please can you help

[kb.m]

I have an IVA alongside my husband. We are divorcing and the house is being sold, there will be no money left. Both of us are working full time and need to rent property - with an IVA we need at least 3 months rent deposit and the security deposit - which will be about £2500. I can borrow some from family but need to pay it back straight away. I work full time and we have just completed 2 years of the agreement without any default. I had a second hand car and have struggled to meet repair bills of £750 but have done it - three days ago. Today the car broke down and the massive repair bill would not make it viable.

I work in a rural school and cannot get to work without a car. Where do I turn ? My IVA was just manageable and I have cut down on everything. My ex's car gave up the ghost before Christmas and I tried to run a car for two of us - me paying repairs - to help him out. Without a job I can't pay anything, the house is completing next week or would be repossesed anyway. I have an 11 year old son and I am sick with worry. I was with Debt Matters and found out while trying to get them to sign off for the sale of the house, that they transferred to Grant Thornton - needless to say they cant find the file and are playing bat and ball with the other company. I really am at the end of my rope, please can you help.

[Reviva UK]

Hello kb.m

welcome to the forum

What level of debt were you in prior to the IVa and what was the monthly contribution for you both together.

If you are divorcing it might be worthwhile separating the IVA's and allocte what you would pay for your portion of debt ( similarly your husband would do the same

[MelanieGiles]

There are two immediate priorities here:-

1 Getting another car
2 Finding somewhere to live once the house is sold.

The IVA comes up as a very low priority until the other things are sorted. Could your family lend you then money to buy a cheap replacement car in the first instance, and have you thought about approaching a private landlord rather than a letting agency with regard to renting. They often do not credit check prospective tenants.

Grnat Thornton will be as helfpful as they can, and as I understand that they are intending to vary all Debtmatters cases without exception, this is your opportunity to split your IVA away from your husbands and also seek a payment holiday in order to take account of your car repayment and potential rental deposit. I suggest you speak to them without delay, as that file has to be found.

[joh71262]

Hi KB - I can't really offer any advice other than to try and get in touch with GT.

They have a web site :-

https://debt.grant-thornton.co.uk/why_gt.php

and there's an 0800 number on there. I had my letter from Debtmatters as well but there was very little detail in there other than what appeared to be a generic email address, but I think you need to act quickly.

Presumably you have kept all documentation from Debtmatters, in which case there should be some kind of reference number on it so that at least they know your case number.

I guess it really depends how GT have divided the cases - perhaps one IP may have transferred to another or they may have divided it by surname. The only thing I can suggest is to call the 0800 number on the site and see if anyone can help or at least point you in the right direction. It doesn't say what time the lines are open until but it's always worth a call - it is free !

Good luck - sounds like you're in a real pickle.

[Soulgrowth]

Hello KB ... just wanted to say I'm thinking of you, it's such a difficult time for you. Perhaps as Melanie has pointed out for you though the Debt Matters being passed the Grant Thornton might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for you, giving you the opportunity vary the IVA

I wish you all the best

Debbie

[kb.m]

Wow, what a lot of good advice and help straight away.

We owed £84,000 unsecured and last year were paying £371 each. Our mortgage and second mortgage were £2300 on top of that and we just couldn't keep it up. One of the companies where we had a joint overdraft took us to court but then apologised to my husband as they had not realised there was an IVA and that they hadn't attended its granting - they withdrew the case against him but in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding of the divorce he didn't add that this fact also applied to me. So I am also being pursued by a court in the North on behalf of the Halifax. This is where debt matters really have too busy to pursue my case and a lot of promises have just not materialised. They have given us the wrong company for transfer and not even told us we were being transferred for the two weeks our solicitor has been trying to get permission for the sale.

Basically there is so much tied up together still I can't see where I am going. As we both received letters seperately we do seem to have separate IVA's although we filled in one form for outgoings etc.

I am at the point where its petrol to get to work (now train, taxi and shoe leather) or food. I thought getting an IVA was the end of the world - but this is much worse.

