Stepchange have suggested a IVA?

cccxxxooo

Just a quick note to say I know all of these questions are really silly but I appreciate no one making me feel silly for asking them, I have struggled a lot since my mum passed at the beginning of 2023 with my mental health and the uncertainty is a bit  much when it comes to the DRO, but the alternative of bailiffs/owing lots of money to everyone is much much worse!

fatbelly

Yes, try to get a statement each month. Your bank may have a paper option that you can opt into. 

I'm pleased that you found the CA adviser helpful when you used live chat. I think some of the better advisers have gravitated towards that because the write-ups just involve copy/pasting the chat, whereas a normal debt advice interview now requires a write-up that would probably take 30 pages of A4

If your doctor had the same requirements after you had an appointment he would have to list all the ailments that you didn't have and all the treatments that you weren't going to get!

cccxxxooo

fatbelly said:

Yes, try to get a statement each month. Your bank may have a paper option that you can opt into. 

I'm pleased that you found the CA adviser helpful when you used live chat. I think some of the better advisers have gravitated towards that because the write-ups just involve copy/pasting the chat, whereas a normal debt advice interview now requires a write-up that would probably take 30 pages of A4

If your doctor had the same requirements after you had an appointment he would have to list all the ailments that you didn't have and all the treatments that you weren't going to get!

That is such a shame, I can imagine not wanting to do that much of unnecessary work! I have just finished my call with an amazing (very patient!) advisor who went through everything with me and a really detailed budget, I am not sure if I can express how much relief I feel talking to someone who is knowledgeable and non-judgmental, being able to admit all of the debts I have etc and knowing someone is helping, even if the DRO isn't an option just someone helping me work out what I can do, it takes such a huge burden off.

Thank you and thank you to the work you and your colleagues do at Citizens Advice.

I will keep this thread updated with my progress as I find it helps getting all of my thoughts/feelings written down.