Hi, I have found this forum an absolute life line whilst setting up my IVA and in the time since and I am just hoping for some advice really. I am not sure there is anything that can be done but just wanted to get some feedback/ideas.
Our IVA was agreed in June 2011 and the change in us was amazing, I felt as we actually were having a life. We were happier as individuals and as a family. Don't get me wrong we were not living a life of luxury but we were able to pay all our bills each month (well actually that really did feel like blissful luxury) we were also able to put away the car tax/MOT/ contigency fund as was set out in our original budget. Which was very useful when our downstairs bathroom room totally collasped!
We had bonus/ overtime and a tax rebate which we happily paid in as it felt good to pay as much back as possible.
Then we have our first bumps our small amount of tax credit was stopped and I moved jobs, more pay but lost staff mortgage, so our mtg went up. The company were fab and arranged a drop from £400 to £364 which was the difference. Very greatful and the IVA still managable.
Then in Oct 2012 out of the blue we were contacted by the CSA to say that an ex not girlfriend, I suppose holiday fling of my husband's (pre marriage) had contacted them and we would have to pay.
We had known about his daughter who was 14, the mum had wanted to get pregnant by someone that lived abroad (which my husband did back in the 90's)as she wanted to be a single mother and did not want any invovement from the father, she told my husband she was pregnant but refused to let him have anything to do with the daughter as she wanted to keep her all to herself and did not want it to interfere with her benefits. Since we married in 2003 my husband has tried numerous times to see his daughter, sorry I am digressing. The mother has steadfastly refused contact and even offers of money. Anyway this is not really relevant as at the CSA involvement we knew we had to pay. Even with no contact see allowed.
It works out approx £200 per month which is having a dreadful impact on us. I have cut our shopping bill to the bone, done online surveys until they are coming out of my ears, sold almost every belonging we have on ebay, and my 6 year old daughter have stopped her pocket money, after school club anything that is not necessary, have completley stopped smoking - me not the six year old! (so that is a major positive). There are no extra hours at my husband's work nor mine, I looked into getting a 2nd job but with the additional childcare it would not make a difference.
Of course I let the IVA company know, and when my husband had a small bonus they said we could work out his income on an annual basis so we could keep that was a couple of £100.
I just feel that the £200 per month is too much for us to find each month, we can no longer save for our car tax/MOT etc. Luckily my mum paid for our car tax for Christmas, all our contigency is gone and when our car battery went the other day my mum left us the money and we have to pay her back a small amount each month.
I emailed our IVA company in Feb but no reply and email them again last week. I feel very ashamed to be in this postion again and honestly I am not sure there is anything they can do and I feel embarassed to keep on!
Sorry for the rant, and the very long post! I just wondered if anyone had any ideas or advice, as sometimes when you are in a muddle it is hard to see things clearly.
Thanks in advance.
Hi, I'm sorry things are tough for you now when you had such a positive start to your IVA. Do insist on talking to your IP they should not be ignoring you that is a fact. I'm hoping they can help you move forward with this and get back on track.
Try contacting again tomorrow and insist on a reply.
IVA final payment left the bank on the 26th January 2013...looking forward to a debt free future.
It sounds like you have done all you can to reduce your outgoings and you now need to arrange a variation of terms to get a lower paymebt agreed with creditors.
Thanks I am going to email company again today, they have been SO good so far.
Also I am awaiting the outcome of a PPI claim which I started in Nov and they have said I would have an answer by 1st of April?? So hopefully that might help as there will be more money in the pot for the creditors.
Just a quick update, without me even chasing again the company rang today. Apologised for the delay but had marked my first email as dealt with and was getting around to last weeks now.
Good news they have reduced by the full 15% which I know is not massive but it all adds up. They are looking to back date the reduced payments from the start of the CSA payment so next month should be a reduced payment.
When the PPI comes through (if it does, fingers and all other bits crossed) they will look to offer as a full and final, of course depending on the amount.
This would be such an enormous weight off my shoulders, it's funny but only after speaking to the company and seeing light at the end of the tunnel did I realise how much it was bringing me down!
