Ouch - that one hurt, and do remember there are some good estate agents out there as well!
I am saddened to read comments like this. The route to becoming an insolvency practitioner is not easy - I have posted many points on this early and will not repeat the steps we have to take to achieve qualification. Notwithstanding this, it is quite frankly very annoying to read some of the posts on this forum, where standards appear to have not been maintained, and if you are a victim of a lesser than adequate service, then you must take steps to raise the issue with your IP and possibly make a formal complaint.
R3 is a professional body set up and run by the insolvency profession and regulators. It has nothing to do with bankers! It is not obligatory for an IP to become a member of R3, but most of us are. I think the main problem here is that not everyone who calls themself an insolvency expert or debt management professional is necessary an insolvency practitioner - so do ask for proof of qualification if you are in doubt. And there are some very good debt management companies out there as well, some of which actually post on this forum.
If you do have a genuine issue to complain about, your first route is to the IP's own professional body - but please do give the IP the opportunity to resolve the issue with you first. I find face to face meetings absolutely essential in dispute resolution, but I rarely encounter complaints in my practice - and if we do receive them they are dealt with as an utmost priority and swiftly. If you want to go as far as lobbying Parliament - then you will need to get the support of your local MP, and will need to have a very good case to persuade them to fill out even more paperwork!
I agree that there are some bad apples in the pile, and these should be given the opportunity to get their act together or ship out. If the regulatory bodies received more complaints, then maybe this would happen - but again complaints must be propertly substantiated before being submitted.
Please don't tar us all with the same brush. The majority of insolvency practitioners are hardworking individuals who have a pride in the quality of our advice and have the interests of both creditors and debtors in mind.
Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.
View my IVA blog at:
http://melaniegiles.blogs.iva.co.uk