Well, we've started the ball rolling, sent the majority of info to Melanie today and now await the barrage of letters and phone calls from our creditors. Feeling really anxious and nervous, is there anyone else on the forum who's just commencing their IVA, we would appreciate comments from anyone else in the same situation as us at the mo! We're counting the days until end of January when hopefully a decision will be made. Not looking forward to the prospect of Christmas with this hanging over us!
Lizzie, you've made that first, important move and you are in safe hands with Melanie.
The letters aren't too bad,because they can't speak to you and you can just sit and write one back! The phone calls are another matter. Just be strong and explain that you are going for an IVA. Don't be bullied into paying money across and if any of them try to tell you that unless you pay, your IVA will be refused (a tactic some of them like to try), ignore it. The call centre people have no control over anything to do with your application.
They don't phone at Christmas, so you can relax there.
It may seem like a long time till your meeting, but it will go quickly, even if you don't think so at the moment.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
Please dont worry, you have really done all you can, let the professionals take it from here. Melanie is one of the very best you can have on your side, so youre in good hands.
There are many here at the start and beyond in their own journey. The most important thing is, we have all been where you are and know what its like in those shakey early days.
The creditor calls are a stress but you can arm yourself with some knowledge to help deal with them, we have all had them and survived. Take a look at this thread.
The next thing to do is enjoy Christmas, knowing that you have been brave enough to face this thing head on, there are so many out there still burying their head in the sand, or waiting until after the holidays.
Hey Brown Lizzie - know exactly where you are coming from because for the last couple of days I have been absolutely awful - hubby made all the calls to the creditors following our letters to them and I was terrified for him. But honestly they have been absolutely fine!! Really sympathetic, accepting and understanding so bite the bullet and get it over with and really you will feel so much better - cos today I know I do!! Take care hon - we're all in this together. I have no idea how long mine will take to process from this point - Melanie has all of my paperwork bar some of the loan balances which hubby was chasing up in his calls today and yesterday - so am hoping they'll be sent out asap so that we can continue the ball rolling. I would anticipate the end of January too - but whenever it is - I feel very secure in my choice of IP and especially when creditors that my hubby spoke to knew of IVA advice bureau and praised their proposals!! So hang in there - and keep posting on here cos this place is an ABSOLUTE GODSEND with THE most fabulous and caring people you could ever hope to "meet"!! Thinking of you! Fi xx
Still gathering info....but hope to be on the right path pronto!!
Thanks for all your messages of support, especially to Fifelebonbon who's on the starting block also! Your comments about the creditors response is really reassuring, hope they're as nice to us! Please keep posting with your progress and I will do likewise. How are you managing with Christmas? Thankfully I started buying most of my daughter's presents earlier in the year, so she won't do too badly! I've got her a Ninetendo DS which she really wants so really relieved I had that before all this kicked off! What does concern me is that the latest creditor statements sent off to Melanie show quite a few transactions, I'm afraid our creditors will not take to kindly to us applying for an IVA when we've been spending on the cards up to the last moment. Does anyone have any advise on this or been in the same position?
Hi brownlizzie and welcome, well done for making such an important decision and from what i have read on here you are in the very capable hands of a professional who will ensure that everything is correct for you. I think creditors are having to be empathetic to be honest as we are not alone on this site i am sure there are thousands more out there who sadly haven't found such a wonderful and supportives site as this, so hang on in there and good luck.
Om shanti, namesté, good luck to all who are embarking on the IVA journey, it isn't always an easy one but the outcome is the best.
IVA COMPLETED August 2012, received Completion certificate 18.4.13.
Well yes Christmas is a bit of hurdle of sorts but we have a wonderful support network and have actually told our family and closest friends what we are going through. My sister lives in France so we have agreed not to do presents this year as we will not be seeing each other. With my husbands family we only buy for the children and do one secret santa for the rest of the adults in the family. As for my children who are only 6 and 2 they will not do without. They have very generous grandparents and godparents and with the budgeting I have already started doing (which includes shopping at Lidls - believe me I am a bit of a snob so shopping at Lidls was something I virtually had to do with a balaclava on my head the first time - lol) we will have enough cash to get the things they need. We go to the car boot regularly and have picked up some fantastic things for the kids. My son will be having a John Deere ride on tractor which his Great Uncle has valeted back to new virtually and cost us the grand sum of £0.25p - we ordered a new steering wheel for £10 and he will be over the moon with it - it looks FAB!! And if I had bought it new it would have cost over £100. All my little girl wants is a horse but she knows she has a wait for that so am not quite sure what we will get her but she also already has a car boot purchase in the form of a kind of quad bike which again Great Uncle has valeted to new - she is a bit of girly tom boy so will love that and I think it cost us £10! I have really had to change my Mabel Label mind set but honestly feel sooo much better for it. Christmas will be fine - and like I've already read on here at the end of the day its only a glorified roast on Christmas day!! You'll be fine - and your children DEFINITELY will be! xxxx
Still gathering info....but hope to be on the right path pronto!!
