www.iva.co.uk

Part of an E mail i am sending out, communtiy thoughts :-

I had an IVA with Accuma which i stopped paying last year (after paying off around £22,000 of debit @ £1602 per month) following redundancy, they sent me a letter (plus we spoke several times, as we also discussed myself going bankrupt) stating they had no alternative as i was unable to pay more than £100 per month but to recommmend to my creditors the termination of the arrangement. We had the house valued and it is in negative equity. The direct debit with them was stopped and has been for approx 13 months.

In June of this year you (Grant Thornton)sent me a letter stating due to a order in the high court (would like to have more information on this) that you now control my IVA, stating that the direct debits would go out as normal, given the fact i cancelled the direct debit with Accuma, i assumed you couldnt re activate it as i havent signed any paperwork for you to do so, nothing happened in July, no further correspondance, but yet today when i tried to get money out of the bank it said i had zero available, as i was at work phoned my wife who checked the account and it threw her into panic mode as you have taken £1602 from the account. I earn £1700 per month so now have NO money for food, bills, petrol to get to work etc, etc

Anyone else come across this sort of thing before ??????? HELP NEEDED

Hi,

I've not come across this before, and Grant Thornton are usually a very good firm with good feedback on here.

Hopefully one of the professionals will be on to advise.

You can claim the money back via the direct debit mandate agreement. Go to your bank and tell them you'd like to do this as you hadn't authorised the company to take the money. They will sort it all out there and then and the money will instantly reappear in your account. You do need to contact GT and sort everything out as well though.

Thanks for the replies so far. I have spoken to my bank and they MIGHT be able to get the £1602 back but they say because i have outstanding debt with Accuma and Grant Thorton have taken over this debt i might not be able to stop the first payment of £1602 going out......the message i posted was to Grant thorton, like many of these 'office' based places they are not open on a Sunday....the day i need money they day they take it !

It always happens like that.

I am sure that GT will get this sorted out for you.

Let us know the outcome.

Hi
My iva is now with Grant Thornton. Had something similar. They took my payment on 25th instead of 1st of month. It had previously been 25th but I had changed it. Accumma hadnt actioned it though so when Grant Thornton took over they didnt know. When I spoke to them they were really apologetic and sorted it all out. Regardless of whether your bank say you have a debt with accumma and now GT, you are still covered by direct debit guarantee. My bank recalled the amount and it was back in my account the next working day. The only time the bank would have a problem is if the company said that they were entitled to take the money, they wont once you speak to them. It is not down to the bank, it isnt there money x

Did I not see a thread a couple of weeks ago where somebody was highlighting that you have no control over direct debits and with standing orders you do? Or have i got this wrong.

Hi
Your bank is obliged to refund that amount, do not get fobbed off with any other explanation.
Quote the direct debit guarantee and threaten the Banking Ombudsman if needs be.
Once this is sorted contact GT
Your bank must refund this money immediately
Regards

Andy please correct me but I am sure I saw a thread the other day where you said direct debits can not be taken without being notified first but I cant find it.

I am sure that GT will probably refund the money to you in any case, when they see the hardship this has caused. It seems strannge that an IVA which had clearly failed has been transferred to another IP as well.