I am at the end of my tether and feel very trapped

[charlotten1978]

Hi again

Bit of an essay again!

I'm 11 weeks pregnant and my husband and I are in an IVA with Debt Free Direct. We have never been able and cannot afford our monthly payment of £478 and we have told DFD this for 2 years now. They seem to do nothing.
Yesterday I called them after I sent them an email saying we wanted to leave them and take our IVA elsewhere. Some girl called me and told me that their Ops Director was investigating my 'complaint' but that she wanted to help. We talked for 30 minutes and she told me her side of the story which has led me to believe that we are not in an IVA but a Debt Management Programme.
She said that she can't change our monthly contributions because we are already at maximum 72 months duration (we fell into breach). I said that, in my understanding, an IVA was a way that we pay what we can afford and not what DFD say we can afford and then at the end of 60 months whatever debt is left over then the Creditors write it off. DFD are making us pay £478 a month and at the end of 72 months we will have paid back all of our debt and then some. This is not what we signed up for!
The end of the conversation with being told to write yet another flipping letter explaining our hard up situation but I have written millions of letters and emails and phoned them so many times I have lost count.
I am at the end of my tether and feel very trapped. My husband and I are in a worse situation now than when we first got into debt. We should never have agreed to an IVA.
I am scared for my baby as the stress is making me very ill. We can't file for bankruptcy as my husband is an Accountant but we cannot keep living off beans on toast because DFD are bleeding us dry. I don't know what to do. DFD have been told SO many times that we can't afford the monthly contribution and now I am sick and tired of explaining myself. They simply do not care.
I don't know where to turn. I might just not pay them, fail the IVA and walk away. I am so fed up.

[jes32]

hi charlotte.

Have no fear, there are many people on the forum who can help, support and generally offer an ear to bend. Most important is that you stay healthy!,the other bits will get sorted.
Try contacting Melanie Giles @ www.melaniegiles.com many fellow posters rave about her services, I took thier advice and have found Mel G to be fantastic so far. Staff are full of knowledge, support and may be able to help you out.

Best wishes for you and your hubbie.
[:)]

[e.h]

Hi Charlotte

So sorry to hear of your plight. I have to say, when I first started looking into an IVA I contacted DFD and they gave me a ridiculous figure that they thought I could pay every month by way of massaging expenditure figures in their favour! I told them that no way on earth could I afford the monthly payment they suggested, even if we all stopped eating! Luckily I decided to give them the elbow and went with another company. I know how you feel though, at the time when you are dealing with these companies you are desparate for help, are being constantly badgered by creditors' calls and letters and you just want someone to deal with your situation.

Have you spoken directly to your IP or just someone in Customer Services? You need to get in touch with your IP and ask them to do a variation for you. Also, let them know that you are pregnant (congratulations, by the way) and that your circumstances are going to drastically change in the not too distant future anyway so you need to get this sorted out as soon as possible.

Please try not to get too down about this. Hopefully one of the experts will be in touch shortly to offer you some guidance.

Thinking of you

Liz
x

[Moneystinks]

Hey Charlotte

Hope you are okay. I would try and find out for sure if your are in IVA or DMP. If you are in IVA then speak direct with your IP. Get it all cleared up once and for all and then try and concentrate on your new family.
Good luck XX

[Cybus]

Correct me if I am wrong, but you should be telling the half wits what you can afford to pay and not the other way around.

My use of 'Half wits' I feel is justified since they fail to deal with someone who is obviously in distress. You have already written to them and e-mailed them on a number of occasions and yet they ask you to write again. DFD are in a position to assist but are choosing not to give this matter some priority. The question has to be asked why?

I'm going to stick my neck out and suggest that you contact them tomorrow and ask to speak directly to the IP with a view to making a formal complaint to the licensing body in the absence of satisfaction from the 'service' they are providing. You may find it difficult, but you must insist on speaking to the IP. If they are not in ask to speak to another IP. If none are available ask for their direct e-mail address.

If you are not certain if you are in an IVA or DMP, have a look at this site

http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/eiir/IIRNa ... hMapIE.asp

Select 'All offices in England and Wales' and then enter your name. If you are in an IVA you will find yourself on there. If you are on a DMP you won't.

Stick to your guns and insist on speaking to an IP directly. (Get hubby to do it for you [:)])

[Lisa2009]

http://www.insolvency-service.co.uk/newipsearch.htm

Your IP's direct email address can be found here.

Hubby was with DFD and had communication problems. We found his IP's email address and emailed him. We were immidiately emailed back, not by IP, but by somebody who was very willing to help. Our queries were then sorted out.