Like I have read, I really don't know how this happened - 47 and nothing, no property, no car, no marriage. I have worked all my life - we moved from London because the cost of living was crippling us and we never recovered. Unwise choices, car accidents and illness plus a lot head burying and borrowing and I can't buy myself a sandwich for lunch !!

Sorry for the self pity, hard to get out of this despair. I really appreciate the time and responses. Thank you for your help

[joh71262]

KB if you want someone to talk to or just an email buddy, drop me a line. I think you can pick up my address via the site as I filled it in on the profile page.

Take care - things aren't always as bad as they seem.

[lily]

Hang on in there KB, you havent come all this way to give up. If you dont have anything else to lose, then what about Bankruptcy???? It would at least allow you to run a car and get to work. It isnt like you havent tried to pay your crocks back.

Its not self pity, its harsh reality and its happening to you. I know what its like to feel so desperate.

I dont know how I ended up like that either but it happens and it seems to come and bite your arse and you wonder how you didnt see it coming.

Take care

[MelanieGiles]

See my earlier post about Debtmatters, Grant Thornton and Payplan - and you will see that a variation of your IVA may well be a good fresh start.

[kb.m]

Thanks for that Melanie, that was really helpful information

[Roundcat]

KB - your not alone here and I really hope there is comfort in that. I know how you must feel and wanted to let you know that people here are listening to you. Although 'now' seems like such a time of dread and fear somewhere along the line it will get better and I think we just have to hold onto that.

[Soulgrowth]

Keep posting KB and let us know how you are getting on.

Debbie

[kb.m]

Morning everyone

Thank you for good wishes, feel more motivated but still rxtremely depressed.

When my ex' car was written off in December he was given a lease company to get a nearly new car as it was essential for his work (he works from home and gets hire car allowance for outside jobs - essential huh !!) Debt matters eventually said he could do so.

I cannot go through this again - I haven't slept in three nights, it has taken me so long to pay off the last repair bill and buy tires and oil. The garage have said it will cost between £700 and £1000 to put in a new camshaft and sort out the pistons - the car is valued at £600 when working.


I have put in a CV for a school nearer but I am under contract until 31st August at the farm college so short of going sick, will have to continue there until then. That means I need a reliable car that will not need garage work every other month.

I am going to ask my sister for the deposit - the recommended company need 4 - 5 months deposit because of IVA. The 'good' thing is that the monthly payments will be included in my outgoings.

Apparently they are a company in the Midlands but I dont know their name - does anyone ? I need to sort this today if only to stop my head.

Thanks and fantastic news that Shannon has been found

Kareen

[Soulgrowth]

Hi KB ... what a nightmare of a situation for you. I can't really offer any help, only that I have been in a similar situation in trying to sort a car out which is esesntial for me because I am self employed. I have been renting a car for the last six months from Thrifty car rental which means that I've been paying a little over the odds but it's really helped for the convenience ... and Andy posted a useful link yesterday for car leasing for adverse credit.

Like Lily, I think that if I was in your situation I would be seriously thinking about stop struggling and looking seriously at the bankruptcy route. Perhaps in the immediate to stop making any payments to your IVA, rent a brand new car from Thrifty (google Thrifty car hire ... you can rent on a weekly or monthly basis) which will tie you over till the house is sold ... and then petition for bankruptcy, within which you will be given a car allowance to get yourself a new car. I think that you do need a plan of action though.

This might not be the best advice and I am sure that the experts might contradict me but having been there myself you get to a point when survival (especially if you have children) has to be the main goal.

All the best

Debbie

[chris.g]

Morning kb.m, what a time your having but it's good that you're feeling a bit more motivated today. As with everything , you will have good days and bad, remember the good one's to get you through the bad.
I agree with lily & soulgrowth here, your priority must be you and your son, bankruptcy would give you the clean, fresh start that you need and deserve.
xxx