Latest News and updates from HCEOA

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.

The High Court Enforcement Officers Association has adopted a new Best Practice plan for post-lockdown enforcement activity across England and Wales over the coming weeks and months.

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

Government has been urged to apply a zero rating to VAT on High Court enforcement fees by the High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA).

In its response to a Ministry of Justice consultation on the issue, the HCEOA this week said new regulations on VAT fees needed to be simple, fair and consistent. 

Update from the Association on the latest position on the enforcement of Writs of Control, following the amendment to the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 and the Certification of Enforcement Agents Regulations 2014 through the Taking Control of Goods and Certification of Enforcement Agents (amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020. This amendment is now in place and applies during the current coronavirus emergency period.

This is an update from the Association on the latest position on the enforcement of Possession Orders, following the latest notice from the Policy Manager, Civil Procedure and Enforcement Policy MoJ on possession proceedings under CPR Part 55.6.