The new white paper on debt enforcement and in particular charging orders has finally been published. Thought it may be of interest to some.

Sue http://www.lcd.gov.uk/enforcement/wp/index.htm

-- Sue (bradfordandbingley_suck@yahoo.co.uk), March 26, 2003

Answers

Apart from unsecured loans being effectively turned into secured ones I see they also propose the following:

Courts will be given the power to make a new form of order, the data disclosure order, authorising the Inland Revenue, Department for Work and Pensions, credit reference agencies and financial institutions to release information about the debtor.

The information will include employment details, bank accounts, address, date of birth, national insurance number, and whether the debtor is on income-related benefit.

Attachment of earnings orders, for deductions from wages to satisfy a debt,will be speeded up, and tracking systems will redirect orders to new employers if the debtor changes jobs without notifying the court.

Licensed enforcement agents will be authorised to break into people's homes (with court's authorization) and seize property from debtors under new Government plans. They will also be given powers of arrest.

-- M Amos (idgroms@hotmail.com), March 27, 2003.

Looking at your answer Mark, it looks like it just got easier for lenders to make up any numbers they want and not justify them to the people they are taking the money not entitled to them from. Doesn't surprise me really.

Watch out for the next spate of repossessions then. Underselling I am sure will be rife, as they can just dip into your bank account now.

They say the law is an ass, this proves it.

Tracey

-- One Angry Mother (madcow678@hotmail.com), March 28, 2003.