New, Scared, Uncertain and very worried

[kilohurtz]

Have any of you had any dealings DFD (Debt Free Direct). I would be interested in hearing any views or stories good or bad.

Something happened today that has worried me a little bit about the competance of the company. They think they have sent my IVA pack out to a wrong address. I am fuming and awaiting confirmation back from DFD. This pack will have all my personal details in it and in the wrong hands could cause me a big headache.





Regards
Steve

[lily]

All I would say Steve is that this is one of the most important decisions of your life, you must be 100 per cent happy with what happens and who proposes for you. I have no experience with Debt Free Direct but I think I spoke to them when I saw an advert on TV. A possible problem with these big glossy advert type firms is that they handle a lot of IVA's so they cant really offer a personal touch, as with all high volume companies there may be a couple of mistakes. With that said I can understand why you feel unsettled.

It is going to be hard, its a very difficult time, it kind of spins in your head umtil youre too exhausted to think straight or care. You will have good and bad days but you will be moving forward even though it dosent feel like it. Every problem has a solution (not always the solution we want) but the solution will come through the awful mist and blackness that you are feeling right now.

You do come across as a very caring Father, we all make mistakes and we learn from them, a good many people have walked this road and many are yet to do so in this buy now pay later culture, facing the problem is not the action of a failure. Please dont think that, ever.

Although I have already said this, make sure that you look at all possible options.



lily

[kilohurtz]

HI Lily,

Did you need to do an IVA if you did may I ask who you went with and made you go with them?

Of course you dont have to answer that.

I am a little worried about seeing different companies as each my personal details are going to need to be given. This worries me.

Thank you for your kind and caring words.

Regards
KiloHurtz

[lily]

Hi

Its a long story but I wanted an IVA just the word Bankruptcy sent me to the loo. I rang a few companies just to get the feel for IVA, I didnt give my real name but the amounts and the creditors were the same. I decided to go with accuma. To be honest I was amazed at the different things I was told by the different companies I rang. Not all of the options I could have taken were explained by some but they were by others. Some wanted up front fees, and the time scales to get up and running were variable to say the least. I lost my job and couldnt get another in time, I decided on BR in the end it wasnt as scary as I thought (ie I wasnt going to be sitting on the floor in my underwear) The decision was the very best in my circumstances and I was really helped by the lovely people on this forum, that was in 2005. I am a single mom and have two autistic kids living at home, I couldnt commit to full time employment, I have no assets.

As it happens in Dec 2005 by circumstances changed again and I didnt go BR.

At the time when I realised I was in over my head and could no longer rob peter to pay paul, I just wanted the nightmare over and done with, I feel its so easy just to grab the first life boat on the end of a simpathetic ear, with both hands but I found that with all of the companies I spoke with, I mean the sympathetic ear. I was so scared and felt so stupid. Its so worth taking the time to get this thing right, its a huge commitment and five years is a long time.

This is only my own opinion, but if I was in that situation today I would try Melanie, she wasnt posting then when I first joined, I would trust her.

I really feel for you in that situation right now because just writing about my nightmare brings that feeling of hopelessness back. I feel strongly that anyone in this situation deserves to be treated with the utmost care and respect, sadly in my experience this doesnt seem to be the case.

Good luck and best wishes.



lily

[kilohurtz]

Hi,

Well after a very worrying start with DFD and the fact that they thought they had sent my IVA pack to the wrong address, it finally arrived today. So far I have counted 15 mistakes in the details they have typed for me to what was said on the phone.

Apparently I brought my house in 1954, yet I’m only 35, do the math?

I think I want to look for someone else, if a company who thought they sent my IVA pack to another address and one who cannot type down the correct information as it was given to them over the phone I don’t think I really want incompetence representing me, it was hard enough to make the phone call.


GGGGrrrrrrrrr!!!!!


Regards
KiloHurtz

[MelanieGiles]

That is very disappointing to hear from the firm who does the most IVAs per annum by far. In choosing someone to represent you, you must be happy that you can work with that firm not just in the time it takes to get creditors approval, but also for the full five year term.

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[Helper and Seeker]

If it was not for DFD's tv advert I never would of known about IVA's

But I would not touch them with a barge pole, but I still thank them.

Look for a company which is about you and not about how much money they can make off you.

There is only 2 such companies in existance I chose one of them.

Then there are lots of other wonderful independents such as Melanie and her team and others like her which realy will help you and by her posts on here really do have the experience..

But sadly at the end of the day depending on your circumstances depends who you go with. If you have a run of the mill story and circumstances then DFD probably will do. But if you have complications then DFD and those with less experience are totally clueless as I found when in my first talks with many companies.

[kilohurtz]

There is only 2 such companies in existance I chose one of them.

Hi Helper and Seeker

thanks for the reply.

Could I be cheeky and ask the names of the two companies you are speaking of?

thank you

Regards
KiloHurtz

[kilohurtz]

[

Hi Ladyh,

Thank you for your reply.

