Many of us like to have a copy of these for reference.
Google 'Stepchange Budget Guidelines'. 4th or 5th hit down the list provides a 'doc' link to the 2012 guide (which I understand is the latest version).
My opinions are just that: Based on my experience and being a self-employed IVA customer.
They are worth having just so you can to claim the allowances listed. Some IPs will only allow the guideline figures for what you do claim and do not tell you about the things you can claim for from the guidelines. At least having the guidelines means you can get what you are entitled to.
Thanks for that I am always amazed at the guidelines as some of them seem quite low and then there are the things that people wouldnt think to claim for like newspapers or haircuts or dry cleaning. I tried to add these things after the first year but was told that I couldnt add to my I&E after my IVA had started.
That is b******s Sandra.
You claim everything that you are entitled to and if the IP has a problem stick in a complaint. They should tell you what you can claim for especially when you have children but unfortunately some IPs see higher payments mean higher fees and others are funded by the banks.
I recently did an IVA for a couple who were paying £400 per month on a DMP via a 'charity'. I redid the I&E using the proper guidelines and have proposed an IVA at £170 per month. The difference in payments means the children are not being penalised and the parents can actually eat more than Lidl beans on toast.
Always use an independent firm when looking for advice. There is a reason why the banks refer their clients to certain firms!
font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by doritos
There is 1 small thing that bugs me with step change, its something that they haven't considered.
London, how do I budget for commuting as they think that everyone has a car.
...I live / work in London as well. I suggest you claim the equivalent guideline amount (for fuel, servicing etc - currently up to £231pcm) to cover fares etc. on public transport. Be prepared to back it up with receipts/bank statements though.
Last edited by UpToMyNeckInIt on Sat May 11, 2013 5:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My opinions are just that: Based on my experience and being a self-employed IVA customer.
font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by Michael Peoples
That is b******s Sandra.
You claim everything that you are entitled to and if the IP has a problem stick in a complaint. They should tell you what you can claim for especially when you have children but unfortunately some IPs see higher payments mean higher fees and others are funded by the banks.
I recently did an IVA for a couple who were paying £400 per month on a DMP via a 'charity'. I redid the I&E using the proper guidelines and have proposed an IVA at £170 per month. The difference in payments means the children are not being penalised and the parents can actually eat more than Lidl beans on toast.
Always use an independent firm when looking for advice. There is a reason why the banks refer their clients to certain firms!
Nowt wrong with lidl beans n toast!! Many a month this was a fallback meal for us if we had to use our grocery money for something else. Delicious and nutritious!
Paul
Discharged today the 8th feb 2012. View is much brighter now.
Continuing to rebuild our credit worthiness.
We have cats that come to our house which are kind of wild. They don't have any owners so we bought some Lidl catfood which they devoured. One week we forgot to get some and bought Whiskas and they turned their noses up!
The Whiskas was more than double the Lidl price.
£30 a week for fuel and parking? Blimey, it costs my hubby £50 a week to do the 70 mile trip to work and back for 5 days and me another £35 and that is before anything else like going shopping taking kids to the dentist, doctors, when you live rurally like we do we don't have any other option than using a car anyway, thank goodness we are to with step change as our iva would probably have to even have got off the ground!
font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by lem
£30 a week for fuel and parking? Blimey, it costs my hubby £50 a week to do the 70 mile trip to work and back for 5 days and me another £35 and that is before anything else like going shopping taking kids to the dentist, doctors, when you live rurally like we do we don't have any other option than using a car anyway, thank goodness we are not with step change as our iva would probably have to even have got off the ground!
