|
|
Other Information >
Help
to find support and advice
Contact us if you need information or
have a query
If you need more information or have a particular query about a
service, please contact the relevant Official Receiver, Redundancy
Payments office or Headquarters section (details below).
Insolvency Enquiry Line
If you have a general query about insolvency you should contact the
Insolvency Enquiry Line by e-mail at insolvency.enquiryline@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk
or by telephone on 0845 602 9848, Monday - Friday 9am to 5pm (except
Bank Holidays). The enquiry line provides general information on
insolvency legislation, procedures including the work of official
receivers offices. You may be able to find the answer you require on
line or find enough information to make any subsequent enquiry more
specific. The Insolvency Enquiry Line (IEL) Reference Guide contains
general information covering most topics commonly encountered by the IEL.
This guide can be accessed by clicking here.
Note: The Insolvency Service and Official Receivers cannot provide
legal or financial advice. You should seek this from a Citizens Advice
Bureau, a solicitor, a qualified accountant, an authorised insolvency
practitioner a licensed conveyancer or reputable financial adviser or
advice centre.
Section 216
Applications
If under section 216 of the Insolvency Act 1986 you
are making an application to court for permission to use a prohibited
company name, you should send a copy of your application and witness
statement to the Insolvency Service at the following address:
Hotline andS216(3)
Applications Team
3rd Floor
Cannon House
18 Priory Queensway
Birmingham B4 6FD
Further information can be found in the
publication
Re-use of a company name after liquidation
Official Receiver contacts
The Official Receiver deals with the
investigation and administration of bankruptcies and companies in
compulsory liquidation. If you do not know where your local office is or
how to contact it by e-mail, you can find the relevant address on our
website at www.insolvency.gov.uk
Redundancy Payment contacts
The Redundancy Payments offices (RPOs) assess and
pay statutory entitlements to redundancy and associated payments when an
employer cannot or will not pay its employees. If you do not know
where your local RPO is or how to contact it by email, you can:
l find
the relevant address on our website at www.insolvency.gov.uk;
l telephone
the Redundancy Payments Helpline on 0845 145 0004 (calls are charged
at local rates);
l email
the Redundancy Payments Helpline at
BRPO@dti.gsi.gov.uk
Our publication 'A Guide to The Insolvency Service'
provides background information on our work.
| Headquarters
Section contacts |
|
| Section |
What we do |
| Estate
Accounts Directorate (EAD)
ead.enquiries@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk
|
EAD
provides an estate accounting and investment service to
Insolvency Practitioners (IPs) and Official Receivers (ORs)
using the Insolvency Services Account.
|
insolvency practitioner Policy Section
IPPolicy.Section@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk |
Insolvency practitioner
Policy Section is responsible for all policy matters relating
to the authorisation and regulation of IPs, including the
regulation of the Recognised Professional Bodies (RPBs). The
section is the main point of contact with the RPBs and other
representative groups from the insolvency
profession generally. It issues guidance to IPs and advises
ministers, officials and the public on the regulation of IPs.
|
Secretariat
Secretariat.section@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk |
Secretariat is responsible
for our Strategy and Corporate Plan. It is also responsible
for:
- taking
forward customer service issues including Charter Mark;
- our
User Satisfaction Index;
- the
Complaints Procedure;
- other
quality initiatives;
- the
website;
- producing
the Agency Annual Report and Accounts;
providing
management support to our senior management
|
Finance
Section
Finance.Planning@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk |
Finance Section is
responsible for handling our payments and receipts (except
insolvency estate payments which are handled by our IP
Banking).
|
Policy
Policy.Unit@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk |
Policy Unit is responsible
for all aspects of insolvency policy for England and
Wales and for certain aspects of corporate insolvency policy
in Scotland. It:
- monitors
the operation of insolvency legislation;
- advises
to ministers, officials and the public on insolvency policy;
and
- considers
the insolvency aspects of other legislation, including
European Union initiatives.
|
Human
Resources
Human.Resources@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk |
Human
Resources (HR) is responsible for reviewing, designing, and
implementing HR policies, procedures and practices.
It administers The Service’s personnel function and
ensures the organisation has a skilled,
innovative and professional workforce.
|
Corporate
Governance Section (formerly The Inspectorate)
corporate.governance@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk |
The Corporate Governance
Section is responsible for corporate governance reviews
of Official Receivers' offices and Headquarters sections,
and for developing corporate governance and quality assurance policies throughout The
Service.
|
Redundancy
Payments Department (RPD)
redundancy.payments@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk |
RPD
provides policy advice and briefing to ministers,
officials and other government departments on the employment
aspects of redundancy, insolvency, and employment status and
on the Compensation Scheme for Former Trawlermen. RPD also
deals with correspondence from the general public concerning
redundancy matters.
