Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB), the independent oversight body for the debt enforcement sector in England and Wales, has launched its Accreditation Scheme.
Through the scheme, the ECB will establish effective oversight of enforcement work and create accountability for those undertaking it. The first year of the accreditation scheme opened for applications in September 2023. From October 2023, ECB will publish and maintain a register of accredited enforcement firms. Firms will need to apply for accreditation annually, and the framework and expectations will evolve over time.
Firms that are accredited by the ECB will make an active commitment to:
- Increased accountability
- Seeking to meet higher standards
- Funding an independent oversight body for enforcement
ECB plans to begin operational oversight, monitoring and complaints handling from summer 2024.
Applications are open to enforcement firms and sole traders undertaking civil or high court enforcement work. The scheme will be extended to include in house enforcement teams at local authorities later in 2023, or early 2024. A full list of ECB accredited organisations will be available on its website once the application period closes.