Long time reader, first time poster - hello all!
I guess I'm after a bit of reassurance and perhaps some advice. Quick summary:
I started my IVA in Jan 2020 with Vanguard, after a good few years of debt stress mainly from a tough divorce that left me shouldering a lot of debts just to break free. Everything was fine, Vanguard were great, but then I got the message that Ebenegate had bought up my IVA. Since March 2020 i was put on furlough for 12 months then made redundant (no payout as less than 2 yrs), secured a 2 month payment break without much problem. I had my first review with Ebenegate in Jan this year which was not what I was expecting - a phone call from some guy asking for 3 months bank statements and pay slips, then a call back 30 mins later to tell me my payments would go up by £50. I said no, as my current situation did not reflect reality due to the pandemic, to which he replied "okay, no change then". (I did get confirmation in writing, because it all felt so very dodgy!)
In April 2021 I started a new job on better pay, and have since passed my probation, had a payrise and a small bonus. Since August (when I passed probation) I have been trying to contact Ebenegate - various emails have been ignored and the few times i've managed to get through on the phone the person has not been able to tell me how to update my details, other than saying to send an email. Which I do, which gets ignored. I have just come off the phone with them and they have said they will send a review form, and will need bank statements and payslips....probably
I also asked about options to pay more into my pension, to which they replied "dunno, we couldn't answer that!" The guy I spoke to was very unhelpful, and hung up on me at the end of the call!
Long story short I'm tearing my hair out with them. I don't trust them and am constantly worrying that they will mess up the whole thing. I have had a payrise but all my outgoings have increased, including my rent as my landlord has been very understanding while I was on furlough but is now putting the rent up by around £150/£200 (tbc).
Is there anything I can do - is there an option to move my IVA to a different provider? Just one who can answer questions and returns emails would be good! I haven't yet complained officially to them or anyone else, although I'm not sure if that's even an option?
I'm not a house owner and original debt was £18,000 - I pay £194 a month. I have a car but it's been excluded from the IVA, other than that no other assets.
