iMoneyManager - free debt management software

[blind-as-a-bat]

Ok, after swapping a few PM's with James, and as a sign of good faith, I will retract part of the above post.

The app is not ready to do what it claims, I still maintain that fact, but I see the potential, and I can see this ‘idea’ filling a ‘void’, but to present it as it is now still makes it dangerous.

I Suggest it is, for now, presented as a ‘work in progress’ which to be fair is what James has hinted at from the start, but it is not a solution yet, it still has a long way to go.

I am sorry this post is a bit vague, but what has been discussed is not for me to disclose, I hope you all respect my view here, what is said by PM needs both parties consent before it can be repeated on the open forum, but in the interest of openness and transparency, I have been working on a similar project, which is why I see this apps potential, but I also share the reservations of some of the other posts in this thread, which is one reason mine is still a project, and may stay that way.

There are still a lot of unanswered questions besides the usefulness of the app, I just hope they can be addressed too.

[Wintry]

Hi, On the subject of transparency and unanswered questions.................................................... And just to add, in my opinion, I do not believe there is a cat in hells chance of creditors signing up to this system.

Edited June 9, 2010 by Wintry

[blind-as-a-bat]

and if they did, the debtors would be asking why they have, whats the catch?

 

Fun this game;)

 

Just a shame thats what it has ended up as, a sick game

[Wintry]

Hi Wintry,

 

Stop the Worry ceased trading in 2008.

 

(All the answers to your questions can be found amongst our client’s testimonials. It might take a while to get through them though, there are quite a few.)

 

The experience gave us a lot of understanding of the problems people encounter when beginning to suffer financial hardship. iMoneyManager was developed to empower those that feel capable, to address their problems proactively and confidently. Our vision always has been to work out a way we could help people to help themselves free of charge, and now we’ve done it we’re pleased and proud of our work, and grateful to all the people who have believed in us and helped us along the way.

 

iMoneyManager is not the right solution for everyone struggling with debt, however our belief is that the best decisions are made from a position of knowledge.

 

Knowledge: information and skills acquired through experience or education.

 

We do not see the role of iMoneyManager as providing advice:

 

Advice: guidance or recommendations offered with regard to future action.

 

Our objective is to give people a tool that provides the user with knowledge of the state of their financial situation, knowledge regarding their ability to repay their debts, and knowledge regarding the decision of their creditors with regards to their best offer of repayment.

 

We believe that the majority of people are intelligent and self respecting enough to want to attempt to address their problem on their own. It is only if they cannot find the resolution they want, that they turn to someone for advice. (In exactly the same way as when I have an argument with my wife, I don’t immediately resort to ringing a marriage counsellor before attempting to resolve the problem with her directly. )

 

There are always going to be people that do not agree with what we are trying to achieve. People that believe debt problems are too complicated to handle without involving a debt professional. It is interesting though, that most people who believe this make their living by acting as an intermediary. That’s fine, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the decision lies with the individual suffering, not those providing the service.

 

Do you think that iMoneyManager should not be available to people? If so, why?

 

We do welcome any constructive contributions or ideas, and this is a great forum to discuss these. If you continue to have ‘concerns’ or questions, then perhaps you would tell us in what capacity you are voicing them.

 

For example are you: Working for a fee charging debt management company? Do you work for a free money advice charity? Or maybe you are someone who has personal experience of being in debt?

 

Hi again James

 

Sorry to keep going on about unanswered questions and transparency, but I was wondering (with the stop the worry testimonials in mind) if you have any knowledge, opinions or views on the 2008 OFT statement / article below -

 

OFT warns consumers about misleading IVA mailings - The Office of Fair Trading

 

I heard some of these companies (or outfits if you like) were charging hundreds and perhaps thousands of pounds to fill in bankruptcy petitions after unsolicted mailshots resulting from accessing details from the Insolvency Service Public Register. Im not sure I would trust my details being given to any company that involved themselves in this sort of practice, but hey thats just my opinion.

