Latest News and updates from HCEOA

The UK’s two leading enforcement association trade bodies (the Civil Enforcement Association and the High Court Enforcement Officers Association) and Just, have welcomed the High Court judgment on non-entry Controlled Goods Agreements issued on Friday 8 January.

CIVEA, the HCEOA and Just have issued this joint statement which also invites the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to review the judgment and, if appropriate, provide further guidance and/or amendments to the regulations.

New figures provided by High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs) show that the profession’s post-lockdown plan is working well after Government restrictions on enforcement activity were lifted.

Almost 25,500 visits were made to judgment debtors on behalf of HCEOs during September – the first full month of activity after enforcement restrictions were lifted on 24 August.

The High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) has welcomed the Lord Chancellor’s latest clarification on entering residential properties in the context of the new Local Covid Alert Level system.

The Lord Chancellor has confirmed that HCEOs should instruct enforcement agents “not to enter residential properties in areas that are classed as Local Alert Level 2 (high) or 3 (very high), for the purposes of enforcement including taking control of goods and carrying out evictions.”

The High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) has welcomed the Ministry of Justice’s new guidance on carrying out residential evictions in local lockdown and during the winter period.

Andrew Wilson, Chairman of the High Court Enforcement Officers Association, said: “The new guidance around residential evictions is useful as it is clear and simple and we will be sharing it with all our members. Our priority is protecting the public and our members and their representatives safe at all times. Our members are already working to the latest public health advice – whatever that is around the country at different times and we will continue to do so.”

A Best Practice plan adopted by The High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) is to be put in action from Monday 24 August as debt recovery enforcement activity begins again across England and Wales.

The HCEOA’s post-lockdown plan, is called “A Flexible and Sympathetic Approach to Enforcement”. It sets out the principles, working practices and behaviours that all High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEO’s) and their representatives will follow throughout the phased lifting of the lockdown period.

The High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) has welcomed further clarification issued by the Ministry of Justice regarding the use of technology in enforcement and its place in the fee scale.

Auctioneers buy in stock to sell on at auction, so why can’t HCEOs (or any Certificated Enforcement Agent) buy debt?

In short – because it’s against regulation.

The High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) has welcomed a clarification issued by the Ministry of Justice regarding the use of technology in enforcement and its place in the fee scale.

In its clarification the MoJ makes it clear that in order to take control of goods or charge any fee beyond the Compliance Stage fee, the HCEO, or their enforcement agent, must physically attend the relevant premises.

The High Court Enforcement Officers Association is backing its members’ use of technology to improve the process of collecting outstanding debts on behalf of UK companies.

Andrew Wilson, Chairman of the High Court Enforcement Officers Association, said: “Many of our members have been using technology such as video calls and making extra efforts to engage with debtors at the Compliance Stage since the start of the year.

The High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA) has welcomed the Government announcement that visits to residential properties to enforce debts owed to UK companies can restart from 24 August.

High court enforcement agents will be re-starting visits at this time to residential properties in order to take control of goods.