Hi all, just thought I would add some comments relevent to the start of this thread. My IVA ended in Aug 2012, so 8 months ago. Since then, I have managed to gain a Capital one CC with a small credit limit that I regularly use (and pay off!) and a new car for me and my wife on credit. I am lucky in that I started a new job with a significant pay increase just as my IVA ended, so my disposable income rocketed - and I am still able to save £800 per month! I have an Experian account so I can see my defaults, but so far, am unable to start any tidying up as 8 months after my IVA ended, I still havent recieved my certificate of completion. That said, I am no rush to extend any further credit, and once the cars are paid off, will be saving hard for a Mortgage deposit - so realistically will seek no new credit now for another 3-5 years - and by then 8-10 years will have gone by since the start of the IVA - which gives me plenty of time to work to rebuild my rating and correct all of the inaccuracies that may exist. The Comp Cert is taking longer than I expected, but this is mostly due to creditor cheques not yet being cashed....
Yea, like meavericksolo, not trying to gloat, but there is a lot of life after an IVA and the time flies, especially when your back in control of your own affairs again. The old habits DO remain, but its also easy to be extravagant - because you now can - and have just spent 5 years being unable to. Arguably, credit is and still feels eveil, but to regain a credit history, you have to have some credit - so its chicken and egg stuff really. Were doing it so we can be "normal", not because we have a desperate desire for credit or we wish to go back to the dark days. One day, we may choose to buy something that exceeds our savings, and if we need some credit, we need to know that we can - rather than face the shame and embarassment of being rejected. Sorry to waffle, but but its nice to be back in charge and on top of things, but the stigma still hangs in there for me and I hate it.