Anyone else using Debt Movement for their IVA?

DFS

Hi Guys.

I am getting very nervous now about my situation.  I have been paying this company approximately for 3-4 years.  I've never had a yearly review.  A few months back I called them to explain my financial situation and to inform them that I am struggling with the current monthly payment. After about the 45mins telephone conversation, the advisor agreed that the current agreement would be revised and possibly the remaining IVA may be wiped.  He said this could take up to 12 weeks.  About 8 weeks later, I received an email from them asking me to contact the.  Obviously I assumed it was to give me the answer to the new proposed agreement, but to my surprise it was just to ask me the same questions that I was asked the 1st time.  They really were un-assuring and said that it will take another 12 weeks.   Its now 8 weeks later and no correspondence from them.  I am worried because they said on the 1st conversation, to not make any payments to them and scared that my IVA will get cancelled for breach of agreement.

TrustPilot has no positive reviews.

Please can someone advise what I should do next?

Thanks

DFS

Even their advertised website is down.

https://debtmovement.co.uk

Would I be able to just got to StepChange and start a new IVA?

flipflopflo

StepChange normally won’t talk to you if you’re in an existing arrangement but it is always worth giving them a try. There’s also National Debtline who may be able to help you. @fatbelly or @sourcrates might be able to advise if they’ve heard of any problems with your IVA company. 

May I ask how much debt was your IVA for? Do you have a mortgage or rent? Did you seek any other advice for your situation or did you just go with them?

fatbelly

You're in an IVA. You are not making payments. Your IP may have gone bankrupt (ironically)

Your debts are covered by the IVA. You will be contacted by whoever takes over their book. Nothing you can do. Or should do.

When they emerge, ask if you can complete on the basis of existing payments

https://debtcamel.co.uk/help-ivas-cost-of-living/#Will_your_IVA_firm_agree_to_complete_your_IVA_on_the_basic_of_funds_paid_to_date

RAS

They were Jarvis specialising in post-IVA trusts, apparently, and took over Grant Thornton and Aperture accounts and representatives of Dee Valley Finance.

Accounts filed last year and confirmation filed 14.4.2023 accounts due June 2023.

Looks like they've been having increasing problems over the last 6 months and people find using the complaints email or leaving  poor review on trust pilot the only way to communicate.

@DFS, do answer fliflopflo's queries.

sourcrates

I`ll just echo what the rest are saying here, wait and see who contacts you, as there book will be taken on by someone.

I also agree it would be a good juncture to ask for a settlement based on payments to date.

DFS

But they do not reply to emails and when you call them, if you eventually get through to someone like I did today, they just take your contact number and say someone will call me back.

flipflopflo questions - The original debt was for £15k or just under.  I just rent a property and have no assets.  The company was recommended by a friend so I just went with them.

sourcrates

DFS said:

But they do not reply to emails and when you call them, if you eventually get through to someone like I did today, they just take your contact number and say someone will call me back.

flipflopflo questions - The original debt was for £15k or just under.  I just rent a property and have no assets.  The company was recommended by a friend so I just went with them.

The call handlers will just be giving out a standard wait and see message until a new IP takes over there portfolio.

You will be written too in due course, when you are, that would be a good time to do as discussed above.

An IVA for someone with such a small amount of debt and no assets to protect was not the best option to choose, however I know its easy to jump on the bandwagon when they start playing your tune, many of these arrangements are mis-sold, which is why so many IVA`s fail, and also IP`s as well due to mis-selling complaints.

RAS

DFS said:

flipflopflo questions - The original debt was for £15k or just under.  I just rent a property and have no assets.  The company was recommended by a friend so I just went with them.

An IVA is occasionally suitable for someone with over £30k debt, a house or other assets to protect and a decent, stable income.

I suspect the decent reviews come from people who've just signed up and are grateful for someone who says they can take pressure off them. I feel sorry for the people who say they waiting 15 months or more for completion certificates.

Stop worrying, put aside your reduced "payments" and wait for the new provider to get in touch. Then ask for them to accept payments to date to settle the IVA.

Come back here for help when the new provider gets in touch.

DFS

** UPDATE **

Just received this email from Debt Movement.

Debt Movement UK are committed to supporting our clients on their journey to financial freedom. We faced some technical issues last week which resulted in disruption for clients trying to contact us via email and our website. We apologise for any disruption that may have been caused to you and we are continuing to work hard to restore full functionality.

In the meantime, please take note of our updated contact information.
You can now contact us via the following channels:

• To contact us via telephone: 0333 987 0000
• To contact us via email: clientservices@debtmovementuk.co.uk
• To make a card payment via our website: https://debtmovementuk.co.uk

Please do not use any other numbers or contact details until further notice.

Please note that 0330 380 1707 and 0330 380 1706 are no longer in operation or authorised by Debt Movement UK and any emails sent through to our previous email addresses (ending in debtmovement.co.uk) will not be received. We do apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

You can continue to view and upload documents, complete your Income and Expenditure, as well as view your creditor information and payment history via our docslink portal - https://docslink.uk/outside/login using your existing username and password.

As we regularly post updates to our social media pages, we would encourage you to follow these pages to ensure that you receive our updates in a timely manner.

• Follow us on Facebook: DebtMovementUK
• Follow us on LinkedIn: debtmovementuk

Yours Sincerely,

Laura Prescott
Supervisor

DFS

1st positive sign in months