I think it would be best for me to find another company. Everyone makes mistakes for sure but I would have hoped not straight away, and not multiple mistakes. I just get the feeling I will constantly be in their toes checking everything when I am hoping to get something set up, pay each month and try and put it behind me.

You touched on a very good point in that you don’t often get to speak to the same person twice. I find this quite hard because I feel very embarrassed about my situation and feel like a failure, telling different people the same story over and over is quite stressful.


Regards
KiloHurtz

[MelanieGiles]

Most people in this industry are completely non-judgemental, Kilohurz, indeed the reason why we became insolvency practitioners was because we enjoy and want to help people like yourself, so don't worry about having to chat through problems with someone else - it can be quite therapeutic to share your difficulties with a stranger sometimes, and bear in mind that you are working to a better future.

Regards, Melanie Giles, Insolvency Practitioner for over 20 years.

To have me propose an IVA for you, please visit:
http://www.melaniegiles.com/ivaEnquiry.asp

See customer feedback at:
http://www.iva.com/iva_companies/IVA_Advice_Bureau.asp

[emma_t]

Hi kilohurtz

I did not go with the first company I took advice from, it was not until I found this forum that I knew I had not been given the whole picture and I did not feel confident in the way I was a case number and had to book phone appointments with them. Don't feel obligated just because they have given you advice so far as it is a big decision.
in the end I found this forum and approached Melanie who I had 100% confidence in from the get go. I like you was so nervous, ashamed of my mess and all these feelings are normal but I was given good, honest and sound advice from her team and never had a doubt that I would end up with an iva I could make work.
If you want to see feedback on companies have a look at www.iva.com as the best people to tell you of the competancy of a company are the clients themselves.
It is such a worrying time I know but keep your chin up and look after yourself and always remember the forum, it has been a lifeline for me as so many wonderful people with so much experience and support
Good luck
Emma x

[Helper and Seeker]

Hey Steve,

I knew you would ask me that and nowt cheeky about it I did not name them as I cannot really remember the other one too accurately.

Payplan who is whom I chose to go with. The other is CCCS or CCRS or something like that both of these are still a business so need to cover their costs but are truly independent. And financed by other firsm I know Payplan is sponsered by firms such as Asda, Virgin etc etc so that for me was good backing.

With Payplan I did get passed from piller to post but each piller and post had a name and a contact direct line and was easy to chat to and made me feel like their only client even though I knew they had another 50 or so to deal with.

How Payplan perform later on I have no idea I could well be saying there after care is bad but so far they have been spot on. I even got a nice phone call and email about 3 days ago asking if I was all okay and if I needed even a general chat about anything to just call.

Yes they made errors but with the situation they had to deal with they have been superb. And when I did moan about something they had plans to rectify it already and a new department and procedure was already being implemented so that impressed me also that they listened and acted on customer feedback.

It took them however 3 attempts to send me out some green stickers so my mail gets sorted to the correct department but hey I can cope with that, although an empty envelope was intersting to receive!

And you must remember that these people hear our sob stories everyday. People gettimg themselves in a right old pickle due to their own stupidity down to people just having really bad luck and no other choice but to live beyond their means to support their families.

People judge each other and at the end of the day who the hell are they anyway as the old addage is he who is with out sin cast the first stone or something like that I remember from my childhood assemblies.

And even more importantly to remember your immediete family is all the opinions that should matter your partner and kids and everyone else can and should take a hike and they never know all the facts anyway.

Okay thats my rant over with - sorry dealt with a piece of total scum today who said I would never buy anything unless I have the money in my account to pay for it outright - I thought good for you - you obviously have never had a family crisis and no where to turn for financial support and obviously been rich all your life. Funny how women tend to be more righteous about this kind of thing than men.

Never feel a failure or embaressed. Credit is too readily given it should be the financial institutions that should be embaressed as think of all these wrong business deceisions they have made.

Also remember this very very important point :-

What ever deceision and choices we have ever made, are the ONLY and BEST decisions and choices we can make at THAT time with all the info we have to hand at THAT PRECISE moment in time.

Hang in there and keep us posted on how you are getting on.


Just started my IVA as from 12.10.07

[ellie 553]

Surely your partner (even ex-partner) & kids are your immediate family H&S??

[Helper and Seeker]

Surely your partner (even ex-partner) & kids are your immediate family H&S??

Ellie get a grip will you [;)]

your kids are always your kids.

And your ex well theres a reason they are your ex or else you would still be with them and if their opinion really counted you'd still be with them - ooh I repeated myself then didnt I - but hopefully point made.

Two of my ex's are still great mates of mine as are their new other halves. but their opinions are just that opinions. My current partner thats what is important as he is who I am making my life with.





Just started my IVA as from 12.10.07


What ever deceision and choices we have ever made, are the ONLY and BEST decisions and choices we can make at THAT time with all the info we have to hand at THAT PRECISE moment in time - so no regrets!!

[ellie 553]

i understand you are going through a hard time but those hard decisions (and I am going through this too at the moment) must be made with your family in mind - ie the family that you need to support & not the ones that havev done that job already