Cost on discontinuance of claim

When a claimant discontinues its claim, the usual position is that it has to pay the defendant's reasonable legal costs. This is the general presumption under the Civil Procedure Rules and applies unless there is good reason for it not to.

Contractual right to costs in the small claims track

Finance companies often find themselves litigating in the small claims track. 

Lenders beware

The decision of the Court of Appeal in Shah & another v HSBC Private Bank (UK) Ltd (HSBC) will give lenders cause for concern.

Unfair relationship applies to live agreements only

In the case of Soulsby and Soulsby v FirstPlus Financial Group Plc (1) and Loans.co.uk Limited (2), FirstPlus advanced money to the claimants under three successive written credit agreements arranged via a broker.

Finance company loses out on title fight

There has been a Court of Appeal decision involving Section 27 of the Hire Purchase Act 1964, one of the exceptions to the nemo dat quod non habet principle of English law, that no one can pass better title to goods than they possess.

Reconstituted agreement suffices

In the latest in a line of decisions in favour of finance companies engaged in writing Consumer Credit Act 1974 (CCA) regulated business, the High Court has provided further guidance arising out of s78 CCA request for information.

Voluntary v compulsory liquidation

An agreement with a company has gone into arrears. The vehicles may or may not have been sold. The company has placed itself into voluntary liquidation. Can the finance company take steps to protect itself?

Creditors' rights not extinguished

Last month, I reported on the OFT draft guidance note on how to comply with duties to give debtors and hirers copy documents and statements of account following requests under sections 77 - 79 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. There has now been a case.

Guidance on giving information

Readers are likely to have seen an increase in requests for information under sections 77(1), 78(1) and 79(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (the Act).

It's a matter of timing

Securing judgments by way of charging orders over property is a popular way for finance companies to enforce against debtors. Often, this process is a race against time before a bankruptcy or winding-up order is made.

"Without prejudice"

The use of the words "without prejudice" on correspondence or in a meeting where there is a "dispute" over a finance agreement can potentially lull the parties into a false sense of security.

Justice trumps ability to pay

Finance agreements with a debtor company are often backed by personal guarantees from the directors of the company. If insolvency proceedings are contemplated, you need to consider whether you could bring the same action against the principal debtor.

That old chestnut!

Guarantee or indemnity? A guarantee is a promise to answer for the debt of another who remains primarily liable, the liability of the guarantor being secondary. However, with an indemnity, the surety assumes primary liability.

Unfair terms in consumer contracts

In consumer contracts entered into on a business's standard terms, the court can find on a claim by an individual consumer that a term is unreasonable and unenforceable as against that particular consumer.

Debt Relief Orders - the essentials

Individuals unable to pay their debts have an additional form of debt relief available to them following the introduction of the Debt Relief Order (DRO) on 6 April 2009.

Intervening bankruptcy fails to thwart charging order

When an individual is made bankrupt or a company is wound up, any dissipation of assets, or enforcement proceedings completed after the date of the presentation of the petition are liable to be set aside (s 346 Insolvency Act 1986 (IA)).

Payment by instalments

In these difficult financial times it is not unusual for a debtor to ask for additional time to pay outstanding finance instalments, or any judgment that might have been obtained against him.

Funding options for litigation

Conditional fee agreements (CFAs), often combined with insurance policies, have been used in the personal injury market for a number of years to enable parties to bring claims in circumstances where they might otherwise be unable to afford to do so.

Charging orders remain enforceable indefinitely

Having obtained a judgment following default in payment of a finance agreement, the obtaining of a charging order over the debtor's property is an effective way of ensuring that the judgment is secured and that payment will be made.

Guarantees - business or consumer?

Business loans guaranteed by individuals involved in the management of the business are not caught by the UTCCR. Such guarantors are unlikely to be able to prove that the terms of such a guarantee are unreasonable and so unenforceable.

No HPI registration? No problem

Although it is standard practice for finance companies to register their interests on the HPI register, the case of Industrial & Corporate Finance Ltd v Wyder Group Ltd confirmed that there is no legal duty to do so.

Serving proceedings

Lenders issuing and serving proceedings need to be aware of the changes to the rules on service of proceedings in England and Wales which came into effect on 1 October 2008.

