Feeling really sad

[Viki.W]

annieq, my IP is Melanie Giles and she sent me some template letters to send out to all creditors to tell them I am doing IVA, also the IP sends letters as far as I know. Hope this helps, Viki X

[Oliver]

I would suggest that you contact you IP before you make any further payments to your creditors.

[facingittogether]

Hi Annie

Welcome to the forum - you are among people who understand what you are going through!

You have done the hardest part by facing up to your problems

Like others have said once we started the process of applying for an iva we stopped paying creditors so as not to be seen to be favouring one creditor over the other. You really should try to put some of ths money you would normally pay to creditors away as a cushion for when your iva starts. When you get the phonecalls just be firm but polite, give them your ip details,most creditors will be fine, if they should get abusive just terminate the call, you dont have to let them speak to you like that. Any correspondence we have received we have forwarded to our ip.

As to how long an iva takes to get set up, it can depend on various factors, circumstances. Ours has been quite a while because we have a lot of creditors, others on here have got theirs approved in 6 weeks or less.

Be proud you are facing your problems and keep posting as you will get lots of support and advice on here

Good luck

love barb x

[annieq]

I have spoken with our IP and he was very positive about our IVA being approved because we can afford to pay off almost 75p in the £1 - which is a good thing for our creditors.
He is very positive about it being sorted out and advised that we prioritise our living expenses but from the moment we signt he paperwork and post it back we stop paying all creditors.

We should get the paperwork on Wednesday.

I applied (by post) for a Halifax basic bank account beginning of last week and am waiting to get our bank details through - so hopefully we will have them by Wednesday. so we can get all transferred before the IVA process starts.

thank you for all your kind messages and i look forward to being able to share some good news.

[Skippy]

Hi Annie and welcome to the forum. I can't add anything to what the others have said, but I just wanted to say hi, and please keep posting as we all understand what you are going through. Most of us (not including the professionals!) have been in the same situation as you at one time or another and can understand exactly how you are feeling, and it will get better.

[chris.g]

Hiya Annie, welcome to the forum.
If your ip is very positive that your IVA will be approved, I really can't see how not paying your creditors will make any difference other than taking the pressure off you and stopping you getting deeper into debt.
Prioritise your payment, rent/council tax/utilities/food etc and make sure you pay these.
You have took the hardest step by seeking advice, now take the pressure off yourself a little. [:)]
If it makes you feel any better, you could offer a token payment of maybe £10. Your creditors may push for more from you but stand your ground.
Try not to worry too much,
xx

[kallis3]

Hi Annie,

We stopped paying our creditors once we had applied for the IVA on the instructions of our IP.

Barclaycard are one of our creditors as well, and they are notorious for their bullying tactics. Just stand firm and don't let them get to you. Barclays threatened me with doorstep collections, the lot and nothing ever materialised.

[TREES57]

Hi Annie,just wanted to welcome you to the site and say that you couldn't have come to a better place than this for help and support.We are in the process of drawing up a proposal and the phonecalls are scary,but they are not personal,in fact the call centres are probably not even aware of the full facts they just want a payment,please try not to worry and trust in your IP.Take care and keep posting xx

[lily]

Hi Annie

I just wanted to say.

Please dont worry too much, these threatening letters are really scary, they are purposefully worded like that, these people dont have that much power, not like telephone, or gas or rent people, so they scare you into thinking they do. The latter however can cut you off or throw you out. I didnt make payments to my creditors for six months, then started making token payments and didnt get taken to court. They virtually never send round collection people, they cant afford to and they have no power, even if they do call.

I have been where you are, scared of my own shadow and wanting to cry all the time, so I know what youre going through right now.

With that said, please, please, please dont go into an IVA out of panic, make sure you find out what should happen, with only 21K is quite a small amount of debt and 75p in the pound is quite a large amount as there will be fees in that too. I am not saying dont go for the IVA route just make sure you look into other options and understand everything before you go ahead. Make sure you check out your IP and company on IVA.Com and read other users accounts of the company and IP. Its so easy to grab any lifeline when youre desperate.

Finally please stop worrying about what other people think, we all have credit cards etc, ours just got out of hand. We all make mistakes, you, like most of us here know its a horrible place to be, but oh so easy to get there.

Take care, youre amongst friends here.

[kal]

Just wanted to say hi and welcome to the forum.

I cannot add really to what everyone else has said, just you are not alione, and I'm sure you like us all will find this board a great place to come and sound off about things.
It is good to come on here and speak to people who are in the same situation as you - we all understand where you are coming from and can relate to your distress at the moment.
It can only get better for you, and what your IP has told you sounds promising.
Good luck.
k.

[thanna]

The hard part is the letters and phone calls but when these pass and your iva is up and running you;ll feel a lot better for having taken the bull by the horns and paying back your debt.KEEP POSITIVE XX

[singlemum]

Hi Annie, the start of the IVA process is quite stressful, the worry of how to go about it, when to stop paying creditors and whether it will be approved etc but it does get better and as soon as it is approved it feels like a weight has been lifted. The hardest part is taking the first step. Hopw it all goes well for you xs
(25 payments made and counting!)

[annieq]

I have been moved to tears by the positive response from everyone on this site. it is a pleasure to be a member and it is nice to know that there are people who will nto look down on me for the bad decisions i have made.

My husband received an angry pohonecall this morning from Barclaycard demanding payment of £90 immediately. He said that they would have to wait as he had no funds to make the payment and they told him they would take him to court.

He called me and I told him that if they phone back he should remind them that the letter we received yesterday said that he had to make a minimum payment of £70 by 12th May or we would be taken to court and so we want any demands of a greater minimum payment or shorter deadline in writing.

We are due to receive our IVA papers today or tomorrow so we can read through them and sign them and send them back and at least then the ball is rolling.

[chris.g]

Try not to let them intimidate you Annie. To take someone to court it can take a couple of months. There are processes to go through, it doesn't happen over night.
Hopefully by that time you will be well on your way, if not there, to having an IVA.
Try to stay strong and stand your ground, if you haven't got the money you haven't got the money!!!!
xxxx

[sblack]

Well Done Annieq,
Please do not let them intimidate you too much and stay strong. You talk about Barclaycard threatening court action against you, how many payments are you behind with them ?

Good Luck with your IVA proposal !!