 

Come on James, lets have some transparent answers, after all you did ask if there are any more questions (oh, and just to add, I forgot to say before, that I liked the one about the marriage counsellor

 

As you have already said - this is a great forum, so what I cant understand is - why now the apparent silence

Edited June 10, 2010 by Wintry

[blind-as-a-bat]

We do welcome any constructive contributions or ideas, and this is a great forum to discuss these. If you continue to have ‘concerns’ or questions, then perhaps you would tell us in what capacity you are voicing them.

 

For example are you: Working for a fee charging debt management company? Do you work for a free money advice charity? Or maybe you are someone who has personal experience of being in debt?

 

 

James, as for what I do for a living, is this information a condition as to whether you will answer any questions or address any concerns? What if I was to claim that I am very experienced in debt, money, court and bankruptcy advice and that I have used numerous systems over the years, would that make a difference?

 

 

Dam, I know I should leave this be, but can not break the (bad:p) habit of a lifetime.

 

 

 

Come on James, let’s have some transparent answers.

 

 

I won’t use the obvious puns.

 

From your posts you seem very knowledgeable of matters regarding the intermediaries ‘handbook’, not conclusive, but could indicate you are in the debt advice sector.

 

But I can not ignore the possibility you are an authorised intermediary, or connected too a company that is an authorised competent authoritie, this causes me a slight problem, as that sector has both free and profit making firms in it.

There is also something else i can not ignore. As you know I know there is also another piece of software that costs the likes of CAB to use

 

http://www.pgcomputing.co.uk/

 

I can not ignore the similarities, even if James is no where near that stage yet, it could be seen as a threat.

 

So there are several avenues for a conflict of interest here, my concern is some of them are financial and nothing to to with the app or concern for debtors welfare

 

So while our concerns are the same Wintry, are our motives the same?

 

I hope you understand it’s a question i have to ask, even though the answer can in no way be verified, so is some what academic.

 

[Wintry]

 

 

 

 

 

Dam, I know I should leave this be, but can not break the (bad:p) habit of a lifetime.

 

 

 

 

 

I won’t use the obvious puns.

 

From your posts you seem very knowledgeable of matters regarding the intermediaries ‘handbook’, not conclusive, but could indicate you are in the debt advice sector.

 

But I can not ignore the possibility you are an authorised intermediary, or connected too a company that is an authorised competent authoritie, this causes me a slight problem, as that sector has both free and profit making firms in it.

There is also something else i can not ignore. As you know I know there is also another piece of software that costs the likes of CAB to use

 

http://www.pgcomputing.co.uk/

 

I can not ignore the similarities, even if James is no where near that stage yet, it could be seen as a threat.

 

So there are several avenues for a conflict of interest here, my concern is some of them are financial and nothing to to with the app or concern for debtors welfare

 

So while our concerns are the same Wintry, are our motives the same?

 

I hope you understand it’s a question i have to ask, even though the answer can in no way be verified, so is some what academic.

 

 

Hi blind as a bat

 

I think I know where you might be coming from and you make good points and ask fair questions - my answers and response are as follows -

 

There are no threats or conflicts of interest, financially or otherwise.

 

I think many CABs (maybe the majority even) use an alternative system to the one you have posted.

 

And there is already two large creditor backed organisations that administer Debt Management Plans free who distribute payments. And I would think it would not be to difficult to adapt if you like (IMO).

 

With regard to debtors etc, do you not think the issues I have raised and the questions I have asked are fair and legitimate and if so why do you think they remain relatively unanswered / addressed ?

Edited June 11, 2010 by Wintry

[blind-as-a-bat]

With all due respect (and as we seem to have a mutual acquaintance, I do mean that) no you missed where I was coming from entirely.

The only line in my post that was important was the last one.

I can post anything I like, and it can not be verified, the same can be said of anyone posting on any forum.

So whether your question is valid, or not, is academic, as the answer is irrelevant without any form of confirmation.

I trust you see the logic in that statement?

But that said, I do agree with you concerns to a point, but I have the luxury of seeing this from a desperate stressed out debtor, and to be honest, the 'no contact' part of all this is the bit I am interested in, that bit James HAS got right, whether you, or any other debt advice company or organisation likes it, is irrelevant, it does not change the fact that is the biggest problem when a debtor is seeking advice.

