Creditor
Why pre-action or letters before action are essential
When chasing a business or person for a debt, it’s usually a good idea to send a letter before action – also known as a pre-action letter – before commencing legal proceedings. A letter before action is a formal notice requesting payment of an outstanding debt within 14 days in accordance with Part 7 of…
Read MoreHMRC’s Return to Crown Preference is Unfair
Expect more companies to go bust from April 2020, unless the government halts plans to make HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) a secondary preferential creditor in insolvencies. These plans are consultative, but could impact creditors significantly if implemented. As a preferential creditor, HMRC could claim overdue penalties, VAT, PAYE, and national insurance contributions dating back…
Read MoreNew reforms are great, but who protects unsecured creditors?
In a controversial speech to the Insolvency Practitioner’s Association earlier this year, Court of Appeal judge Lord Justice Jackson (best-known for his 2010 report into civil litigation costs) made several recommendations, which Justice Secretary Michael Gove has already begun to implement. As a result, from 1 April 2016, unsuccessful defendants will no longer be held…
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