IVA - where partner is not included?

Hobo17

I am currently in the process of having an IVA put together through The Payplan Partnership. This is solely for me, as all debt is in my name and nothing to do with my partner. However Payplan have asked for my partner's income details, to check that my household income as a whole is reasonable and that I can afford the proposed IVA repayments. As my partner and I keep entirely separate bank accounts and finances, we don't really have a "household income" as such, we split all utility and rent bills down the middle as they come in, and buy our own groceries (I would be the size of a house if I ate the same diet as he does! ), much as if we were flatsharing rather than in a relationship I guess. My partner is understandably very reluctant to be dragged into the IVA details - (he is in the fortunate position of having rich parents and therefore no debt of his own! He still doesn't know exactly how much I owe, the shock would probably kill him!) and so he doesn't want to supply his payslips. He is happy to give me details of his income and outgoings for consideration of the household budget but doesn't wish to be involved further than this or have to provide proof of income for the creditors meeting. To be honest, I would also prefer he didn't have to be involved any further than necessary, I'm very embarrassed about how much debt I have run up with nothing concrete to show for it. Are they likely to ask for actual payslips from him or require any further information from him? If so then the IVA may be a non-starter

mattp_3

The reason the creditors may ask for your partners info is that they probably believe you have both benefitted from the use of credit i.e. buying furniture, holidays, redecorating, food, clothes etc

This is very hard to prove otherwise. For all they know, your partner could have an income of £5000 per month, pays his 50% of the house hold bills and you both live the life of Riley on his income!

However, if you dont have any ties to him (joint bank accounts or joint mortgage etc) - you could say that you rent a room and that you are not tied financially.

That way it would only be based on your I&E???

Worth checking?

Hobo17

mattp wrote:

However, if you dont have any ties to him (joint bank accounts or joint mortgage etc) - you could say that you rent a room and that you are not tied financially.

That way it would only be based on your I&E???

Worth checking?

I wish I had just done this - I will mention it to payplan as it would certainly reflect our finances more exactly. But obviously I'm not too keen to lie as this is a legal procedure!

mattp_3

Errrrr yes, not suggesting you should lie as it is a legally binding agreement, but Payplan may be able to suggest a solution based on this?

I can see why the creditors take that view but it is a real pain when the debts are all yours and nothing to do with your partner!

Apple_2

mattp wrote:

For all they know, your partner could have an income of £5000 per month, pays his 50% of the house hold bills and you both live the life of Riley on his income!

Maybe I'm stupid or something but what's wrong with that ?

If I choose to pay for a holiday/run a car/get a new kitchen in, whatever - it's my money. If my O/H benefits from this lifestyle, so be it.

I'm in the same position as the OP's other half. I resent being told I have to provide evidence of my income. The debt, or in this case the IVA, is nothing to do with me so they have no right to demand information from me. I like the OP's have no financial links with my partner, and do not want to become bogged down in a financial mess posting in six months time as a 'debtfree wanabee'.

And in my case, I didn't get the benefit of spending the money. My O/H was living in a different part of the country, with a wife he divorced three years ago.

I'm not having a go - I just totally understand the position of the OP's O/H.

Hobo17

Apple wrote:

Maybe I'm stupid or something but what's wrong with that ?

If I choose to pay for a holiday/run a car/get a new kitchen in, whatever - it's my money. If my O/H benefits from this lifestyle, so be it.

I'm in the same position as the OP's other half. I resent being told I have to provide evidence of my income. The debt, or in this case the IVA, is nothing to do with me so they have no right to demand information from me. I like the OP's have no financial links with my partner, and do not want to become bogged down in a financial mess posting in six months time as a 'debtfree wanabee'.

And in my case, I didn't get the benefit of spending the money. My O/H was living in a different part of the country, with a wife he divorced three years ago.

I'm not having a go - I just totally understand the position of the OP's O/H.

I totally agree with you Apple, that's the thing - this is my mess and it seems so unfair that he may be expected to subsidise me in some way, when he has kept himself out of debt. And like I say, I would prefer to keep him out of it, I am totally embarrassed by the amount of debt I have managed to run up. Anyway, I gave them 2 income/expenditures - one for the pair of us, and one for just me - and stressed that the one for just me was a more accurate representation of my actual financial position. They seem happy with that. He doesn't earn tons anyway so it looks like the surplus is actually less if it's based on both incomes, hopefully this will mean the creditors will prefer to look at just my income.

Apple_2

Hobo17

Hope everything works out for both of you.

I wondered after I posted whether I came on too strong.

It's just in my situation - everything seems to revolve around his debt. What we can do, where we can go, whether we should have kids etc. His creditors seem to think I should pay them off, or at least , that's the impression they give ( very forcefully ). I'm tired of it, and when I saw mattp's posting it all spilled out.

Once again, I hope you get everything sorted out.