Skip to main content

Debt Collection Agencies: establishment of a Working Party (P.102/2011) – comments.

This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.

Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.

STATES OF JERSEY

DEBT COLLECTION AGENCIES: ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING PARTY (P.102/2011) – COMMENTS

Presented to the States on 4th July 2011 by the Minister for Economic Development

STATES GREFFE

2011   Price code: A  P.102 Com.

COMMENTS

The Minister for Economic Development supports the attempts by Deputy M. Tadier of St. Brelade to encourage debt collection agencies in the Island to introduce self- regulation in the form of a code of practice.

In  response  to  part (a)  of  the  proposition,  the  Minister  is  happy  to  facilitate  the establishment of a working party to examine the current operation of debt collection agencies. However, as somebody with personal experience of a trade association and code of conduct, it should be stressed that there can be limitations in the effectiveness of a code of practice unless all relevant businesses sign up to the particular code and most importantly, comply with it.

Regarding part (b), the Minister is prepared to appoint at least 2 States members, but would obviously request that those members volunteer their services due to personal interest or knowledge of the debt collection business. One of my officers has already made tentative enquiries with the relevant businesses to gauge reaction to Deputy Tadier 's proposition. All businesses have expressed agreement to be represented on the working party.

Part (c) of the proposition is also supported by the Minister.

Regarding Deputy Tadier 's statement on financial and manpower implications, the Minister does not see any grounds for concern at this stage, as any officer time will be scheduled  into  current  workloads.  If  there  is  a  need  for  any  advertising,  the Department will cover these costs from within existing budgets.

Page - 2

P.102/2011 Com.