I doubt you will agree, but you will just have to take my word for it, because it IS correct, that is the bit all those that offer help, free or not, don’t understand, because most have not been there.

The one exception is CCCS who are the only one that ‘seem’ to have identified the problem and addressed it, with the online debt remedy, the result from which, I have been reliably informed, is enough to reply honestly and truly, ‘yes’ when presenting a BR petition in court, when you are asked ‘have you sought professional advice?’ without speaking to anyone. So legaly, it must be good enough.

But as I said in a previous post, I am not sure it’s a barrier that can be got round safely myself, I can also rip the CCCS calc apart if I wanted too, its far from perfect, but it’s the closest I have seen to a solution for the problem to date.

I also disagree the answers to your questions are not in that ‘blog’, the specific answers to your questions regarding figures are not, but may I ask would you post how much you charged for a service on an open forum if asked?

And if you did, would the answer be true, or answer what you thought they wanted to hear?

The answers to his intentions are there, its a question if you belive them or not that is an issue

which brings me to the point, even if you or james did answer truthfully, there would always be a poster, like me or you that questioned the truthfulness of that reply.

Such is the beast that we are posting on.

[Wintry]

With all due respect (and as we seem to have a mutual acquaintance, I do mean that) no you missed where I was coming from entirely.

 

The only line in my post that was important was the last one.

 

I can post anything I like, and it can not be verified, the same can be said of anyone posting on any forum.

 

So whether your question is valid, or not, is academic, as the answer is irrelevant without any form of confirmation.

 

I trust you see the logic in that statement?

 

But that said, I do agree with you concerns to a point, but I have the luxury of seeing this from a desperate stressed out debtor, and to be honest, the 'no contact' part of all this is the bit I am interested in, that bit James HAS got right, whether you, or any other debt advice company or organisation likes it, is irrelevant, it does not change the fact that is the biggest problem when a debtor is seeking advice.

 

I doubt you will agree, but you will just have to take my word for it, because it IS correct, that is the bit all those that offer help, free or not, don’t understand, because most have not been there.

 

The one exception is CCCS who are the only one that ‘seem’ to have identified the problem and addressed it, with the online debt remedy, the result from which, I have been reliably informed, is enough to reply honestly and truly, ‘yes’ when presenting a BR petition in court, when you are asked ‘have you sought professional advice?’ without speaking to anyone. So legaly, it must be good enough.

 

But as I said in a previous post, I am not sure it’s a barrier that can be got round safely myself, I can also rip the CCCS calc apart if I wanted too, its far from perfect, but it’s the closest I have seen to a solution for the problem to date.

 

 

 

I also disagree the answers to your questions are not in that ‘blog’, the specific answers to your questions regarding figures are not, but may I ask would you post how much you charged for a service on an open forum if asked?

 

And if you did, would the answer be true, or answer what you thought they wanted to hear?

 

The answers to his intentions are there, its a question if you belive them or not that is an issue

 

which brings me to the point, even if you or james did answer truthfully, there would always be a poster, like me or you that questioned the truthfulness of that reply.

 

Such is the beast that we are posting on.

 

Hello again blind as a bat

 

Thank you for your reply

 

Interesting and somewhat lengthy post indeed and you are entitled to your opinions and views just like everyone else, and I take your points.

 

However, lets not forget, these are just your:) answers, 'assumptions', opinions and views and just like you, others may not agree with everything you say or may think, and I for one certainly dont.

 

I stand by my previous posts and perhaps James would like to break his apparent silence and give us some transparent answers to the questions and points already asked and raised in my previous posts, I think its only fair to give him a chance, dont you ?

 

I have a few more questions, but I think I will wait on the above first.

 

 

 

PS - blind as a bat - can you remember these earlier paragraphs and one liner of yours below...........?

 

"This app IS dangerous, and pointless, as it does not contain the safeguards needed to give it credibility nor protect the user."

 

"Bank fodder, if this is of no benefit to the site financially, pull it now, even if it is, I would strongly urge you to pull it anyway, before it undermines the sites reputation."

 

I expect this post to disappear, but don’t say you where not warned.

