Anyone had an IVA through Stepchange (CCCS)

[Jones16]

I've sent my paperwork off to them and am awaiting my draft proposal but I can't find people's reviews about them, good or bad?!
Has anyone been/still with them, who can share their experience?

[lem]

I believe they forward you onto grant Thornton, have a read through the forum on some of the posts regarding GT and come to your own conclusions!

[Jones16]

I knew they 'passed it on' but wasn't sure to who so thanks for that when could I pull out with them if i wanted to? I've sent off all the paperwork and am waiting for them to put a draft together?

[Foggy]

Hi. Stepchange do handle some of their own IVA's --- the straightforward ones. Others they pass on, generally to GT.

You can pull out at anytime up until your creditors meeting, but bear in mind that they are putting in work on your behalf for which they will not get paid, so it is better for all to settle on a company as soon as possible.

If you are wobbling, pop over to www.iva.com and have a look at the companies there, Ring a couple up for a free chat to compare advice and to get a feeling for who you might prefer to work with.

Personally, and this is no reflection on Stepchange or GT, I would prefer a smaller company with a more personal approach to that of the IVA factories.

[shrews]

Hi we are with Stepchange we have had no problems even had a payment break when i lost my mum.Hope you go on ok .

[MelanieGiles]

If they are going to refer you out to another Insolvency Practitioner, why not ask them if you can choose which one.

[luna]

Hi,

We have an inter-locking IVA with Stepchange and have found them to be very efficient.
They ensured everything was covered including our mortgage which had an interest only element to it finishing during the course of the IVA.
My wifes car was sorted prior to the IVA as it was 3 years old and needing a balloon payment.
We have the 10/50/50 on any bonuses and our pensions were un-affected.
Our yearly reviews have been straightforward thus far too.
Ours was quite a large debt as well.

Regards.

[FormerlyST1100]

I am just over half way through my IVA with Stepchange (CCCSVA) and, apart from never having contact with my IP direct, have had no problems with them.

They "tweaked" my annual review expenditure figures a little which meant I did not pay any more and there was no problems when the car I had went the distance and I had to sell that for parts and my motorbike to get another car.

They just ask, if you go over the 10% on bonuses/ overtime, that you send a copy of that wage slip and any extra payment due within the 14 days and provided bank account details, if required, so you can pay this via direct bank transfer (useful with a Smile/ Coop online bank account).

If I had read this forum before going for the IVA though, and they were going to pass it onto GT, I would have looked elsewhere for a more personal orientated provider.

[Michael Peoples]

I believe they only have one IP for their tens of thousands of clients so it might be worth getting another opinion.

[stirling]

Hey Jones16, I've been with them since May 2009 and had no problems. I'm just starting my 5th year and even though I've never had contact with my IP (never needed to)always found them accomodating with any issues or problems.

[josu]

I am with a company where you dont get direct contact with your IP but i did track mine down once and emailed him. He responded immediatly so it can be done and most of the time you dont actually need them as long as your case handlers are good.

[Jones16]

Thank you for all your replies, I think I will ask who it will be with and go from there

[MelanieGiles]

Stepchange may have tens of thousands of cases, but relatively few IVAs compared to their DMP portfolo, which has always seemed a little odd to me unless they refer the majority of their IVAs to Grant Thornton.

[Michael Peoples]

Only a cynic would even think that the fact that StepChange are funded by the banks in any way influences their advice. Surely their one IP can give best advice to all the tens of thousands of clients....

[MelanieGiles]

In fairness, I think Jackie does a great job for the IVA clients she acts for, but ultimately I don't think she has much influence over which cases are transferred to her by the assocated charity - where the main business seems to be focussed around DMPs.

That said, all clients are free to choose whichever IP they want to act for them, and good research often throws up different alternatives and approaches to cases.