1st Class Bailiffs Articles

JBW Group Ltd, the ethical debt management and enforcement organisation, has acquired Darlington-based firm National Enforcement Services to create one of the largest bailiff service providers in the North.

Under the banner of JBW Group, NES founder Andy Coates and his experienced team of 14 staff will continue to deliver bailiff services across the region, specialising in the enforcement of Council Tax, commercial rent recovery, and removing travellers for local authorities.

The move comes at a time when London-based JBW Group continues to strengthen its foothold in the North. The acquisition of NES enables JBW to have an experienced team on board to take forward its newly obtained service contracts.

Andy, working alongside his wife Sue, has over twenty years’ experience in the bailiff industry and has been extremely successful in launching the UK’s first ever bailiff franchises in Derby, Preston and Durham, which will now operate within the JBW Group.

The new business opportunity with JBW will see one of the largest bailiff providers operate its northern operations from the North East by the NES team, who will continue to be managed by Andy.

Expansion is also on the cards with a move to larger office premises and future job opportunities are also in the pipeline.

JBW Group was founded in 2004 by young entrepreneur Jamie Waller and now employs over 100 people nationwide. The acquisition of NES will see Andy Coates join the board of Directors of JBW Group and all other staff transferred over.
Commenting on the acquisition, Andy Coates said: “Joining the JBW Group is an exciting time for us as it gives us the opportunity to further strengthen our bailiff operations and expand our services under the banner of a fantastically forward-thinking firm.

“I have watched the growth and success of the JBW Group over the past six years and have always been very impressed with its ethical approach to both enforcement and business as a whole. Being part of the JBW Group will assist us in becoming one of the largest providers of bailiff services in the North of England, we are very excited.”

JBW Group Managing Director, Jamie Waller, said: “The acquisition of NES will allow us to strengthen our operations in the North following several contract wins, including a contract with Leeds City Council, to provide an enforcement solution for the recovery of Penalty Charge Notices.

“Both Andy, Sue and the rest of the team have an exceptional reputation for delivering first class services and will be a welcome accompaniment to our fantastic staff team. To enable us to provide the service levels that we do in South, we needed to find the right team, and that team is NES.

“We are pleased to be basing our northern operation from Darlington and have plans for expansion in the coming months. All-in-all it is a positive time for all those involved.”

Christine Appleby, NES office manager, said: “JBW Group and its team have made us all very excited about the future and what it has to hold.

“The JBW Group has been listed as one of the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to work for in 2010, so I am really pleased about being under its wing. I am also excited to be working with a Managing Director who has been heralded as a young business leader in his own right.”

For further information, please visit www.jbwgroup.co.uk

One of National Enforcements Bailiffs took out Richard Heap from Property Week to do some bailiff visits in and around London. We talked about the new Commercial Rent legislation known as CRAR Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery and the realities of life at the sharp end.

See the full article http://www.propertyweek.com/story.asp?storycode=3154551

National Enforcement Services (NES), one of the UK’s leading providers of bailiff and private investigation services, is calling on the Government to reform the County Court bailiff service as thousands of people are left with monies owed, as the County Court system seems to be buckling under pressure. 

The firm received over 4,000 calls last year from creditors wanting to use private bailiffs after finding that the County Court system failed to recoup outstanding funds from debtors.   National Enforcement Services is labelling the current system as ‘inadequate’ and unable to meet the growing number of County Court Judgements (CCJs), which deal with claims of under £600, in an acceptable timescale.

Due to the increase in the number of home repossessions, civil servants at the County Courts are giving priority to repossession warrants, leaving other claims to languish as lower priority, with thousands of claims being left unanswered.

Andy Coates, Chief Executive Officer of National Enforcement Services said:  “The County Court system is presently overwhelmed by claims on repossessions, with the result being that other claims are not being dealt with effectively.   NES is offering a real solution to those people who believe their claim needs greater attention”.

The County Courts charge £100 to try and collect the monies owed, but often the ‘softly softly’ approach of just leaving a letter for the debtor does not bring results.

NES has developed a new service, the Judgement Recovery Package, for just £45.00.  For this package, NES gives priority to customers who are otherwise being left behind by the County Court System.  A key factor of the service is to research the actual situation of the debtor by asset checking and photographing the debtor’s possessions.  The unique online, from site report carried out by the NES bailiff allows clients to view the status of the debtor at any time.  A written report is given to the client after 3 working days, with NES bailiffs visiting the debtor’s location upto a further two times, if necessary.

