We have increased home working so that all staff are working from home to enable us to continue with as much business as usual activity as possible, with a small number of key staff in the office on a rota basis. In addition to this, we are arranging to increase the amount of web chat log ins so that more staff can communicate with your debtors from home.
Applications to adjourn Court hearings
The Lord Chancellor has authorised that in certain cases the fee can be waived for applications to adjourn a civil or family hearing.
From 19 March 2020 court staff may waive the application fee because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
HMCTS staff will consider the information provided, for example:
• you have confirmed or suspected coronavirus (COVID-19)
• you are self- isolating in line with NHS advice
• you have child caring responsibilities related to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Applications need to contain as much information as possible. It will not be necessary to provide medical certificates from a GP. The decision will remain with the judge, who will consider whether the hearing could take place using audio or video. In line with the Lord Chief Justice’s announcement, we would urge you to use the available time to explore the possibility for compromise before agreeing to requesting to adjourn the hearing.
If you do still wish to make an application, it should be made as soon as you know that you will not be able to attend court on the date that has been given for your hearing.
Include in your application:
• the date of hearing
• court case number
• parties names
• contact details e.g. email address, telephone number
• the date you began your self-isolation or contracted the virus
• if vulnerable to coronavirus your details e.g. age, health condition
Post your application to the County Court hearing your application. You will find contact details on the notice of hearing.
If a fee needs to be paid, a member of staff will contact you explaining the reasons why they have not been able to waive your fee.
If your fee has been waived a judge will consider your application to adjourn the hearing as quickly as is possible and we will tell you their decision.
It will not be possible to appeal the judge’s decision.
External Agents
Face to face visits, including High Court Enforcement Agents and Overseas Agents have now been placed on hold, although collections via phone, letter, email and SMS text will continue.
Debtors
Just a reminder from our last update…………
Any information provided by debtors/customers suggesting they are affected by Covid-19 will be specifically flagged by our well briefed team. The matter will be put on hold for 30 days and at the end of the holding period we will schedule to make contact with the customer again in order to thoroughly review their affordability in relation to how their personal circumstances are affecting their ability to repay their debts.
The flags will not only provide some help to affected customers by giving them some breathing space but will also help LRC to be able to identify how many cases are specifically on hold due to this growing issue and to what degree further considerations may have to be implemented in relation to their repayments.
Debt Manager Log in
If you are working from home and need a reminder of your log in details for debt manager, please email: clientservices@legalrecoveries.com
Contact
When emailing the office, please use the team email addresses rather than (or as well as) individual ones, just to ensure that your email gets dealt with swiftly if the member of staff you are emailing is not available.
Legal: legalteam@legalrecoveries.com
Pre Legal: recoveriesteam@legalrecoveries.com
Client Services: clientservices@legalrecoveries.com
Finance: finance@legalrecoveries.com
IT: it@legalrecoveries.com
We will endeavour to keep you updated with any significant changes. Please do not hesitate to contact client services with any concerns.
