advantages, disadvantages and implications of the options available of each solution and how they are going to affect you over the next few years?

[emma_t]

Hi there

At the beginning of my journey I was terrified I was making the wrong decision, but I did not feel properly informed and had lots of questions.
Thats when I found the forum and gained a lot of knowledge and became sure that an iva was the right solution for me in my position and I was so sure.
I then approached Melanie and had confidence in her and her wonderful team from day one and had any questions answered and I was 100% sure I was doing the right thing.

If you are feeling unsure maybe you need to do a bit more research and ask more questions until you are sure.

Good luck
Emma

[pixieboy]

If I was you I would give serious consideration to using Payplan unless you are sure they are right for you, as in hindsight I wouldn't have use them as they failed to provide me with all the correct information to make informed decisions. In fact, 12 months after entering into my IVA I questioned why they had not told me some information only to be told by one of their representatives that they don't give new clients all the facts as it would only confuse them!!!

[MelanieGiles]

What a ridiculous and very patronising statement to make to a client.

[Moneystinks]

Hi

We did some digging into our financial affairs in Nov 07 (one of many digs). We decided that something had to give. Then chickened out and kidded ourselves things would improve.

Things started to go wrong (boiler got condemned etc). We again looked around and other half found this site. He rang me at work and told me he had been watching this site and that a melanie always posts and seems honest, fair and knowledgable.

We watched the site for weeks and knew we wanted to go with her and her team - if she would have us.
We actually contacted CCCS and went through a pre-chat with them and somebody from Melanies team.

We are with Melanie! I am a worrier anyway so being able to log on and maybe have her around posting for everyone else is great! She always trys to help everyone.

She posted me some info and told me she would chase something else the following day - true to her word it was done!

You have to go with somebody you feel right with. Melanie actually scares me but I trust her implicitally I know she will tell me how it is whether I like it or not - she cannot and will not change facts. I think this is why I am scared of her[:I] I'm worried she will tell me something I don't want to hear.[:I]

We are not very far into this whole process so we know how you feel.

Good luck and best wishes for whatever you decide.

xx

[Moneystinks]

Just re-read my post I have made Melanie sound like an ogre!

Sorry Melanie...your very nice honest I'm just soft!

[:I][:I]

[:D]

[MelanieGiles]

It's not the first time someone has said that Marie!! But I prefer "nice" to "scary"!

Do remember that I get up in the morning to go to work, come home, make the tea (sometimes!), wash up (occasionally!) have a glass of wine with my friends on a Saturday evening (usually a bottle!) and clean the house on a Sunday (badly!) - just like you!!

We are all professionals in our own fields - I just fell into insolvency and decided I liked helping people to repay their debts. There is nothing special about Insolvency Practitioners, which is why I often get fed up about hearing stories that IPs will not speak, e-mail or talk to their clients.

We are only here because you choose us to help you - and that puts us in a very privileged position. So never underestimate yourself or the skills that you have to offer, and the immense support you are currently giving other posters on the site - just like others did to you over those months when you were thinking about which way to go.

[ianmillington]

Hear, Hear!

As IPs we are only as good as our reputations and, frankly, the weakest staff member we employ. It should be you that patronises us with your business not we who patronise you.

Ian

[chris.g]

Angela, it took me over a year to actually face up to things and get it sorted..... [:(][:I]
The main reason I think was denial..... until you actually make that first step, it's still not 'real'.....there'll be another way out...things will change....etc
The fact that you have got the forms there is a step in itself BUT I would get a few more professional opinions on your IVA. I'm not knocking payplan but they are a charity and tend to err on the side of the creditors. There is Melanie and Ian and even Paul from Reviva if you need some info on bankruptcy....just so you have all the info to make a well informed decision on dealing with your debt.
Good luck, [:D]
xx

[OPTIMIST12]

What is holding you back? If you do nothing then nothing will happen - except things will probably get worse - and you will just worry more and more.

Presumably your IVA Provider went through things with you and you decided that an IVA was your best option? What has changed your mind?

The main thing I regret from my story is that I was daft enough to keep scraping along for ages before I finally bit the bullet and got things underway. I have now made 15 payments - one quarter of the way through - and still kick myself foe waiting so long to get things started.

Why not fill in the forms (for whichever company you finally decide to go with) - get all the documents required - phone your company with any last-minute questions - decide whether an IVA is DEFINITELY for you (only you can ultimately decide that) - and - if so - get everything in the post.

Good Luck!!!

[kallis3]

I know how everyone feels - I think we all try to manage our money and maybe we will be ok, but it never happens we just get deeper and deeper in. I know how relieved I was when we decided enough was enough and it was time to bite the bullet. We weren't even talking about it between ourselves.

My regret is that we didn't manage to start an IVA sooner. We initially went with a firm called Hamilton Locke who told us we weren't eligible for IVA, so we went down the DMP route for 18 months. Of course this cost us, and it was money which would have been paid to creditors. We rang Payplan as we knew we could do DMP without a fee through them and they were surprised we hadn't been offered an IVA. The upshot is that 2 months later we have made our first payment towards a debt free life.

Payplan have been great so far, no problems with them at all. They have always been on the end of the phone if we have needed to speak to them.

[Angleparkinn]

Cheers everybody!
Took on board getting on with it today, rang round the odd creditor for my outstanding balances that I didn`t have any recent statements off,also the local Post Office made a packet out of me photocoping various items to send off to Payplan![:)]
Think what was putting me off was an article that a friend had sent me about DMP providers getting more power to deal with creditors regarding stopping interest(i`m always moaning at him about how the bleeding Hellifax won`t stop the interest on my DMP)that was in one of the papers think it was the Mail on Sunday.
Forms sent off today![:)]

[Soulgrowth]

Reading this thread reminded me of one of my favourite quotes from Goethe;

Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too.

All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

Whatever you can do or dream you can begin it. Boldness has genius, magic and power in it.

Begin it now.