we gave Synergi the benefit of the doubt

[deborah.s]

Debbie

Why have you made no payments to the IVA for 2 years?

Hi Melanie
When we got into debt and were referred to Synergi we had to pay money up front which we had to borrow. We were told that if certain debts were included in the proposal for the IVA, it would more than likely be rejected. And so figures were adjusted by Synergi to ensure the IVA went through. We were struggling to pay £500 per month and wrote and rang Synergi for help. They took 18 months to reply saying they had written to us. We basically got scared and it was easier to pay off some debts that were not included in the IVA whilst we were waiting to hear from Synergi. Months went by and my husband changed jobs and his tax code was messed up leaving us with a £3000 tax bill so we started to pay that off. After 18th months of keeping on at Synergi they admitted that there were errors on their part and somehow they did not know that they had not had payments from us!! We now have been appointed 2 supervisors as Karen Potts left the company. I have spoken to sue watts on 2 occasions and each time she has put the phone down on me. I cannot get through to Mr Saker, the other supervisor. We leave messages and they dont return our calls. I have phoned them 3 times this week and need to ring them again tomorrow.

Mr Walker, an administrator, who I spoke to today was actualy asking me what he could do for me!!

Debbie

[Adam Davies]

Hi
Sounds a complete mess.
No unsecured debt should have been left out of your IVA without creditors permission.
How much have you actually paid into your IVA in total and how much were your unsecured debts that went into the IVA?

[MelanieGiles]

Mr Gordon-Saker is an insolvency practitioner qualified by the Law Society who works for a large firm of solicitors in London - according to the Insolvency Service's website. Why on earth would someone like this be acting as a Joint Supervisor on a consumer debt IVA case I wonder?

[deborah.s]

Hi
Sounds a complete mess.
No unsecured debt should have been left out of your IVA without creditors permission.
How much have you actually paid into your IVA in total and how much were your unsecured debts that went into the IVA?

Hi Andy

We paid about £9000 and our unsecured debts are about £80,000.

Debbie

[deborah.s]

Mr Gordon-Saker is an insolvency practitioner qualified by the Law Society who works for a large firm of solicitors in London - according to the Insolvency Service's website. Why on earth would someone like this be acting as a Joint Supervisor on a consumer debt IVA case I wonder?

Hi Melanie

When we were told we had 2 supervisors, we thought it was strange but we have no idea who they are. I think that Sue Watts works for another company, her email is neville-eckley??

Debbie

[MelanieGiles]

Neville Eckley were a smallish West Country practice who were also bought by Synergi a few months ago.

It is not strange to have to supervisors - merely strange to have one of them practising with a top City law practice!

[deborah.s]

Neville Eckley were a smallish West Country practice who were also bought by Synergi a few months ago.

It is not strange to have to supervisors - merely strange to have one of them practising with a top City law practice!

Thank you for that Melanie

Debbie

[ianmillington]

I must confess I wondered whether you were referring to Paul Gordon-Saker, who is a rather prominent City of London Lawyer.

I worry deeply when people tell me about excluded creditors. Every one is a potential loose cannon with the scope for unravelling an IVA. However, on a positive note at this point you appear to be getting some action of sorts. Did you happen to mention another IP was proposing to contact Eversheds on your behalf? That offer still stands if you need it.

Subject to correcting any mis-information in the letter they will send (although they may be reluctant to show their backside in Burton's window if you know what I mean) you may well be better seeing if you can get the variation through. If you can't then in view of what you have said this evening your best bet might be to revisit all of the options i.e BR or 2nd IVA with a new IP. Whilst it's not ideal at least you ought to have a fighting chance of getting a decent and properly thought out proposal.

BTW, what creditors were you told had to be left out, and how much were they? Have they all now been paid?


Ian

[MelanieGiles]

Ian

Do you know anything of this IP's involvement with Synergi? Drop me a comment off-line if you would prefer, but I find it odd that these appointments would be joint with a lawyer IP who does not appear to have any connection with the company?

[deborah.s]

I must confess I wondered whether you were referring to Paul Gordon-Saker, who is a rather prominent City of London Lawyer.

I worry deeply when people tell me about excluded creditors. Every one is a potential loose cannon with the scope for unravelling an IVA. However, on a positive note at this point you appear to be getting some action of sorts. Did you happen to mention another IP was proposing to contact Eversheds on your behalf? That offer still stands if you need it.

