SMART EXCHANGE Local Authority Insolvency Support Services

The instigation of insolvency proceedings against Individuals 

We created this team to assist and support local authority revenue personnel in their recovery duties. The use of insolvency proceedings can deliver positive payment outcomes in many cases, but each matter should be considered on its own merits. This is to ensure sufficient realisable assets and the absence of any “vulnerability” issues that may otherwise attract the involvement of the ombudsman.

We work in with specialist lawyers prepared to fund disbursements in appropriate cases to ensure minimal budgetary requirements. Our licensed insolvency practitioners have considerable experience in acting as trustees in local authority instigated bankruptcies. As a result we have developed a “fast track” procedure to ensure, where possible, that your debt can be paid within the current financial year.

If you are considering the use of bankruptcy as a recovery tool then please contact us and remember that the starting point is always a comprehensive and robust debt policy. We are also able to offer advice about this too!

The instigation of insolvency proceedings against limited companies

The collection of outstanding Business Rates is increasingly in the spot light and the number of rates avoidance schemes not only increasing but also becoming more sophisticated.

Delivering the right recovery solution, on a case by case basis is imperative, as is when to cease recovery action because it’s no longer commercially viable.

We provide a bespoke range of tailored debt consultancy, recovery, and insolvency solutions, drawing on “business intelligence” from a variety of cutting edge data feeds and databases. The findings are incorporated into our reports with reasoned recommendations. These may include letters before action, statutory demands, and winding up petitions. Petitions, though costly, have proved an effective tool in stopping an on-going rates liability when other recovery action has failed.

Value added initiatives

We are always happy to provide free technical advice and in-house training in relation to any aspect of insolvency legislation from the point of view of a local authority.

We host regular “insolvency breakfast forums” where attendees can discuss difficult cases with a range of professionals including solicitors, enforcement agents and our own licensed insolvency practitioners.

We can work in conjunction with enforcement agents and specialist lawyers to provide a seamless solution. 

Results and references 

We have produced verifiable results for our clients. Here is what some of them have to say:

"We have worked with Smart Insolvency Solutions for several years, our main point of contact being Jon Lewis. Smart’s professional approach combined with an in depth practical knowledge of recovering business rates and council tax through insolvency proceedings, has added another dimension to our recovery arsenal. Having someone to pick the phone up to about an Individual Voluntary Arrangement, claiming in a bankruptcy, or rates avoidance scenarios has proved very useful. Jon also accommodated some work experience days for one team member which proved invaluable."
 
Julie  Thomson, Assistant Payments, Income & Support Manager, Durham Council

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“We approached Smart Insolvency Solutions Ltd a few years ago to test the effectiveness of using a specialist insolvency company to recover hard to reach debts that had been through our recovery processes and would otherwise have potentially been written off. We were skeptical initially, but amazed by their success! Their knowledge, experience and professionalism have delivered consistent results and as such we have incorporated their services into our day to day operating model, recovering many hundreds of thousands of pounds. In addition, they are a training resource for us; host regular forum events where information is shared with other authorities and they work with a highly respected IRRV accredited Solicitors practice.”

Ian Hatfield, Revenues Manager, Dudley Council

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“We at Sandwell have been working with SMART Insolvency Solutions for a number of years, recovering very old debt, and ear marked for Write Off. The success to date has been very encouraging and is realising the returns expected with excellent speed of response and results driven, given the difficult debt being recovered. I find communication and interaction to be first rate and highly professional, outperforming expectations, with a great personal service to meet your business needs.”

Anthony Griffiths, Manager-Recovery team, Sandwell MBC 

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"We have had a good working relationship with Smart Insolvency Solutions for some years. Jon, Colin and the team are very approachable, and provide us with a very efficient & fast service with good results."

Jane Taylor, Recovery team leader, Wolverhampton Metropolitan Borough Council   

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"Jon and his team have successfully assisted Stratford-on-Avon District Council in recovering business rates and council tax by the use of bankruptcy and winding up proceedings. Not only do they negotiate and manage repayment arrangements but also act as trustees in bankruptcy and liquidators in appropriate cases. They really do provide a “one stop shop” .Their engagement with difficult customers has produced some unexpected results and I would not hesitate in recommending their services to other councils wishing to tackle difficult cases."

Jennifer Love, Revenues Manager 

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Rotherham MBC has worked in partnership with Smart Insolvency Services Ltd since 2012 in their capacity as the Council’s preferred Insolvency Practitioner. Throughout the partnership Smart has facilitated agreements with legal providers on a fixed costs basis to provide recovery solutions for unpaid Council Tax and Non Domestic Rates, achieving successful resolutions by means of bankruptcy and charging order actions against some of the Council’s most challenging debtors. Without the services that Smart provide the Council would not have been in a position to fund such an initiative.

Beyond the caseload that Rotherham shares ongoing with Smart, the Council often relies upon their professional expertise to answer any number of insolvency related enquiries. Their responses are timely, usually within the same working day, fair and informed and the personal service that Smart provides helps to cut through often complex issues and saves the Council valuable time and resource.

Our partnership continues to flourish as Smart looks to expand its range of services offered to Rotherham and we highly value the contribution they make to our policy for the recovery of outstanding debts.

Steven Ward, Operational Manager for Account Management (Debt Recovery) Revenues, Benefits & Payments

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