www.iva.co.uk

Who are the highly recommended IVA companies?

Hi,

There are several companies that come recommended by various posters on here but you do need to speak to one or two to get some advice.

Speak to Andy Davie/Vincent Bond for some free initial advice and hopefully they can find a way forward for you.

if you trawl through my blog from post 1 it details the journey i took to choosing one and the final company i ended up with and how happy I was with them. Speak to a few of the smaller firms imho. if you get all the information together that one firm needs to asses your i&e and then save/photocopy.scan each bit and create a "my iva papers" bundle you can send that to several firms and see who offers you the best sort of deal, also look out for things like which years protocols they use (important if you have a home & mortgage) and if they charge statutory interest in the event you come into money.

I think it's hard to say because one person can have a good experience with a company and someone else tell a very different tale.

We went with Cleardebt and they were fantastic for us. We had several issues and ended up with a 15% reduction in payments, made reduced payments and took payment breaks. That said, we had no equity issues or ppi claims so no sticking points that others have.

If you have a partner not needing an iva, check carefully as sone take household disposable income and some take just yours ( fairest I think).

If you have equity, make 110% sure you understand how it's calculated and whether it's a loan / remortgage you are required to tak. If possible, get a writren example.

Do not pay an upfront fee, plentry of good companies do not ask.

I would recommend you call a few, if it was me I would call Michael Peoples and Andy Davie who post on here and Cleardebt.

Read some blogs, get all yourqquestions answered, 5 years is a really long time!

Use the forum no matter who you go with, I think it helped me get through!

I would encourage you to take advice from more than one IVA provider. It is really important to feel comfortable with the provider you choose as they need to become your 'best friends' for the time in an iva. Taking time now to decide is really important rather than jumping at the first option.

Hi Dave - I always recommend you go and see an IP in your local area for a free meeting. That way you get to meet a real person and decide whether you like them and think they will be right for you. Shop about!