www.iva.co.uk

I wonder if you can help. My sister got into financial difficulties and contacted a company to enter into an IVA. This company (the name of which I do not have) asked her for £800 payable in instalments of 2 x £400, which she duly paid. The company then did nothing and when she tried to get her money back they refused. She asked Trading Standards to get involved and they paid the company a visit, however, my sister is still £800 out of pocket (which she can obviously ill afford). She has subsequently entered into an IVA with a reputable company (used by a major retail company for their staff).

My question is; Have you come across this type of scenario before? If so, is there any suggested path to follow to try to recover the £800? (my sister has only told me about this situation tonight (it happened around 8 months ago), hence the details I have are a bit sketchy.

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated as I am determined to recover the money for her (through the courts if necessary, if that is an option).

Matt

Yes I have heard of this type of thing before. You need to find out which company was involved, please let us know.

Tony

Yes,find out the name of the company and advise asap
regards

The company's name is 'The Debt Counsellors' and are based in Borehamwood in Herts. They actually moved to a different address in Borehamwood shortly after the visit from the Trading Standards people. Aparently they are owned by a company called SYNERGY. What is more worrying is that when she was asked to sent the cheque she was asked to make it payable to an individuals name rather than the company name. Despite letters from my sister and then afterwards from my mother the company has still refused to reimburse the money.

Hi
Well Synergi have not had good feedback on this forum and to pay money to an individual is very worrying.
I suggest you contact the Insolvency Service on 020 7637 1110 and find out which body licenses this company and then write to "the debt counsellors" and copy it to the relevent licensing body.
Good luck

i can tell you exactly who the governing body is it is
the insolvency practitioners association
Valiant House, 4-10 Heneage Lane, London, EC3A 5DQ please put in a complaint i have one lodged already, unfortunately they tell you they can't help with the reimbursement of monies paid you have to do this through a professional person, but if you complain it will add more weight to mine and for yourselves this company has led to so many failed iva's and rejected iva's also taking money up front when hey know they will not be accepted and they poscket the money please put in a complaint
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/

Thank you very much, I will contact the Insolvency Practitioners Association as suggested. Scaredkez, did you consider taking legal action to recover the up front fees you payed to Synergi?

hi matt i am waiting the outcome of the findings of the IPA at present, i can't afford to take legal action against them at present.
i will let you know how it goes it has been over 2 weeks since all the paperwork has gone in.
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/

Kerri, please do, I am collating all the info from my sister at the moment in order to get my letter to the relevant people.
Regards

still haven't heard anything as yet just a letter to say they have received all my paperwork
regards
kerri

Please view my blog at: http://scaredkez.blogs.iva.co.uk/