Andy Coates adds: “The success rate is higher because we use more advanced methods to secure monies owed to the creditor.  On average, it takes 30 days for the County Court system to even address a claim, whereas our approach is quicker, more efficient and importantly for the creditor, brings better results”.

A Bigger Splash, a company which sells spas, swimming pools, saunas and steam rooms from its base in Brompton-on Swale near Richmond has used the Judgement Recovery package. 

Partner Michelle Hammond said:   “We have used the County Court in the past if it has been necessary to pursue bad debts but have always been frustrated by a lack of success.  

“A recent judgement was made in our favour but the debtor just ignored it.    We asked NES for advice and were made aware of the Judgement Recovery Package.    It was completely effective and we were paid the money we were owed in a short space of time.

“Non payment of debts is a big issue for a lot of small and medium sized businesses and I would recommend this service to anyone.”

The Judgement Recovery Package will soon be available across the UK.

National Enforcement Services (NES), one of the UK’s leading bailiff, debt collection and private investigation services, is witnessing a huge rise in the number of people wanting to become a bailiff or private investigator as the recession starts to bite.

The bailiff firm has been operating training courses for bailiffs since 2004, with enquiries increasing so much in the past 12 months that courses are becoming full months in advance. Demand for the courses is so high that more courses have been made available for early 2010 to meet the growing needs of the industry.

It is now estimated that there are over 3000 Certificated Bailiffs in the UK, with over 100 now qualifying each year through the NES training schemes. NES recently launched a bailiff franchising operation across England and Wales, which allows the trained bailiffs to run their own business under support and guidance from NES.

The courses are giving people the chance to become a 21^st Century Sherlock Holmes by being taught the latest tracing techniques using high-tech equipment and software. The techniques are not only used to recoup unpaid debts but can  also be implemented to locate missing persons for either personal or financial reasons  – an area of the business that is growing.

CEO of National Enforcement Services, Andy Coates, said: “The current economic climate has led to an increase in the amount of work to be carried out by a bailiff. The training courses provide applicants with the necessary skills to become a fully Certificated Bailiff or to use the latest equipment to trace individuals or debtors.

“Working as a bailiff can be incredibly rewarding, it can also be arduous and difficult. We are looking for people who are committed, hard-working and maintain a positive attitude in dealing with people.”

For a comprehensive list on all the work carried out by National Enforcement services visit www.enforcementofficers.co.uk or to enquire about booking a place on a bailiff or private investigation course please call 0844 484 1450

Paul and Andy

National Enforcement Services has become the first bailiff organisation in the UK to launch a franchise operation, with the appointment of its first franchisee. Paul Redhead will join the company, operating the North East England franchise.

Paul, a former member of the armed services, took a distance learning course provided by National Enforcement Services in 2006 and decided to set up his own firm, Alpha 1 Legal Services. Shortly after setting up the company he established links with National Enforcement Services, which are based in Darlington, County Durham.

Paul sub-contracted to National Enforcement Services and also gained some of his own clients. After discussions with National Enforcement Services’ CEO Andy Coates, Paul decided to pilot the new franchise project.

This project is the first of its kind by a bailiff company in the United Kingdom. Paul has already discovered his profits have increased and the additional services he has been able to offer have secured him more clients. Paul’s clients now have access to National Enforcement Services’ web based computer system.

Paul can go to a property, visit a subject, and within minutes of his call he updates the computer system from his smart phone. His client can then see a photograph of the property and a report of what has happened in real time.

Paul said “Being part of the team as a franchisee has made such a huge difference to me. I now have access to National Enforcement Services tracing department and to the various data sources National Enforcement subscribe to. Now when out on the door step I can check information provided to me and get electronic searches done there and then without the need to re-attend”

Andy Coates CEO of National Enforcement Services said “ Franchising is the way forward for us I am delighted the pilot Paul and I have been working on is a success Paul is now keen to sign up for the real thing and is our first official franchisee. Our working model proves this is a success and already we are looking to expand across England and Wales.”

National Enforcement Services, one of the UK’s leading providers of bailiff and private investigation operations, is to expand with a network of franchisees. The company already has a team of bailiffs operating from London, Manchester, Derby, Birmingham, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Leeds, Hull  and Liverpool.

The company is announcing plans to increase its workforce by inviting people to operate their own bailiff services as well as receiving full training and a host of financial benefits.

Franchisees will be given access to a full computer and data system to operate their business from, individual websites, a blog, as well as key contacts and the capability to generate new business.

It will cost an individual £20,000 to set up their bailiff company, trading under the National Enforcement Services brand. The benefits could be substantial with potential income up to £100,000 a year and the ability to earn up to 100% from any new business brought in.

