www.iva.co.uk

Hi - this is my first post. I'm very glad to have found the forum - it's comforting to know that I'm not alone!

I have been in an IVA for just over a year and am generally very happy with it.

I'm just about to change jobs and need to update my IP of my new situation and do a revised I/E form. I have looked at the CCCS website and cannot find their guidelines on average/reasonable expenditure. Do you have any information on this?

I am also going to struggle to meet the repayment next month due to the change over in jobs. Would it be reasonable to ask for payment break or is there a better solution for this sort of situation?

Thanks.

Hi there and a warm welcome to the forum

Without referring to the CCCS guidelines, and I can send you a copy if you e-mail me at my website, I would merely advise your IP of your actual income and expenditure, rather than trying to make stuff fit into set criteria. Your IP will let you know if you are spending too much or too little in their opinion - an if there is to be a permanent change to your circumstances due to the change of employment, then a formal variation of the IVA may be necessary.

Hi poppy1 and welcome from me too.

You will get all the advice and support from the forum that you need, at any time.

Well done on getting through your first year, I hope you get your next year sorted out.

Good luck.

Hi Poppy1. I recently found myself in a similar position where I was unable to make a full payment due to unforseen circumstances and my IP agreed I could pay what I could afford to this month and top future payments up by £5 or £10 to make up the shortfall. They were really helpful. I would definitely recommend contacting your IP. Best of luck with new job!

Hi Melanie and Kallis,

Thanks for responding so quickly! It's been a tough year, but I think the first one always was going to be. I do think it was the right way forward for me. The good news is that as it's better paid, I will be able to increase my contributions when I start the new job even though I will need increases on some allowances (e.g. travel).

Hopefully they will be able to help me sort it out, they've been very good so far.

Melanie - I've sent you an email regarding the CCCS guidelines.

I do have one more thing, slightly off the point. I recently had to move home (renting) and had a disturbing experience when the reference company did a credit check. I let the estate agents know that I was in an IVA from the start, as I generally prefer the upfront route, yet the credit reference agency they used came back and told them I was bankrupt, which made for a somewhat stressful week (something to do with not having a tick box for IVA on the form and classing it the same as bankrupt). Have you ever come across this happening to anyone else?

Many thanks.

Thanks KitKat! That sounds like a very good suggestion. I think that may be the most sensible way forward as I have been worrying about asking them for a complete break. [:D]

Unfortunately a lot of agencies class an IVA in the same light as bankruptcy - quite incorrectly - but you did the right thing and pointed out the error.