 

Such is the beast that we are posting on.

 

 

And please forgive me blind as a bat, Ive only just noticed.... but this question is a killer -

 

' but may I ask would you post how much you charged for a service on an open forum if asked?

 

And this one.........

 

And if you did, would the answer be true, or answer what you thought they wanted to hear?

 

.....well, Im still on the floor

Edited June 14, 2010 by Wintry

[blind-as-a-bat]

Glad your amused Wintry, but not as amused as me,i shall leave it there;)

[Wintry]

Glad your amused Wintry, but not as amused as me,i shall leave it there;)

 

Yes blind as a bat, good decision, I think.

[blind-as-a-bat]

Maybe so, but not for the reasons you think

[Wintry]

Hello again blind as a bat

 

Thank you for your reply

 

Interesting and somewhat lengthy post indeed and you are entitled to your opinions and views just like everyone else, and I take your points.

 

However, lets not forget, these are just your:) answers, 'assumptions', opinions and views and just like you, others may not agree with everything you say or may think, and I for one certainly dont.

 

I stand by my previous posts and perhaps James would like to break his apparent silence and give us some transparent answers to the questions and points already asked and raised in my previous posts, I think its only fair to give him a chance, dont you ?

 

I have a few more questions, but I think I will wait on the above first.

 

 

 

PS - blind as a bat - can you remember these earlier paragraphs and one liner of yours below...........?

 

"This app IS dangerous, and pointless, as it does not contain the safeguards needed to give it credibility nor protect the user."

 

"Bank fodder, if this is of no benefit to the site financially, pull it now, even if it is, I would strongly urge you to pull it anyway, before it undermines the sites reputation."

 

I expect this post to disappear, but don’t say you where not warned.

 

Such is the beast that we are posting on.

 

 

And please forgive me blind as a bat, Ive only just noticed.... but this question is a killer -

 

' but may I ask would you post how much you charged for a service on an open forum if asked?

 

And this one.........

 

And if you did, would the answer be true, or answer what you thought they wanted to hear?

 

.....well, Im still on the floor

 

James ??

[joey.mcfadzean]

FREE! FREE! not any more. I just paid almost £40 for this software which offers no more than the demo plus "guides" that you can find on this site for FREE!!!!! Sorry, but yet another exploitation of vulnerable people. Almost £40 I spent on this software which pretty much promised to help me - well I'm bloody sorry for being so angry, but that is £40 that I could have put to something else.

 

People behind IMM, be ashamed, very ashamed, nice marketing and all, but your end product is clearly just to make YOU money and not help people in debt!

 

DISGUSTED AND £40 DOWN

 

Joey

[MrZ]

We've agreed to help distribute this software. It is free and we don't make any money from it.

 

The idea is that you take control of your own debt problems and make your own proposals to your creditors.

 

The idea is to cut out the debt management companies, who take quite a hefty cut meaning that both you and your creditors lose out.

 

Using a DIY system like this could mean that you will clear your debts more quickly as all of your money is channeled through to the creditors.

 

Of course the creditors will be suspicious of it and it may take some pushing to get them to accept it initially.

 

I can tell you also that the Debt Management Companies are not at all pleased about this software and there have been some attempts by the Debt Management industry to obstruct its introduction.

 

Please let us know what you think about it. We will pass on any comments to iMoneyManager so that they can adapt and refine the software.

 

In the end if it turns out that it is no good then we will stop distributing it.

 

But it looks good to us and some of our site team who have very specialist debt management experience are very impressed.

 

You can download it here

 

Apparently this is not free and the link no longer works. Does anyone know of a similar program that is free? I am not in a position to pay money for software. Is CCS or CAB the best options for those who cant afford to pay?

[joey.mcfadzean]

On reflection my previou post may have been a little strong. I personally didn't get anything from this software, but maybe it will benefit others. I just think the price is a little steep for what you get. I have spoken with James who is responsible for this software and I genuinely believe he was trying to make a difference and I understand his reasons for eventually charging for it and it was not marketed to deceive people so I apologise to James if I caused any offense or negativity.

[Wintry]

Hi

 

I suppose you have to laugh.