Message for Fifi. You made me smile when you mentioned Lidls as I feel exactly the same! I'm a Tesco/Asda girl but have already mentioned to Tina, Melanie's colleague that I'll be giving Lidls a try to reduce the monthly spend. The problem with Tesco is I go in with the intention of spending say £50 and end up spending over £100 on things I don't really need, definitely time for a rethink! Hubbie feels different to me and swears by Lidl, he likes the coffee chocolate bars and Hollybush butter which according to him is much cheaper than anywhere else, I tend to tease him about it but under the current circumstances I guess he's right!
Hi Brown Lizzie and welcome from us too.
If it helps, we were in exactly the same position as you last year, applying for the IVA end of Nov. We had no phone calls from creditors, only letters which we "kindly" replied to. No hassle from them at all. Our C/C's were used up to the point of application, and this did not appear to cause a problem with the application - approved 7th Jan 08. Our advice is to try to put the IVA application to the back of your mind if you can whilst you enjoy the best christmas you can with your family. This is what we tried to do last year, and it helped a great deal. Agree with Fifi about Christmas on a budget - it really can be fun. Keep posting even if only for a moan or a rant
Roadrunners
Hey brown lizzie, glad you've sent your paperwork back, it may seem like a long time off, but this will all be behind you soon. You're in safe hands with Melanie and her team. Good luck with your proposal and try to enjoy Christmas. X
By the way, I had a recent transaction on one of my credit cards and the company voted yes in my IVA so don't worry too much.
Hi Brown Lizzie, just wanted to say Hi and Well Done on starting the ball rolling with the IVA.. You've done the hard part now and I agree with the others, you are in very safe hands with Melanie!!..and there are quite a few on the Forum including Fi [:)] who are going through the process at the moment for you to share experiences with but you will also get loads of help and support from Everyone else too!! Good Luck and Keep posting..xx
IVA accepted 13/11/2008..17 payments down,55 to go..
Hi lizzie-just wanted to say try not to worry too much,as you are most definitely in the very best of hands with Melanie..We've all been where you are now,so keep posting for advice & support..Btw,i too was using my credit cards just before i applied for my iva,but it was the only way i could pay for essentials such as groceries & petrol...Anyway,it was absolutely fine,and my iva was still approved.So stay strong and remember,we're all here to help and support you every step of the way...Take care[:)]xx
Okay, actually I have to confess that on Saturday we were literally down to our last few pounds in the old bank whilst funds were being cleared into our new account and I was in the supermarket and didnt have enough cash and my debit card was declined. I had no more cash and went into a major panic and was so humiliated - I should have just walked away from the shopping but I just could not think straight I was so embarrassed and shaking so I got my old Mint Visa Credit Card out and gave that to the cashier and it was accepted. I feel really guilty but it was just a moment of madness which just added to my turmoil of the last couple of days. It was for about £29 - am not sure whether I should just leave it or do you think I should send a cheque to the card for that amount. My payment for this month is due to them and they should by now have received my letter telling them about my IVA plans (so I'm really surprised I was able to pay with it actually).....okay so that's a bit of guilt off my chest but as I said in my other thread, our new financial life has begun this week and I never want that kind of humiliation again!! Needless to say all credit cards etc apart from my new Coop debit card have now been duly removed from my purse and cut up!!!!!
Still gathering info....but hope to be on the right path pronto!!
Just as I realised my mess and had made a few calls and started to change banks, I tried to live within my budget and was feeling very much happier. I had been into our town to pay council tax etc and lost my parking ticket, the man demanded £60 and I burst into tears. I cried and sobbed and couldnt speak, I just got to the point where I couldnt take anymore. Anyway, he reduced it to £20, I had to use my credit card and draw out cash. I think the man was so glad when I had gone, he was more embarrassed than I was.
Hi honey and well done for taking those first awful steps.
I have just submitted all of my paperwork to IVA advice bureau and Melanie will be dealing with our case.
Up until the mid Oct we too had to use our credit cards to pay essentials but now we have got rid of them all and are living within our agreed budget.
Christmas is slowly coming together with the help of family and some agreed budgets. Luckily because our payments to creditors have stopped and our IVA not yet started it has given us a bit of breathing space.
Calls from creditors have not been too bad so far, MBNA have been the worse they passed it to a collection agency and we have only missed 1 payment. The collections agency called and texted numerous times in one day. Others have not been too bad, we have written to everyone and letters were sent recorded delivery.
I have found the process stressful and I am currently off work with Laryngitis which I think is down to feeling generally low. I hope to get things finalised in the next couple of weeks so that my family and I can settle in to some sort of routine.
Fi, as usual your posts made me smile, don't worry about the use of your card, we are only human. I have put £40 in an envelope in the back of my purse for absolute emergencies as I am so worried about being caught out especially at work events!!!
Love to everyone, hope 2009 brings a positive outcome for us all.
XXX
7 down 53 to go
The pedal uphill may be hard but remember once you reach the top you can take your feet off and freewheel all the way down!!!
