CIVEA offers reassurance with new animated guides
CIVEA, the principal trade association representing over 95% of civil enforcement agencies in England and Wales, has released two new videos to help explain why the pending return to enforcement is both safe and fair. The animations are available now and are free to view by local authorities (LAs) and the general public on the CIVEA website.
From Monday 24th August 2020, Enforcement Agents, or EAs (formerly known as bailiffs), will be permitted to visit UK properties again for the first time since lockdown measures were implemented by the Government; but misconceptions around the rules of visiting debtors and the reality of which types of debt will be collected, has left some people unduly worried, until now.
‘COVID-19 Safe Working Practices’ is a video that was initially devised to train EAs preparing for a return to work. This has now been shared openly to reassure councils and the general public that enforcement visits are safe and sensitive. CIVEA requires all EAs to undertake mandatory CIVEA-approved training , covering the effective use of PPE, social distancing and protecting themselves as well as those they encounter. It is hoped by sharing this short animation that debtors will also learn and understand what to expect from a visit, for example, under a voluntary agreement EAs will not enter homes to take control of goods unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The second video, ‘CIVEA Guide To Enforcement’, gives a wider context that explains the enforcement process and what this means for the local community; including funding for local services such as adult social care, police and fire services. This video aims to provide an informative and easy access reference point, so that the typical enforcement process and debtor rights are explained without the need to read through pages of complex legislation.
Despite a five month suspension of visits, efforts have been made to reconnect with people with overdue debts and those who have missed repayments A standardised reconnection letter, devised by CIVEA and sent to all people in debt to their local authority forms part of a post-lockdown support plan. This includes a vulnerability identification phase to identify any additional needs of people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The majority of people have continued to meet their repayment plans throughout the coronavirus pandemic, suggesting that payments are both fair and affordable. Russell Hamblin-Boone, CIVEA Chief Executive Officer, says the reality of returning to enforcement means collecting historic debts. Debts accrued during lockdown will, in most cases, not yet been processed by the courts. He said,
“We have released these new animations to show that the industry is simply getting back to work. At the end of August, the vast majority of visits taking place will be to enforce fines, traffic offences and other penalties that have been outstanding since before the coronavirus lockdown came into effect. We are aware that some people will be in financial difficulty and there will not be a sudden rush of enforcement visits, but it is only fair that those with outstanding debts have the opportunity to pay and ensure councils get the funds owed to them at a time when it is needed most.
“Our data suggests that councils are concerned about funding shortfalls and the majority have agreed how and when enforcement visits can resume. Safety remains the number one priority across the industry and as our videos show, a comprehensive training programme for almost 2000 agents has been implemented to ensure a visit from an EA will carry no more risk than receiving a grocery or parcel delivery. I would implore anyone who is concerned to view our latest videos and be reassured that enforcement activity will be both safe and fair.”
CIVEA’s members
continue to enforce civil debt on behalf of local authorities and Her Majesty’s
Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) including council tax, business rates,
parking fines, magistrates’ court fines, employment tribunal awards, child
support payments, B2B and commercial rent arrears.
ENDS
https://www.civea.co.uk/
CIVEA is the principal trade
association representing civil enforcement agencies employing around 2000
certificated enforcement agents that operate in England and Wales. CIVEA
represents 38 companies that make up over 90% of the entire enforcement industry.
CIVEA’s members work to enforce civil debt on behalf of local authorities and
Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) including council tax,
business rates, parking fines, magistrates’ court fines, employment tribunal
awards, child support payments, B2B and commercial rent arrears. This amounts
to over £500 million (half a billion) of unpaid taxes and fines recovered each
year at no cost to the public bodies themselves. Each year CIVEA members
receive over 3.5 million warrants and court orders.
Press Contact
Joe Cuffaro, WSA
Communications
Email: joe.cuffaro@wsacommunications.co.uk
Phone: 01908 371177