Clearstart.org - anyone dealt with them? Are they 'kosher?'

ccastley

Hi all,

We're reluctantly looking at an IVA after a calamitous couple of years including a near-fatal head injury, a chronic illness and two lost jobs. Hey ho.

We have contacted an organisation called Clear Start via the Insolvency Helpline website. Does anybody have any experience with these guys and any advice as to whether we've gone to the wrong place?

We need to move quick as we have an interim charging order placed on our property which is due to be in court again on the 24th. This is due to a car finance loan my husband took out prior to meeting me for 20k, 10k of which they received back in cash and when he lost his job he gave them the car back which was worth about 14k. We though that was that as we didn't hear anything more from them until Christmas Eve when we received a letter from the Land Registry(!). We'd never even heard of a Charging Notice and I had no idea they could do something like this. They asking for over 14k! They had our address and did not write to us at all prior to hearing from the Land Registry and then their solicitors on the 28th with the 14k figure (which they will not accept part payment or installment payment for). Any advice anyone has on this would also be appreciated.

Happy New Year to you all! :beer: I'm sure it will be for us because after all, it can't get much worse....can it?! Oh darn....I've said it now...

HTH from you all soon!

Crystal

RAS

Welcome

Given the short time-scale you are operating on, I would recommend speaking to one of the debt charities as well.

See here for contacts: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan#help

I am not up on insolvency BUT, if you contact an Insolvency Help-line you have immediately reduced your options to either Bk or an IVA and there may be other options available to you.

If after speaking to the debt charities, you find that Insolvency is the best option, then the Help-line is obviously well placed to help you.

You may find it helpful to look at the charitys' web-sites so that you understand the difference between BK, IVA, DMP etc.

stapeley

Just giving back the car was it seems a bad idea . You have no control over the price its sold for ! If anyone else gets in this position , i would advise to sell to recognised dealer . Even at a lower price you can then insure the money goes to the right company ! I would certainly advise legal help in this case , seems you have been treated badly ,and a solicitor could put any action on hold . BEST OF LUCK TO YOU

ccastley

We also have an appointment with Christians Against Poverty who also deal with IVAs on the 9th, so I'll keep you all posted. We actually had this appointment anyway to draw up a DMP but after this coming up too, the situation has obviously worsened so I've informed them and they think they can help. Thanks RAS.

Stapeley - I know....hindsight is 20/20 as they say. We just wanted rid of the car as soon as we knew we couldn't afford it. By this point we were also in arrears and the car finance was being fussy about us selling it because of this so we didn't know where we stood in terms of ownership to be honest and didn't want to be selling on a car that may not be strictly ours in case of repercussions on the person buying.

Unfortunately we can't afford a solicitor and legal aid is very difficult to come by now, but Christians Against Poverty seem wonderful and feel strongly that they can help.

Hopefully this will come to a happy conclusion, but thanks again for getting back to me and I'll keep you posted.

Anyone with experience of similar situations, we would love to hear from you too. good or bad so we know what to expect.

Thanks again

Crystal

ccastley

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tigerfeet2006

Christians against Poverty are good and should be able to give you some great advice. While you are waiting for your interview with them why don't you ring National Debtline (number in my signature.) You can never get to much advice I always say and it's free, even the phone call!

ccastley

Thanks Tiger I will be putting together an SOA of sorts in the next few days and starting a thread. I will also call national debtline. the day i ended up calling clearstart they were closed for Christmas, and quite right too! Can't believe they sent the above mentioned documents at such a time!

Thanks again