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Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:04 pm
by SLM
Hello
I would be very grateful for some advice please.
My husband and I are expecting our first baby due in March, after being told this was unlikely to happen without medical intervention we are obviously thrilled.

in October I rang GT and updated them and asked how we would proceed as we are now in our 4th year of our IVA and aware of the open market valuation. I was told to get a valuation plus mortgage redemption figure and send them which I did, they confirmed they received this on 1st November. I was also told that, to put our mind at ease, we would know by March whether we would be extended for a further 12 months or have a remortgage for a F&F settlement. Two weeks later having heard nothing I called and chased and told I would be written to. Two weeks later nothing again so again I called. By now it was the beginning of December.
I was then told a variation meeting would be called, told a date (18th Jan) and said i would receive a phone call on the day, I booked a half day off at work knowing that taking such a personal phone call at work would be difficult. No such letter arrived. No one has asked how our payments would be calculated bearing in mind I have not been asked how my organisation's maternity pay works (which is not good). At the same time I asked whether there was anything I needed to do before then (beginning of December) and 18th January, I was told no. on 23rd December we received a letter confirming we would need to know approach 2 companies about a remortgage, how we do this, who we approach etc was not mentioned. This letter arrived completely out of the blue and GT then closed down for 2 weeks over Christmas. This week I have spent 30 minutes peak time waiting for the phone to be answered, to be told the IVA team were not available but they could take a number & I could be called back. This is really not possible working in an open plan office. I explained this but no one seemed to be bothered until I pushed this on Weds and was offered an email. I confirmed this would be acceptable, two days later no email. I now have 2 further salaries before my pay is greatly reduced. How can GT possibly hold a variation meeting with no maternity salary details?
Their customer service has been appalling to date and at 7 months pregnant and stressed I am sure this is not doing my health any good!
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:32 pm
by Foggy
Hello and welcome. Congratulations on the impending arrival. We have a representative of GT on the forum, Karol, who has been excellent in getting ripples sorted out for GT clients. Hopefully she will see this soon and respond (she usually does :0) )

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:13 pm
by herbekj
Expecting people in IVAs to get a quote for a remortgage is a joke and it's about time IPs/Creditors joined the real world.

People with money and no debts can't get a mortgage so provisions in IVAs from years ago regarding this need a bit of a common sense approach as no-one is going to get a re-mortgage in an IVA to release equity.

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:18 pm
by Foggy
Karol can be contacted direct by emailing ivacustomerservices@uk.gt.com and ensure that "IVA Forum" is all that is entered in the subject line of the email.

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:38 pm
by MelanieGiles
Quite a lot of us do actually operate in the "real world" herbekj!!

Before providing comment, could kruger please confirm the approximate value of the property and the amount of mortgage and any other secured charges which are outstanding please.

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:41 pm
by kallis3
I think most of us operate in the real world Mel!!!

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:54 pm
by Foggy
Hi Herbekj. I appreciate that you are not well impressed with the insolvency industry, even though, through their assistance, you are now far better off than you were when you first entered your IVA. I also agree that a 6 month completion period is, frankly, a joke.

However, many firms do issue completion certificates in a timely manner, and I think, yes, there are a minority of IPs who seem to exist in a parallel universe, but the majority also live, with us, in the real world.

With the greatest of respect, however, the increasing negativity of your comments in this respect is getting a little tired.

Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 1:59 pm
by SLM
Hello
Our house has been valued at £174,950 and GT have calculated the amount of equity available to creditors is £3334.89.

Does that help?

Thank you for all your replies to far

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 12:08 pm
by SLM
Hello
Can you someone please help with my query? I called GT again this morning, only to be told I would be called back (3rd time I have been told this plus have been told I would receive an email last Thurs that has still not been sent). I arranged with my boss to work from home today so I could take the call privately.
My baby is due in 10 weeks and I am sure GT will be calling me if we do not make any payments in March and tell me we have defaulted on our payments.
thank you

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 12:13 pm
by kallis3
We do have a poster from there on here.

Contact her via this link:

ivacustomerservices@uk.gt.com and ensure that "IVA Forum" is all that is entered in the subject line of the email

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 12:18 pm
by SLM
thank you, I have sent an email.

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 12:24 pm
by kallis3
Karol will be in touch.

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:27 pm
by Grant Thornton
Kruger - hopefully our telephone conversation this afternoon has clarified, I have emailed you the information discussed and look forward to hearing from you when you have had a chance to complete the form.

Kind Regards
Karol

Grant Thornton had not submitted a variation proposal to creditors, the meeting scheduled for 18 January was an appointment with one of our variation advisors to discuss the case and begin the modification process.

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:59 pm
by Foggy
Thank you for coming to the rescue again, Karol :0)

Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 6:14 pm
by SLM
Karol
thank you so much, I can't tell you how relieved I feel having spoken to you. And thank you everyone on here who recommended I do this!