Oh God slightly worried

[hillsy]

I am sure I read somewhere when applying for IVA that you were allowed up to £500.00 credit. My hubby and I both had capital one credit cards before entered into IVA. Hubby has to go away for work and pay for hotel bills expenses up front. He has £200.00 credit limit. I have £500.00. Naughty I now realise but not wanting to be in an embarrassing situation while away with work have used card for expenses while away. Help what should we do. Any spare money trying to pay it off. I have just applied for a pre-paid credit card which has been accepted, which would be the right way to go. When hubby gets expenses back pays it off card, but they are both up to limit most of time. Payments obviously show on bank statements reveiw due in October.

[hillsy]

do you think if we come clean and explain the situation this could be added to IVA debt. We were not trying to be deceetful, but panicked a bit about how to pay for these work expenses.

[Kazzy E]

Hi Hillsy. Not sure about the answer to your query so hopefully an expert will be along shortly to help. I just wondered whether it would be possible for your OH's company to provide him with a Company Credit card for his expenses. I have a Company Visa which I don't make any contribution to. It is literally for company expenditure and is paid off in full by the company at the end of every month. I queried whether this was allowed at the start of my journey and was told that as long as it is the company's responsibility to pay it, it wasn't a problem. Just a thought? Kazzy x

[hillsy]

Hi Kazzy. No this is not how they work, they expect him to pay up front, then he has to put in receipts and claim his expenses back once a month or whenever he has expenses. When you get a hotel bill for £100.00 plus a time, we just do not have the spare money.

[Kazzy E]

Wow, that seems a bit harsh doesn't it, I can understand then why its a struggle, it would be for me too. I should count myself very lucky then I suppose. Hopefully one of the experts will answer your query soon. Hope you get it sorted. Kazzy x

[Adam Davies]

Hi
Look at your chairmans report,it should say about credit not being allowed over a certain figure,excluding utilities.
Speak with your IP,they can allow a card if it is business related and you are within the terms and conditions of your IVA
Regards

[hillsy]

Hi Andy,

I have read through my paperwork, but can not find anything. I am sure I have not got all paperwork, as this is the second thing now I have had a query with and can not find it anywhere, I have not got anything about 50% overtime which I have been told have to pay. To be honest I would rather not have the two capital one cards and have the pre-paid card, but how would we stand now we are 10 months into our IVA.

[MelanieGiles]

This is a minor breach, but so long as the card is paid off every month once the expenses payment is received, and the card issuer is aware that you are in an IVA, most commercial IPs would turn a blind eye. Of course this would have been better fully disclosed in the first place.

[emma_t]

Hi hillsy

Why not ask his employer for a 'float'
My comapny is the same in not providing company credit cards as this system was abused by people years ago and was stopped but they will provide a sum of money (i have £500)to pay for expenses.
I keep this in a seperate account as it is easier to manage and when I submit my expenses they are paid into this account to keep the balance up. Must admit though £500 is not enough for me as I am in hotels for a few nights a week with my job, but we have a travel company at work also and when I am short I use these to book my hotels and they charge company direct - don't use them to much as they are expensive.

Worth a chat with HR to see if they will provide a float for him
Good luck
Emma

[hillsy]

Hi Emma,

Only the top managers and directors of the company have credit cards for expenses.

[hillsy]

Even more worried now, just spoken to my IVA company about credit cards, been told serious breach of arrangement and must destroy cards straight away, and are responsible for any credit taken after IVA approved, although we had cards before IVA. Oh God what a mess.

[hillsy]

Thank god, spoken to them again, and said did not take credit after IVA approved it was before, that we had the credit cards. Now been told they can be included in the IVA and to send them all the details. These people do put the wind up you sometimes. Spoke to person dealing with our file not IP. That is a couple of times now she has got wrong end of stick. I can relax again now, and wait for my pre-paid credit card to arrive nowing this is all legal and above board.