www.iva.co.uk

Having been a long time lurker, I thought it was about time I came out of the shadows.

Over the last 4/5 years I have found these forums to be a *massive* help, being able to read about people having the same queries, concerns and worries as me. They reassured me that I wasn't alone in this despite keeping my IVA a secret from the majority of people in my life.

Just before Christmas I was thrilled to get my completion certificate through, and I've confirmed that I am no longer on the insolvency register. It’s a huge relief and (at the risk of sounding a bit over dramatic) its life changing. I don’t feel as though I am carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders anymore. Everything looks brighter and I once again have a bit of a spring in my step and can start living my life again after just existing for years.

My IVA was the best decision I have ever made. Wish I had done it earlier. I can’t see any other way that I would have become debt (and therefore stress) free.

So to anyone starting out down the IVA route, keep your chin up and stay positive. It’ll be alright in the end. If it’s not alright now, it’s not the end.

I hope by posting this, I return a little bit of what I took from the forums and reassure someone else that it’s all worthwhile and nothing to be too ashamed of. I have come out of this a much better, more appreciative person.

Excellent post and well done

I hope to join you both in March 2014.
Well done

Well done. I have 11 months to go, I had two payment breaks so 2014 would of been the year I complete as it is it will be Feb 2015. I also think its the best thing I ever did. I do however wonder what the medical impact is on people who have to go through this process as a matter of intrest. In my time I have had heart problems and diabetese my GP says that whilst the IVA is not the main reason it has not helped.

I am not looking for sympathy and I take on my responsibilities but I wonder what is the bigger hidden cost of a IVA

I wish anyone who is just starting out to be aware of how long you have to live on the edge and what that can cause you in stress and medical symptoms. But on the plus side I would be in the same state had I not started down this route and my life from now on will be different and I value small things more than what I did before.

Fair point, Ashb. But I am guessing a few people might not even be here if the stresses of being in debt and trying to juggle everything had not been replaced by the smaller stresses of an IVA.

Lovely post

I make foggy right. The iva is stressful and can drag but debts that can go on forever without shrinking are worse

I have to agree with everyone on here the stress and living in an IVA is hard and really tough but now I am finished I know it is the best thing I have done. I felt terrible putting my girlfriend and my child through it as well so to all still in their IVA's use this forum for support it is amazing and take it from people who have completed it is worth it.

Great to see another successful conclusion. Well done to all concerned, and what a fab start to the new year for you.

I found the stress of being in an IVA nothing compared to the stress before it. Constantly worrying about money, knocks at the door, phone calls from numbers I didn't recognise, wondering if I would be penniless and going hungry, deciding who not to pay and who to pay, what letters the postman was going to deliver each day…. I am ashamed to admit it but at one point I couldn’t see a way out and got to the point of desperation where there only seemed to be two ways to stop the stress. As I knew I wasn’t clever, organised or crooked enough to pull off the crime of the century, the only other option seemed to be to give up and put myself out of my (self-inflicted) misery. Nobody’s financial affairs should cause dark thoughts like that.

That was my lowest moment and it scares me now that I even briefly considered those as serious options, even if only for a few seconds. So going from that, to living on a controlled budget was a very welcome change. And it’s what I should have been doing all along anyway.

Obviously every case is different but in mine the IVA stress was a walk in the park in comparison to beforehand. I may not have found that out had a not found these (and one or two other) forums. I.E. you guys are life savers/angels/heroes. Thank you.