Subject to correcting any mis-information in the letter they will send (although they may be reluctant to show their backside in Burton's window if you know what I mean) you may well be better seeing if you can get the variation through. If you can't then in view of what you have said this evening your best bet might be to revisit all of the options i.e BR or 2nd IVA with a new IP. Whilst it's not ideal at least you ought to have a fighting chance of getting a decent and properly thought out proposal.

BTW, what creditors were you told had to be left out, and how much were they? Have they all now been paid?


Ian

Hi Ian

One was littlewoods for £150(not paid) and another was American Express for £10000.00 (£1000.00 Paid) Synergi also drastically adjusted our household expenses and we knew at the time that we were going to have a hard time with the repayments but when you have constant worry of debt collectors and phone calls and some one knocking at the door you just go along with it and the the thought that having an IVA would stop all the hassle was very inviting.

Debbie

[MelanieGiles]

Definately grounds for a complaint to the regulatory body if you can prove that you were advised to deliberately leave out creditor claims. There have been far too many complaints about this particular firm on the forum over the last year or so, and this has to stop.

[deborah.s]

Definately grounds for a complaint to the regulatory body if you can prove that you were advised to deliberately leave out creditor claims. There have been far too many complaints about this particular firm on the forum over the last year or so, and this has to stop.

Hi Melanie

Thanks, something to think about. Unfortunately our original supervisor Karen Potts was completely hopeless as well and she left quite suddenly. She supposedly sent several letters, that we did not receive and any thing that happened under Karen Potts, they are drawing a line under. Andrew Walker said to me today that they were treating this case as if it was a new IVA. Which is why everything is such a mess.

I am wondering whether to turn up at the variation meeting on the 17th!!

Debbie

[MelanieGiles]

Wouldn't do you any harm, if you can spare the time, and at least you can meet your new Supervisor on a face to face basis. I am sure they will be delighted to receive you, and you can try and put this to bed once and for all before deciding whether to make a complaint.

[deborah.s]

Wouldn't do you any harm, if you can spare the time, and at least you can meet your new Supervisor on a face to face basis. I am sure they will be delighted to receive you, and you can try and put this to bed once and for all before deciding whether to make a complaint.

Hi Melanie

We received an email from Synergi at about 5.30pm and the text reads as follows:

Following communication between myself and the major creditor,I am sorry to inform you that I have been unable to convince them to change their vote to give a positive result and they wish to remain with their original decision that your arrangements are failed in anticipation of the adjourned meeting scheduled for 17th April 2008.

For any resolution to be passed there must be a majority in excess of 75% in value of the creditors who vote, agreeing to the resolutions put forward at the meeting.

As the majority creditor (i.e. Max Recovery Ltd) hold 38% of the claims and has voted, it is therefore impossible for me to obtain sufficient voting from other creditors in favour of the resolution to continue with your Arrangements as only a further 62% of potential voting would be available. However you should note that other creditors have also lodged votes and in total 75.29% in value of your creditors have in fact voted to accept the resolution that your arrangements are failed at the proposal meeting to be held on 17th April 2008.

Yours sincerely
Jillian Bellamy, Manager
For and on behalf of S Watts Joint supervisor

I had put a call in to Eversheds yesterday and coincidently they rang me this morning but they will not discuss our debt with anyone but Synergi.

We really feel that we have been stitched up by SYNERGI as it obviously looks bad to creditors that we havent paid for so long.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Debbie

[deborah.s]

I must confess I wondered whether you were referring to Paul Gordon-Saker, who is a rather prominent City of London Lawyer.

I worry deeply when people tell me about excluded creditors. Every one is a potential loose cannon with the scope for unravelling an IVA. However, on a positive note at this point you appear to be getting some action of sorts. Did you happen to mention another IP was proposing to contact Eversheds on your behalf? That offer still stands if you need it.

Subject to correcting any mis-information in the letter they will send (although they may be reluctant to show their backside in Burton's window if you know what I mean) you may well be better seeing if you can get the variation through. If you can't then in view of what you have said this evening your best bet might be to revisit all of the options i.e BR or 2nd IVA with a new IP. Whilst it's not ideal at least you ought to have a fighting chance of getting a decent and properly thought out proposal.

BTW, what creditors were you told had to be left out, and how much were they? Have they all now been paid?


Ian

Hi Ian

I have just posted to Melanie.

I am not sure if you will be able to do anything as Eversheds refused to discuss anything with us and will only discuss with SYNERGI.

Debbie