SOA - can you have a look please?

Raphael

beentheredonethatstilhere wrote: »

Ask them for a breakdown on how they came to that figure.

It's the exact amount of the surplus I have every month after my allowed expenses.
It's not actually taken from benefits because my housing and council tax benefits go directly towards paying my rent and council tax, with the other expenses taken from my income, and £75 leftover.

Raphael

beentheredonethatstilhere wrote: »

Right, I have just rang the AIB and asked " If I have £533 per month income and £302 per month benefits and I had say, £75 left after the outgoings had been agreed by the trustee, would I have to make a contribution?"

Answer from the nice lady at the AIB was "No! definatly not!"

So, I think you need to challenge this after you get it in writing.

Thanks I'll wait for the letter and look into it, what should I say to them, should I get advice from someone before I challenge it?

beentheredonethatstilhere

Ring Scottish National Debtline and the AIB helpline and get as much formal infomation as you can. If you can quote the the relevant sections with all the numbers from their manuals it really helps your case.

Send a PM to coolcait, she is one of our Scottish members and she may be able to help as well. The Scottish and English rules are so different and I don't want to steer you wrong.

Raphael

beentheredonethatstilhere wrote: »

Ring Scottish National Debtline and the AIB helpline and get as much formal infomation as you can. If you can quote the the relevant sections with all the numbers from their manuals it really helps your case.

Right, I contacted them both, AIB's reply was:

The amount of the contribution to be paid towards your bankruptcy an arrangement made between you and the Trustee, who in your case is an Insolvency Practitioner at KPMG.

This arrangement is negotiable and in the first instance you should contact them and provide details and proof that they are asking for too much. If you are unsuccessful and you strongly feel it is an unreasonable request then you should contact their governing body. The details of the appropriate body should be provided on KPMG's headed paper on all correspondence you receive.

I then spoke to someone from National Debtline, who said that if £75 was my surplus, that's what they would go for when deciding the amount of an IPA.

Because I'm self-employed, he told me I should contact business debtline specifically (even though my debt was personal), and see if they could go through my business expenditure with me.

I don't really see the point, I have to say it's a bit disheartening, I could try and make more money and know that I don't stand a chance of seeing a penny of it, or I could just sit back and take it easy (which after several years of working stupid hours, and struggling to even get a week off per year, is something I could do with), let my income drop, knowing that benefits will get adjusted and make up for the rent etc, and that I just won't get an IPA if I end up with no surplus.