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Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:43 pm
by frazzled1234
Hi,
I have just started to talk to IVA firms and yesterday spoke to Clearstart who were very helpful.
However they have arranged to send me out a pack by Thursday and are then coming on Friday to pick up all my stuff by courier.
This seems a little quick to me in the sense of i was going to investigate one or 2 more firms.
They also said they charge no fees but claim back from creditors - does this approach work or would creditors be even more likely to agree if am am using a company that charges me the fees.
Any advice on whether or not to shop round for an IVA or anyone with any info about clearstart. i have to stick with this for 5 years and dont want to make the wrong decision.
many thanks for any replies
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:48 pm
by ianmillington
The typical IVA will inevitably provide for the IP fees to come out of the fund, so unless your total contributions over the (typical 5 year) term of the VA equate to 100% of your debt then the creditors pay the fees.
I would agree that to give you 24 hours and then have a courier call at your door seems a bit on the quick side.
Ian
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 1:51 pm
by cat 1
I'm with Clearstart.They have been fine with me so far.They do collect all my courier etc and it feels very 'fast', but they also got my IVA through fast which was less stressful than keep robbing Peter to pay paul situation. Cat
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:11 pm
by size5
I would advocate ALWAYS taking more than one opinion. Go to
www.iva.com and read some real life reviews there.
Make sure you have been told about fees and NEVER pay any money upfront. After all, an IVA cannot be guaranteed until the creditors meeting.
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:16 pm
by Jo Rolland
You should speak to at least 2 different companies. As the previous poster has said visit
www.iva.com as this will perhaps help you with your choice.
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:03 pm
by caraf
We are with Clearstart too, they have been brilliant with us too, no faults at all up to now anyway !!!
Yes they did arrange a courier to call for all our documents, but like you they tried to collect the very next day and I just told them no, I could not get everything ready and didnt want to be rushed into it, so they asked then what day suited us best. We then at this point gave ourselves 4 days breathing space to get things ready. But once they where collected everything moved along very quickly. In fact I was surprised at how quick things did happen.
Hope this helps
CAROL
x
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:26 pm
by rachellxx39
We are also with Clearstart.Our iva was approved 7th Jan 2008 and our first meeting with them was 6th nov 2007. We were also offered the courier service but as we lived near the office we went with our documents and met our ad visor face to face. They do move quick but i preferred it that way .I was very depressed and upset at creditors calling and sending letters that i couldnt cope anymore and wanted my debts sorted.My husband was againest the idea of an iva to start with. He is a very proud man and didnt want to admit we had a problem.After our meeting with our ad visor however he could see that we just couldnt carry on as we were doing. I have always found Clearstart friendly,understanding and completely professional.I would recommend them to anyone .I hope this helps you .
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:28 pm
by rachellxx39
rachellxx39 wrote:
We are also with Clearstart.Our iva was approved 7th Jan 2008 and our first meeting with them was 6th nov 2007. We were also offered the courier service but as we lived near the office we went with our documents and met our ad visor face to face. They do move quick but i preferred it that way .I was very depressed and upset at creditors calling and sending letters that i couldnt cope anymore and wanted my debts sorted.My husband was againest the idea of an iva to start with. He is a very proud man and didnt want to admit we had a problem.After our meeting with our ad visor however he could see that we just couldnt carry on as we were doing. I have always found Clearstart friendly,understanding and completely professional.I would recommend them to anyone .I hope this helps you .If you feel though that they are moving to quick for you then take your time ,look around at other companies. as you say its for 5 years and you want to be happy.
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 11:56 am
by andrea2
I have spoken to Clearstart and I had my IVA information collected by the courier on Monday. I had a phone call today to say that as Clearstart are extremely busy at the moment they are going to hand my case over to Debt Free Direct who is a sister company of theirs. Has anyone else been told this?
Thanks
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 12:03 pm
by ianmillington
I'm told that DFD bought Clearstart last summer
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:12 pm
by size5
Yes they did.
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:40 pm
by Karen.c
I am with clearstart and have been since last march, yes they are pretty quick but I needed that at the time as I really wanted to get things moving and creditors off my back, I have just sent my IP a letter asking to call a variation meeting before my first yearly review as i am already struggling to keep up with the £449 monthly payment which is half my monthly wage, so i will keep you posted on any news
)
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:44 pm
by marsha1
Im with Clearstart, they have been great with me. I did not want the courier service so I just saidI wouldst al stuff back to them.
I asked them to hold off proceedings while I sorted my new bank account out and they were happy to only go ahead when I said they could.
I have had no problems so far. Good luck