No it's not free. The average charge is 5000-7500 by the company setting up the IVA. This is added to your debt when you start the IVA, thus increasing your potential debt. You only would pay off this new total debt if you have enough disposable income (after essentials) to do so. Otherwise, you pay...

I don't think IVA companies/creditors should be allowed to restrict the allowance on food so much. I know it's probably still generous compared to the third word, but the I in IVA stands for individual which I assume is meant to recognise we live in a rich country and shouldn't have to starve oursel...

I'm not in an IVA yet but I think you all deserve increases in your allowances! From the government statistics website, Food inflation for the past 5 years was (2004 first, 2008 last): 1.2%, 0.9%, 0.3%, 5.9%, 6.4% However, for clothing and footwear, there's not much hope: -4.6%, -5.4%, -4.5%, -2.8%,...

we find e-on very good and cheap. They used to be called powergen but the tariffs are the same. They give you big discounts for online billing and giving meter readings online. Also you get tesco clubcard points on the amount you use so if you spend 1000 on gas and elec you can get 40 to spend on da...

hi barb and rb, thanks for the kind words. Great nicknames by the way.

Thanks pd. I agree. The only regular winners are the insiders and the brokers. The rest don't stand a chance, though most do better than me i expect!

I sold my house about 12 months ago to rent in a different area as I was very depressed where I lived and saw no future for my young family there. I would have had about 50k in cash after paying back all my credit cards and loans (about 80k) with the proceeds of the sale of he house. Instead of payi...