Just can't wait for it to end.

[country girl]

I have 5 more payments left to make and just can't wait for the end to come. It does not help that my last 12 payments under equity release were increased by 50% and it is a struggle. I just want to get Christmas over with and then I will be on the home straight.

Anybody else feel this way who is nearing the end.[:(]

[recovering]

I feel that way and have ages to go! just think how fast xmas will hit us and the you will be there!!! new year and a new life?[:)]

[Til]

We are 1 payment away (13 days) from the end and it feels like I'm a donkey with a carrot on a stick in front of me!

Longest month ever.

[country girl]

At least you are nearly there Til, we must have a online celebration when you finish!

[country girl]

Thanks for your words of encouragement recovering, it has been a very long journey!

[Til]

I may do a little dance round the forum Country Girl lol ... not long for you either - perhaps we can start a mexican iva finish wave lol

[country girl]

That would be fun lol!

[Struzzo39]

I totally understand how you are thinking country girl. I cannot wait till our final payment leaves the bank 28/02/2015. This last year has been the toughest and longest one of them all

[country girl]

My last one is on 24/02/15 Struzzo39 and I know what you mean about the last year. Having to do that extra year with an increased payment is a killer. I do think it is unfair that just because you have equity in your home you are penalised in this way its not as if it is money you can lay your hands on!

I just want to get Christmas over and then I will nearly be there.

[Foggy]

To play devil's advocate, Country Girl, equity IS something you can get your hands on ---- you simply sell the house ! Or, if not for the protection of an IVA, the creditors could just take it from you !

The option, at the moment, boils down to an extra year or lose the house --- extra year strikes me as being a fair compromise. Bear in mind, also, that the creditors are usually taking a bit loss too.

I know we often ( me included ) look on the creditors as "the enemy", but, basically, WE got ourselves (with a little push from "circumstances") into the mess and the creditors are offering a way out.

[country girl]

I appreciate what you are saying Foggy and at the end of the day I got myself into this mess. It is not so much paying the extra year but having my payments increased by so much. It was not explained to me that this would happen and it would be like starting my IVA all over again. I was not prepared for it.

[Foggy]

Yes, there is definitely something lacking in the way many firms explain the process ! The problem is, at the start, we have no idea of what questions to ask!

[country girl]

I agree, I understood very little at the start of my IVA and was in a very dark place.

[Foggy]

The problem is many of us just didn't ( for whatever reason) see insolvency coming. Then it's all panic stations! If you are behind with payments the creditors hassling you really puts the pressure on and you take whatever lifebelt is thrown.

A good IP / firm will go through everything in detail -- the "factory" firms just whistle you through with scant explanation along the lines of "you don't need to worry about that until month 54" etc.

[country girl]

Exactly I did ask what would happen if I could not re-mortgage which I knew was very likely. I was told not to worry it will just carry on for another 12 months which sounded fine. What I was not told is that it would have to be put to my creditors for agreement and if not then I would be made bankrupt. It all came as a shock when I found out it was not as straight forward as was made out.

Anyway I think I have banged on enough about it now so I am just going to get on with it, only 5 payments left.