My name is James, I am so pleased I found this forum I really did think I was on my own with all this. All the threads I have read are all really helpful, so i thought I would log on and introduce myself and tell you about my story.....
Basically I am 25 (0n tuesday) and i have racked up over £27k of debt....not sure how to be honest but I know the defining moment was when I thought I would change career and spent £8k on a career development loan I couldnt afford. Since then I have been robbing peter to pay paul and have been relying on family for help....
Now that I am nearly 25 I have decided to take my head out of the sand, be responsible and do something about it. I really do feel ashamed of myself that at 24, nearly 25 I have got to this stage and to be honest at times I have found it hard to go on, if it wasn't for my family and my beautiful nephews and neice I dont know whether I would of done.
Finding this forum has given me more faith that there is a future for me and I can come out the other side. I have got my interview with melanie's company on monday and I hope that will be the start for me......
I have a question for you guys, if you can help me?
One day I hope to do my teacher training do you know whether having an IVA or BR will stop this?
Hi James, welcome to the forum. Please don't feel ashamed, you're facing up to your problems so you should be proud. You'll be in safe hands with Melanie and her team. Please keep posting as we're all here to support you.
There is absolutely no reason to feel ashamed James - you have taken the right step to sorting this out and that is something to be proud of.
Your teachers training will not be affected in any way by either a bankruptcy or an IVA, so go forth in what will be a really rewarding career. We look forward to helping you on Monday.
Hi James, I'll second with Melanie you'll be in safe hands. I'm with Melanie and I teach so it hasn't affected my career and indeed my career has progressed since the approval of my IVA in Feb 08. Happy Birthday for Tuesday, mine is on Thursday! x
IVA final payment left the bank on the 26th January 2013...looking forward to a debt free future.
Welcome James to the forum. As others have said it is nothing to be ashamed of - in fact you should proud of yourself for "coming out" and speaking about your debt issues and making positive steps to overcome it. The support from your family and friends are vital - we too have great nieces and nephew and they are sometimes what it takes to really appreciate what life is all about.
Once in an IVA life does get alot more settled - it isn't easy, but it is satisfying to know that whatever you do and spend is being done from your own hard earnt cash - not on the never never.
I am sure you taking this step now will not impact on the future training you want to do - an IVA holds less stigma to bankruptcy but in alot of ways they both have a few negatives - but at the end of the day you are on the road to a debt free life and after 6 years it is all cleared from your credit record and you can start to rebuild your life again.
Best of luck
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
There is a solution for everyone .... Just need to stay positive !
hi james-do not feel ashamed. as i have realised the major thing is facing up to the problem-i spent too long burying my head-yes THANK GOD ! for this forum. i still have shuddery feelings of what a mess i would have been in had i not found these guys
have a lovely birthday tuesday
Melanie is lovely-i was scared stiff knowing i had to talk to someone but melanie is sooo warm and friendly-within minutes of talking to her she had me feeling a bit better about myself-something i hadnt done for a while before-good luck and we're all here for you [:)]
james...well done for taking your "head out of the sand"...you are young enough to turn all this round now....and the feelings you have are normal..we all have them to a certain degree...especially at the beginning of our journey.....stay around the forum and you will soon find that the feelings will change for the better
IVA completed 11th Dec 2009 due to a Full and Final with the fantastic help of Michael Peoples and
Mc Cambridge Duffy
Hi James & welcome from me too! at the same age as you i was in more or less the same situation,but unfortunately was too embarrassed & ashamed to ask for help,which basically resulted in me burying my head in the sand for a further 6 years & ending up in one huge mess! so well done you for facing up to your problem & finding the courage to do something about it..you are most definitely in the safest of hands with melanie & her team,so good luck with everything & keep us posted..ps Happy birthday for tues.X
Welcome from me too, I echo what the others have said about Melanie - she comes highly recommended on here. If I had found the site earlier than I did, I would certainly have used her.
Well done for taking that first step, and I hope your new career goes well.
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
Don't feel ashamed, the majority of us have been in the same situation as you and you have done the right thing by contacting Melanie. I was 31 by the time I decided to take my head out of the sand, by which time my debts had spiralled.
Good luck, and let us know how you get on - happy birthday for Tuesday!
Hi James and welcome from me too[:)]..please don't feel ashamed,most of us have been in the same situation and the fact that you have posted and made that appt with Melanie, you should be feeling very proud that you have taken that first step along that road to a debt-free life..Good Luck and hope you have a lovely birthday on Tuesday too..xx[:)]
IVA accepted 13/11/2008..17 payments down,55 to go..
Hi and Welcome James,
This forum has helped me no end, it truly is a godsend. You've done the right thing by contacting Melanie, her team has been fantastic with us so far. We sent all our info off to them before Xmas and we're just waiting for the proposal now. I dreaded the initial call from Melanie's team but after the call ( with Tina ) I felt so much better . The advice and help was priceless...Claire was also incredibly helpful and reassuring, I cannot recommend them enough!!! We're at the stage where the letters and phone calls are coming thick and fast, so it's quite stressfull. Hang in there , I'm sure Melanie can help you aswell and keep posting on the forum, you will find all the support you need.
Thanks again for all your responses, it really does help.
Could I just ask, you know when you finish your IVA how much does it hang over your life. Does it affect mortgages etc? even after the 6 years? also my sister suggested that I may not be able to get rented accomodation whilst I am in an IVA. Is this true?
You can get rented accommodation whilst in an IVA, but it may be a little more difficult than if you weren't! A lot of posters on here have done it.
At the end of the 6 years, your credit record should be clean - the IVA will have dropped off. You might have to get some of the creditors to remove defaults from there, but that is easily done.
You will have to build up your credit record again, but things like bank accounts and mobile phone contracts help. You should be able to get a mortgage.
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
