www.iva.co.uk

Hi

We are currently in an IVA, started it with ACCUMA and then Grant Thornton bought it from them. Have a Ford KA 1.3 (53 reg) which is costing me afortune in repairs as i do a lot of mileage getting to and from work. I am awaiting a payment from my personal injury claim (happened in January 2010) and really need to get a more reliable car (as new as possible) due to the mileage i do (approx 300 miles per week). ive broken down more times than i can remember and as i have a 4 year old its not nice sitting in the dark waiting for the AA. Think im going to get between £3,000 and £5,000. Have spoken to Grant Thornton and they know about the problems with the car but are saying its dependent on how much i get how much they take. I am still struggling from the injuries and really need to get a 5 door (now got a 3 door). Have looked at our original proposal from Accuma and it states windfall, settlement etc (nothing about personal injury). I think theyre going to try to take the lot and am just after some advice where we stand.

Thank you

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Not sure about personal injury claims, hope one of the experts can help with that.

Hopefully you can get to keep the money to get another car.

A personal injury claim is classed as a windfall and I would be surprised if you are allowed to keep what you are asking for. However, you can defer payments to save for a car. Tho saying that I was only allowed one thousand so you would probably not get a car as new as you have now with that. As there isn't a reliable car on the market for that I'm going to have to go back to my ip and raise the question again.

Hi
I think under the circumstances they may allow you to keep say 50% to fund a new car. Write to your actual IP outlining your situation, the IPs at GT are sensible people who will understand the need for a reliable car when driving as much as you do.
Good luck
Regards

If the claim relates to pain and suffering, rather than financial compensation for loss of earnings, it may not be deemed to be a windfall. Please ask your IP firm to verify why they feel the money should be treated as a windfall, and then if this is correct try and negotiate the cost of a modest but reliable car with them.