Hi Lisa
The first thing you should know is that there is very little your creditors can really do to you at this stage, especially if you are entering an IVA.
About the worst that could happen is you might get a CCJ, and if you are entering an IVA the IP can prevent any enforcement action being taken on this anyway.
It's a general rule of any debt situation that you shouldn't be forced to pay more than you can afford.
If your IVA doesn't work out, don't worry. Just go back to a payment plan and offer only what you can afford to pay. If it is supported by proper income/expenditure statements, your creditors will accept suprisingly small amounts, at least for a time whilst you look at your other options.
In the meantime your creditors will probable continue to moan loudly. Whether you speak to them or not is unlikely to make a jot of difference to the outcome of your IVA. Some people will tell you you need to be nice to them, but remember your creditors definition of someone who is nice to them is not someone who talks to them, it is someone who pays them.
Your IVA company/IP will probably tell you not to pay your creditors. However I can't see any reason why you can't pay them very small token amounts until the IVA takes effect. It also puts you in a better position if the IVA fails, and is about the only thing that will have any effect in keeping them off your back.
And when I say token payments I don't mean pay them when they ask. Don't. This will cause more problems than it solves. If you're going to do it and can afford it make a single small payment to all your creditors once a month at a time of your choosing.
Creditors are a lot like dogs, they bark loudly when left unattended, but can be trained to behave reasonably well.
-Best
Please view my blog at
www.go4broke.blogs.iva.co.uk
'6 years sticking my head into the Lion's mouth of debt !'
