Oversight body for debt enforcement sector publishes accreditation scheme
The Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB), which provides independent oversight to the debt enforcement sector in England and Wales, has published details of its accreditation scheme.
The ECB was set up in November 2022 to ensure that all those who are subject to enforcement action in England & Wales by bailiffs are fairly treated.
It was created with agreement between the enforcement industry and leading debt advice charities including Money Advice Trust, Christians Against Poverty and Step Change. It is expected to have a special regard for those experiencing financial difficulty or other vulnerable circumstances.
In a blog earlier this month ECB CEO Chris Nichols wrote that the scheme offered enforcement firms an opportunity to make a public commitment to both accountability and high standards.
“And it will also help creditors to drive good practice by ensuring that they only contract with accredited firms who have made an active commitment to ECB oversight.”
Under the scheme firms will need to apply annually for accreditation, and the framework and expectations will evolve over time.
For the first year, firms will be required to commit to the following in order to be accredited:
- Complying with the current Ministry of Justice National Standards
- Providing the ECB with Quarterly Data Returns – the ECB will consult on the content of these later in the year
- Providing information to the ECB on request
- Payment of the levy in a timely fashion
The accreditation framework also includes some high-level sanctions that the ECB will be able to apply for breaches of these criteria.
Nichols said: “In year one, we won’t actively monitor compliance with the existing standards, or handle complaints, as we will be focussed on developing our own standards and oversight model.
“However, we will have the ability to carry out targeted reviews if we become aware of any serious issues that are likely to have a significant impact on members of the public.”
The year two accreditation criteria will evolve to reflect the fact that from late Summer 2024, the ECB will be implementing its own standards and code of practice and starting operational oversight and complaints handling.
Nichols’ blog sets out how enforcement firms can apply. At this stage, it is inviting applications from independent enforcement firms and sole traders.
The ECB is not currently seeking applications from in-house enforcement teams at local authorities. It plans to open for applications from these teams from early 2024, following further work and engagement with this part of the industry.
From late October, the ECB will publish a register of all ECB accredited firms on its website, “so that creditors and those who use enforcement services can start to take this into account in their contracting decisions”.
