HCEO’s What has been your experience?

Reply to the comment left by "wanda wang" at "16/07/2015 - 22:08":

It was me who made that suggestion in response to comments made by Luke.
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While bankruptcy is an option available to creditors (landlords), this is only any good if the debtor has a business or reputation they need to protect, or if they have very substantial assets (as the cost of the insolvency practitioner is huge and this debt is paid first, then if anything is left it is then shared out amongst the creditors. This means that the creditors often get nothing (or just a few pence for every pound owed to them).

Reply to the comment left by "Robert Mellors" at "16/07/2015 - 22:18":

I only mentioned it on the basis that Luke wanted vengeance regardless of cost on a point of principle.
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Reply to the comment left by "Mark Alexander" at "16/07/2015 - 22:22":

Yes, that's fine, but as a former debt counsellor, I know that many people on low incomes, with large (or multiple) debts, would love the opportunity of going bankrupt as, like Wanda says, it clears all their debts for them. As such, making them bankrupt would not only potentially cost the landlord a lot of money, but it would also be doing the debtor a big favour. Thus, again, it is only of limited use for a very small minority of (better off) debtors, and landlords need to think very carefully about what such proceedings would actually achieve.

Reply to the comment left by "Robert Mellors" at "16/07/2015 - 22:32":

Robert is right in his analogy. The only time bankruptcy is a valid threat if is they have something to lose.

You have to pick your battles.

Reply to the comment left by "Robert Mellors" at "16/07/2015 - 09:09":

Well pointed, when someone new to enforcement, like me, I thought I got car’s registration number, give to HCEO, then they can seize the car, but the true is : the car is old not worth much money, No car key, No MOT, No service history, then I will out of pocket more. I did hope and pray, something happen, but nothing. By the way, the total fee is not £135.00. It is £60.00 to transfer up, and £75.00 plus VAT, so it is £150.00.

Reply to the comment left by "Luke P" at "16/07/2015 - 09:42":

Please do come back to update us how you are getting on with your forced sale.

Oh, I will. Hopefully it can serve as a template for others (but the unusual nature of the guarantor and property owner renting out his own main residence 'on-the-side' may not work under normal homeowner guarantor circumstances.

Reply to the comment left by "David Carter" at "16/07/2015 - 06:48":

Hi David
I didn’t see your comments until now. We are not here to play blame game.
First, I instructed your company to recover the money they owe to me, it doesn’t make sense to me I have to pay £500.00 to against your remove costs involved. Secondly, even you wanted to seize the car, the car has already gone before your action taken. Because I have been waiting and waiting for your officer to attend.
The second car your reported is not registered to the debtors, I have mentioned to you and your office several times, I could have mistaken the letter “O” to the “D”, but no one take notices what I said. And even your office fully investigation didn’t spot this? Now you did HPI check told me the car has finance, but not to investigate who owns this car?
Lack of communication between your officer and your client , I have been waiting for any update for over three weeks, I heard nothing from your office, then I had no option but to try an attachment of earnings application, I admit that I have made application a little early, but not what you said an attachment of earning has enforced!
This is my fist enforcement journey, if I had known what is behind the screen, I will re-think about my action.
Like you said the fee is £75.00 for unsuccessfully visiting, a little missing leading, in fact it is £75.00 Plus VAT.

wanda

I have used three HCEO companies in the last 3 years, in trying to recover my losses and out of an average of £58,000 worth of referrals to them I have managed to recover £0.00
The reason is simple, they are only interested in their fees, registration fees, search fees and charges for abandoned visits. After complaining about their appalling results they actually blamed me for expecting too much. Their staff are appalling at providing a service and it would serve them well to mystery shop their own business to see just how bad they are.
Their industry is absolute rubbish for residential landlords.
I actually placed my faith in them as my confidence was shattered, I thought I would go bust, as a last resort, i was advised by a more sucessful landlord that for HMO's charge rents weekly as there are some rules that are ridiculous to try and follow such as the section 8 or 21 route; now if I have a tenant causing me a problem, I suggest that I help with their "moving expenses" and get them out after week 3 or 4. The tenants tend to surrender their tenancies and sign that they have voluntarily ended their tenancy and that the money received was to help towards their moving costs. If they actually do dig their heels in, their guarantors are the first to complain and I'm told threaten to black their eyes or make them sterile with their foot.
I'm not happy about it, but the whole eviction system is pathetic.
Actual losses on average are now £210 rent and £150 moving contribution.
HCEO in my personal experience are absolutely rubbish for residential landlords.
A lot better than 5 months loss of rent for an eviction, plus court costs is my new method of trying to help a tenant move on. It grinds my bloody gears to have to do it, but it seems to work.
I know it's not right, but the whole legal system is rigged against us.