Ombudsman complaints

If consumers' complaints cannot be resolved to their satisfaction by the body complained of, they have the right to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Settlement by cashing cheque

When attempting to negotiate repayment from a debtor, it might initially appear attractive to accept and bank a cheque offered in payment and then pursue the debtor for the remainder.

Conversion for wrongful retention

A recent case has restated the basic principles of a claim in conversion fir wrongful retention of goods.

Civil Procedure Rules

A new pre-action protocol for general litigation claims is likely to be added to the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) that govern litigation in the UK.Read what this could mean for motor finance companies.

No contractual effect

In ING Lease (UK) Ltd v Harwood a director unsuccessfully attempted to escape liability under a personal guarantee by alleging an agreement had been reached in negotiations that he would not be personally liable.

Consumer or business contract?

Clarification from the Court of Appeal in Evans v Cherry Tree Finance Ltd & Anor, concerning consumer and business contracts.

It's still my property!

In Schwarzschild v Harrods Ltd, the court confirmed that for a claim in conversion to arise, there has to be both an unequivocal demand for delivery up and an unequivocal refusal to do so.

Get the basics right

The case of County Leasing Ltd and another v East is a reminder of the need to get the simple things right when enforcing hire-purchase and loan agreements, such as calculations of arrears and demands for payment, even the agreements are unregulated.

Get the basics right

The case of County Leasing Ltd and another v East is a reminder of the need to get the simple things right when enforcing hire-purchase and loan agreements, such as calculations of arrears, notices of termination and demands for payment.

Dishonest valuations - lender wins mortgage fraud case

A look at a case showing an increasingly robust judicial attitude benefiting lenders.

Limit to ROT reach

ROT clauses are often found in agreements for the sale of goods whereby a seller seeks to reserve the ownership of those goods until certain conditions are met, usually payment in full. However, they may not be suitable in every transaction.

Fraudulent misrepresentation

Renault UK Ltd v Fleetpro Technical Services Ltd & Anor is an interesting case. It confirms that fraudulent misrepresentations can be made to a machine such that, if loss is suffered as a result, a claim in damages can be brought.

Bear in mind the 12 year rule

Usually, a mortgagee has 12 years from the date on which the right of action accrued to take action under its security; and after the expiry of that period, will be 'time barred' under the Limitation Act 1980 from taking steps to enforce its security.

Damages for fraudulent misrepresentation as to ability to supply cars

The case of Parallel Imports (Europe) Ltd  (T/A Baglan Car Centre) v Radivan & Anor is a reminder to dealers that care needs to be exercised where there is a history of trading with a supplier.

Title disputes

Fairfax Gerrard Holdings Ltd and others v Capital Bank Plc (now Bank of Scotland Plc by substitution) is a reminder that retention of title clauses are a clumsy and unreliable method of taking security over an asset, including over motor vehicles.

Surrendering life policies to aid mortgage arrears can still lead to posession

Wragge & Co's experts look at Mr & Mrs Banfield v Leeds Building Society, which saw an unhappy Christmas for the Banfields. This was due to the dismissal of their appeal by the Court of Appeal in relation to a Possession Order granted in LBS' favour.

Court of Appeal decides on bankruptcy and marital breakdown

The New Year sees an important decision in relation to two of the competing modern day realities: financial difficulties and marital breakdown. 

Promotional literature and directors' warranties

Wragge & Co takes a look at the legal implications of statements made in a company's promotional literature used to attract customers.

Bankruptcy and its impact on property ownership

Fiona Hayles, associate at Wragge & CO LLP Solicitors, discusses two very different cases illustrating the varied impact of bankruptcy in the property arena.

Who owns what share of the home

In Stack v Dowden, the House of Lords handed down a judgement setting out the rights of ownership in relation to a marital home following the marriage breakdown. Wragge & Co's experts look at the Court's attitude to the division of property ownership.

Bankruptcy and matrimonial court orders

In Scottish & Newcastle plc v Lancashire Mortgage Corporation Limited, both companies had registered legal charges over 109 Wellington Street, Grimsby (the Property) which was owned by Mr & Mrs Pexman.

Counting the costs

Failure by a party to a dispute to reasonably consider alternative dispute resolution procedures (ADR), including mediation, can result in severe cost sanctions being imposed by the court. Wragge & Co provide expert material on this issue.

VFS Financial Services (UK) Limited v Euro Auctions & Others Limited

This article analyses a case about the correct measure of damages payable to a finance company whose goods have been unlawfully converted by a third party.