London House News

We have now started training for two new Franchise Owners. Full details will be released next month following completion of the training, but our newest recruits will be covering the South East London area and Bolton & Oldham.

We are of course in Conference season and we have attended two this month. The Civil Court Users Association (CCUA) and the London Fraud Forum are both excellent days, full of topical debate, with high quality speakers, informative sessions and up to date information. It is also time well spent in meeting colleagues and peers from the industry to compare notes and network.

You asked us

"What type of information do you need from us to allow you to begin your enquiries?"

Whilst we do many different types of investigations the core information that we require is typically the same - Full name, d.o.b. and last known address. This basic information allows us to begin work on the majority of the instructions that you send to us e.g. trace, discreet investigations and status reports or means interviews. Dependant on the specifics of the case other types of data that are often needed or of help are:

• Account/payment  history (for means interviews or shortfall counselling)
• Known or rumoured asset details if we are instructed to try and find further assets or report on lifestyle etc
• Copy invoices and correspondence to support our visit when recovering commercial debt
• A description, if known, of the subject can often help when serving legal process - as you know some do try to deny their identity!
• Phone numbers are always advantageous. Even old ones found in files can sometimes lead us to the subject
• A few lines of background information to your case is invariably a help. It provides us with an outline understanding of the issues you are facing and often an understanding of the subject!
• Previous or linked address information if you have it and date of last contact with the subject can assist with our efforts to trace or serve the subject

Of course, each case is different and we are always happy to chat through cases with you and decide what is likely to be the best course of action for you. Please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and give us a call.

Focus on......Commercial Property Repossession

We undertake many repossessions during the course of our work but some of you may not know that we do commercial repossessions as well as residential. Our work in this sector is varied with us repossessing many types of property from farms, shops and warehouses to hotels, pubs, guest houses and even a whole industrial estate.

As with a residential property repossession we attend with a bailiff and when he has executed his warrant we take over. We take meter readings and liaise with the utility companies, drain down systems, change locks and make the property secure according to our clients instructions. A full schedule of anything left in the property is taken along with photographs. If required we also arrange for clearance of the site and then undertake weekly security visits.

All in a days work

As can probably be imagined we come across all manner of things to be dealt with on a commercial repossession. Normally potential complications are identified on a pre-repossession visit and solutions put in place ready for the day of the repossession. On occasion however, we are not asked to visit the property before the day and we don't know what we will find until we get there. For instance, we were instructed to take possession of a farm that was used for breeding chickens. On arrival the occupier had vacated the property but kindly left behind his stock of several thousand chickens. You have a limited number of options in such an instance but our local Franchise Owner saved the day (and the chickens) by getting them rehomed with another farmer in the region.

Similarly, we recently took possession of a livery stable and on this instruction we had visited beforehand. There was no livestock at the property. However, on the day of the repossession when we arrived we were greeted by a fully grown pig, weighing over 20 stone, that had been raised as a pet. Clearly the former occupier was keen to make our job that much harder. Legally the owner had 21 days in which to collect his goods and in the meantime the pig had to be looked after. You cannot move a pig without a carrier licence and our local manager arranged contact with a nearby farmer who was able to move it to his own farm. However, this could not happen until after we had the involvement of a vet, Trading Standards and DEFRA.

October 2011

What a varied month! 30 degree temperatures in Milton Keynes whilst at the same time snow was falling in The Cairngorms. England go crashing out of the Rugby World Cup amidst background controversy, Greece secures another loan, unemployment figures reaching a 17 year high, UK banks downgraded, Belgian bank Dexia gets a bailout and MPs and their working relationships all keep the press occupied. Times are certainly not dull.