Bailiffs for National Enforcement Services have been involved in high profile collections right across the country as well as tracing individuals for debt collection and being heavily involved in emotional family reunions.

Interest and demand are already quite high across a number of major cities with the potential to operate multiple franchises in London, Manchester and Birmingham.

The company is using the services of franchising experts How2franchise.co.uk in planning forward for the business.

Andy Coates, CEO of National Enforcement Services, said: “The high demand for bailiff services allows us to invite potential franchisees to come forward. One of the best things about an opportunity like this is that franchisees are able to follow National Enforcement Services’ operational, administrative and marketing methods, which have already proven to be successful. “

Rod Hindmarsh, Partner of How2Franchise.co.uk, said: “This is an excellent opportunity in a niche market. We are working with National Enforcement Services because of the strength of the existing company and see a real opportunity for those with an interest in the sector to get involved. We believe a franchised bailiff service has the potential to be incredibly successful. ”

National Enforcement has opened a new Office in Hull at PO Box 11 Keyingham Hull East Yorkshire HU12 9YF. at the beginning of April 2009.

They have appointed Glenn Dodsworth as their East Coast Operations Manager . Glenn has been in the industry since 1995. He started as a as bailiff doing council tax rents etc for Paragon International formerly one of the largest Bailiff and Investigation companies on the east coast.

He then worked himself around the company doing process serving, tracing etc. He then went out in the vans as a  surveillance operative. Glenn worked himself up the ladder to Operations manager for Paragon. Paragon sold out to BDA International whom Glenn continued to work with until his move to us this year. Glenn and his wife have lived all their life in the east Yorkshire area and have extensive local Knowledge. Andy Coates National Enforcement said “ We are delighted to have someone running our East coast operation with Glenn’s background and experience. His knowledge and abilities will complement our existing team.”

NES

At the recent Managing Consumer Debt conference, an Office of Fair Trading (OFT) representative, David Philpott, announced that the debt collection guidelines are to be revised later on this year. This news comes in addition to the UK government’s customs and tax department, the HM Revenue and Customs, declaring that it will utilise the services of private bailiffs and debt collection agencies in order to improve rates of collecting any unpaid tax which is still outstanding.

The updated OFT documentation will take into account debt purchase guidelines, plus debt collection and pre-delinquency management best practice.

Mr Philpott stressed that this guidance will not create any unnecessary burdens on the debt collection sector when he explained:

“We will take effective action against businesses that harm or may harm consumers but we also want to establish close links with businesses and consumer representatives to ensure constructive dialogue.”

The outsourcing of the tax collection is initially on a six month trial with letters being sent out to individuals and businesses who are overdue on their tax warning them that they will be referred to a debt collection agency unless they get in contact with the HMRC immediately.

A spokesperson for the HMRC has confirmed:

“We retain a flexible approach to ensure we get the best result for the taxpayer. Using private sector capacity has the potential to complement this approach and that is what we are now exploring.”

Andy Coates, who is National Enforcement Services’ Chief Executive Officer, has received the Frank Martin Award from the Association of British Investigators (ABI) in recognition for his work as one of the top private investigators in the country.

Mr Coates was given the ABI award as praise for his service and dedication to the sector where he has worked for over twenty years. He has progressed from being head of the northern branch to being a member of the governing council. That is not all; his off-duty time also includes being a volunteer for the ABI, helping to boost the image of the organisation by directing and planning its marketing strategy.

Andy later commented on receiving the award:

“The ABI is crucial to the success of the private investigation sector… This award goes a long way to recognise the efforts so many private investigators put into their work and is a marvellous accolade for National Enforcement Services and the work we do.”

Tony Imossi, president of the ABI said:

“The Frank Martin award recognises those who have continued to show outstanding commitment to not only our organisation and its members but to the sector as a whole.

“With his team of bailiffs and administrators, Andy works to reclaim finances and properties for private companies, solicitors and even individuals. As well as a being a member of several private investigation organisations Andy heads up National Enforcement Services which deal in surveillance, debt collection and training, with services ranging from arrest warrants to forfeitures of lease and trespasser evictions.”

Andy has been involved with National Enforcement Services since he founded it in 1979 and has continued to increase the range of products and services the firm offers whilst providing staff with the latest technologies in their pursuits to reclaim debt.

The company’s head office is based in Darlington, County Durham and they offer services on a ‘no recovery no fee’ basis as well as providing training courses for bailiffs and civil enforcement agents.