Call for fresh approach to debt satisfactions in Scotland

Registry Trust is the non-profit organisation which collects judgment information from jurisdictions across the UK, including small claims and summary causes and ordinary cause decrees in Scotland.

Calling for a fresh approach to satisfactions in Scotland, Trust chairman Malcolm Hurlston CBE said: “Behaviour cannot explain the yawning gap. In Scotland it lies with consumers to notify us if a debt is satisfied and it would seem many are failing to do so.

“It is to their detriment but lenders too would benefit from more accurate information if satisfaction data were kept up to date.

“We are starting discussions with lender organisations to see how we can solve the problem together. Meanwhile, people who pay off debts should remember to register it with us and reap the reward, quite probably in a lower cost of credit. Let’s get Scotland satisfied.”

The Trust’s statistics show that 5,398 judgments were recorded against consumers in Q3 2016, a year on year decrease of 12 percent. The total value fell 12 percent (to £14.8m), and the average value of a judgment remained unchanged at £2,746.

The overall decrease in the number of judgments was almost entirely attributable to a 13 percent fall in small claims and summary causes. There was only one fewer ordinary cause decree in Q3 2016 compared with the same period last year. The average value of a small claims judgment was £1,543, a seven percent rise and the highest on record. Meanwhile, the average value of an ordinary cause decree fell 16 percent to £13,957.

In Q3 2016 Registry Trust received 7,821 requests, to search the register for Scotland online click here.

TrustOnline allows anyone to search for judgments and similar information registered against businesses and consumers in any jurisdiction across the British Isles and Ireland.

“It is a unique benefit for consumers to be able to check the debt record of any person or business with which they may be transacting,” said Mr Hurlston. “Negative information would certainly make me think twice.”