Accuma Insolvency

Bex1980_2

My first ever post....
In 2005 I was granted an IVA through Accuma Insolvency of which I paid off a year (£450 per month) but still had a way to go. I contacted Accuma a year later as I was going on maternity with my first child with my new finance sheet for what I could pay when I went back to work part time. I was told they had recieved and I would hear in due course. I didnt hear anything and what with a new baby, a move and all the bits in between I didnt really give it much thought. Baby number 2 came along and still I worked part time. I came accross my Accuma papers last year with a cold sweat, and after googling Accuma I understood that they had gone into recievership and instead of investigating further I just hoped I had fallen off the radar. However, 3 months ago MacKenzie Hall got in touch to say they were after an outstanding debt going back to 2002 for £800. They have sent me the copy agreement as I wasn't sure if they were just trying their luck. After speaking to MHall they arent aware that this debt was covered by an IVA, which it was. I just wanted to know if anyone else had IVA with Accuma and what happened with them? Would all of the debts of been written off (fairytale) or has another compnay taken them over and its only a matter of time that I get a knock at the door? Thank you for any help

Charco_2

Realisitically, these debts are not going to go away!

First thing I would do is check the INsolvency Register to see if your name is still on there

http://www.insolvency.gov.uk/eiir/

I would be stunned if it was but you should still check!

The next thing is that Grant Thornton bought the Accuma book so they would have taken over your case. You said you moved house so perhaps they were unable to contact you and it is likely you didn't hear about it when they failed your IVA (which if they were on the ball they would've had to do by now!)

MacKenzie Hall have been able to track you down and in all likeliness you owe this debt - and perhaps others!

Contact Grant Thornton in Belfast and see if they can track down your details - legally they have to hold onto the information in their archives for six years so don't accept it if they say they don't have the information, it might just be difficult for them to find it! Remind them of their duties and that you're sure they dont want a complaint about them to the regulators. When they bought the Accuma book they bought the rights and the duties that go with it!

There is such a thing as a statute bar for debts which limits your liability to six years since the debts were last recognised... this would be six years from when the IVA was failed so you might want to know when that was! GT should also be able to provide you with the details of the debts (who is owed what) which you should also find out.

As I said though, these debts are still out there and realisitically wont just go away... think about how you are going to deal with them if they all come back!

A new IVA? A Debt Man? BR? Move house again and hope not to be tracked down!?

In all likeliness the debts are going to have been farmed out or sold on to debt collection agencies a long time ago... this would give you a greater scope to offer greatly reduced lump sums to end those debts. The banks you originally owed the debts to have probably long ago given them up as bad debts and sold them for a fraction of their value... the collection company then takes the risk that they wont get the full amount back but they might get more than they bought it for!

Bex1980_2

Thank you so much - I'm not listed on the IVA database but will bite the bullet and face the demons. I've spoken to Mackenzie Hall and have told them they are just going to have to wait whilst I'm in talks with Grant Thornton -your advice has been really helpful and given me a kick up the backside; thank you!

mel12

I'm wondering if a 2002 debt might be statute barred by now?

Take some advice before talking to any more creditors!

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=16784045&postcount=5

Charco_2

I already mentioned that in my post above... if you've recognised the debt in your IVA in 2005 and contributed towards it for a while thereafter then it wont be statute barred!

nickybutch

Hi, I was with Accuma when I started my IVA in March 2007 but in May 2009 Grant Thornton took over it.
Grant Thornton have been OK with mine so far ... My IVA ends in March 2012 and I have an IVA variation so it is possible that they have taken over your IVA.
Ring Grant Thornton in Belfast on Monday to see if it is there.