DRO, but what about my car?

madpiano

Hello

I am in serious trouble. I have some debts which I was hoping to be able to go on an IVA for. I am struggling with money since all the prices have shot up for everything and was hoping I could arrange something. Was going to sort it all out this week, but I have just had the devastating news that I owe council tax for several years. My Ex was supposed to have paid this but obviously never has and now the bailiffs are chasing me. They chased me before (about 3 months ago) and I said I dispute that I owe the money and they said they would get back to me. I didn't hear anything and suddenly I have a letter from the same bailiff that he is coming to remove my goods. I called the company he works for and said I can't offer more than £5/week and they said I have to speak to the bailiff, it's nothing to do with them. I called the council and they refuse to take the debt back. So I am stuck now. I don't have the money.

As I have other debts as well, I was considering a DRO (there is no chance I can get £700 together to go BR), but my problem is my car. I am sure it is worth more than £1000, but I need it to go to work. I need a reliable car, as I have to be at work at 6am to release the nightshift. I can't afford to drive an old banger that may or may not start in the mornings. There is no public transport to get me there for 6am and other people rely on me to be there on time. So what do I do?

My car isn't flashy - it is a 2003 VW Polo. But it's reliable (although it desperately needs a service and something is wrong with the fuel injectors) and doesn't need a lot of petrol. Do they ever make an exception when it comes to the value of the car? It would be stupid to sell it and buy a banger that will cost me a fortune to get repaired every 5 minutes and leave me financially worse off with the possibility of losing my job on top of it?

And one more important thing - until I can get the Bailiff off my back - how do I hide my car?

Penelope_Penguin

madpiano wrote: »

I am in serious trouble. I have some debts which I was hoping to be able to go on an IVA for.

As I have other debts as well, I was considering a DRO (there is no chance I can get £700 together to go BR), but my problem is my car. I am sure it is worth more than £1000,

Do they ever make an exception when it comes to the value of the car?

How much do you owe? If you were seriously considering an IVA, I find it surprising that you would also be eligible for a DRO.

If your car is worth more than £1000 you won't be eligible for a DRO - no exceptions.

Have you taken impartial advice on your options? I's suggest you have a chat with one of the free debt advice agencies.

debt_doctor

Hi,

As PP says, there are no exceptions but why dont you check the value on parkers guide rather than just guessing? From what you say, re needing a service and faulty injectors, you should use the 'poor' category of valuation. Also the valuation is based upon average milage for the year, if yours is high mileage it will be worth significantly less. You could then use the enhanced check (costs about £4 i think) to get value with appropriate mileage and print it off as evidence.
I ve done that a couple of times when the 'free' valuation was inaccurate due to mileage, both were accepted by the IS, so was one where I sent in a valuation by an independent trader.

DD

pstuart

How will they know that you have a car?

Penelope_Penguin

pstuart wrote: »

How will they know that you have a car?

They won't unless you tell them, but fail to disclose and you could be commiting an offence.

Your costs in the "travel" section might be a giveaway, though If you then leave them out, you may exceed the available income limit.

madpiano

I checked the free Parker and it is worth (even in poor condition) £2000 - I might be able to knock a couple of quid off for high mileage, but generally Polos hold their value well.

ok, so failing that, what can I do?

Original Price £11,735
Independent Dealer £3,140
Private Good £2,700
Private Poor £1,955
Part Exchange £2,225

vax2002

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

They won't unless you tell them, but fail to disclose and you could be commiting an offence.

You have a right to silence.

debt_doctor

vax2002 wrote: »

You have a right to silence.

....you don't have a right to fail to disclose a material fact in obtaining a DRO........

debt_doctor

madpiano wrote: »

I checked the free Parker and it is worth (even in poor condition) £2000 - I might be able to knock a couple of quid off for high mileage, but generally Polos hold their value well.

ok, so failing that, what can I do?

Original Price £11,735
Independent Dealer £3,140
Private Good £2,700
Private Poor £1,955
Part Exchange £2,225

Hi,
Nothing unfortunately, you cannot have a DRO whilst you own that vehicle at its present value.
Sorry.

DD

wba31

debt_doctor wrote: »

Hi,
Nothing unfortunately, you cannot have a DRO whilst you own that vehicle at its present value.
Sorry.

DD

The DRO Unit once told us that as long as 3 written valuations from traders can be produced by the debtor confirming that the car is actually worth less than £1000 then they will accept this and approve the DRO.

Take your car to 3 traders, ask them for an accurate valuation. If they say it is less than £1000 ask for the valuation in writing on their headed paper, then this will serve as evidence to the vehicle's value. It must be a valuation however, and not how much they would buy it from you for, those two figures would be quite different...

madpiano

Ok, I will try the traders - but assuming that it fails, my only other option is BR. How on earth do people get £700 together to go for BR? I mean if I had that kind of money lying around, I wouldn't need BR?