|
insolvency practitioners Unit (IPU)
IPU.email@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk |
IPU is responsible for:
- reviewing
IP disqualification reports;
- the
authorisation and regulation of IPs authorised by the
Secretary of State (SoS), including monitoring their work and
considering complaints against them;
- ensuring
that IPs comply with various statutory duties, including the
submission of disqualification returns;
- undertaking
certain delegated functions on behalf of the Secretary of
State, such as:
- maintaining the register of
individual voluntary arrangements;
- dealing with applications for the agreement in
principle of appointments of office holders and approval of
such applications; and
- dealing with applications to sanction the powers of
trustees and liquidators in bankruptcy and compulsory
liquidation where there is no creditors' committee;
- ensuring
the accuracy of The Insolvency Service's database of cases and
of IPs;
- monitoring
the Recognised Professional Bodies.
|
Enforcement
Directorate
Enforcement.Directorate@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk
Disqualification.team@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk
Criminal.allegations@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk
Enforcement.Hotline@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk
|
The Enforcement Directorate
has a range of responsibilities involving misconduct and
wrongdoing uncovered by those who handle insolvencies.
Official Receivers (ORs) and insolvency practitioners (IPs)
submit reports on the conduct of directors of insolvent
companies. Where it is in the public interest, ORs will be
authorised to take disqualification action or, in the case of
IP reports, Disqualification Investigation Teams will carry
out enquiries with a view to taking such action.
ORs submit reports alleging criminal
offences discovered in bankruptcies and companies, and IPs
submit reports in voluntary liquidations. Where appropriate, the Directorate will liaise
with the DTI's prosecuting authority with a view to the
investigation and prosecution of offences.
When an OR considers that a bankrupt should be subject to the
bankruptcy restrictions beyond their usual discharge date, the
OR will submit a report with a view to applying to the court
for a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order for a period of between 2
and 15 years. Where it is in public interest, the OR will be
authorised to make the application.
If a member of the public thinks that a disqualified
director or a person subject to a bankruptcy restrictions
order is acting in breach of their disqualification or
restriction, they can complain by calling the Enforcement
Hotline on 0845 601 3546.
|
Publications
We maintain a website at www.insolvency.gov.uk. The website contains
information on insolvency legislation; the location of Official
Receivers' and Redundancy Payments offices; consultation documents that
we issue; and answers to frequently asked questions. If you have
any questions/comments about the website, please fill in the feedback
questionnaire on the site or email us at web.admin@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk
Below is a list of the main publications issued by The Insolvency
Service. A full list is also available on our website.
You can order
these from the DTI Publications Order Line:
Information about The Service
The Insolvency Service Charter
Complaints procedure - Information on making a complaint
Guide to Bankruptcy
A Guide to Creditors
A Guide for Directors
Bankruptcy Restrictions Orders
Fast Track Voluntary Arrangements
When will my bankruptcy end?
What will happen to my home?
What will happen to my bank account?
Can my bankruptcy be cancelled?
Individual Insolvency Register
What happens when you are interviewed by the Official Receiver?
What will happen to my pension?
Changes to the bankruptcy law under The Enterprise Act 2002
Information about disqualification procedures
Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 and Failed Companies
Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 and Disqualified Directors
The Disqualified Directors Hotline
Insolvency practitioners
Trustees and liquidators in bankruptcies and compulsory liquidations
Dealing with debt
How to petition for your own bankruptcy
How to make someone bankrupt
How to wind up a company that owes you money
How to wind up your own company
How to wind up a partnership
Information on redundancy
Redundancy and insolvency - A Guide for Employees
Redundancy & Insolvency - A guide for insolvency practitioners to employees
rights on the insolvency of their employer
Redundancy & Insolvency - Help for employers in financial difficulty
The following publication is available on the DTI website www.dti.gov.uk/er/redundancy
Redundancy Payments (PL808)
You can also get the publication from your local Job Centre Plus office.
Redundancy forms
Claim for payments from the National Insurance Fund (Form RP1)
Advance notification of redundancies (Form HR1)
These forms are available from our website www.insolvency.gov.uk
Some publications are also available on the website in
Urdu and
Traditional Chinese, you can find these on our website. Additionally they are available on audio tape, on
request, from Official Receiver offices.
Annex A
These are not the only organisations that may be able
to help you. The Insolvency Service cannot accept responsibility for the
information, advice, or other services provided by these organisations.
| Who
are they? |
How
they can help? |
How
can you contact or find them? |
| Advisory
Conciliation And Arbitration Service (ACAS) |
ACAS
is a public body funded by taxpayers. It offers free help and
information on work-related issues. |
Helpline:
08457 474747
Opening
hours: Monday to
Friday 8am-6pm
Website:
www.acas.org.uk.
The ACAS website contains details of the local ACAS offices. |
| Business
Debtline |
Business
Debtline is a registered charity that provides a free
telephone debt-counselling service for the self-employed and
small businesses facing financial hardship. Advice is free,
independent and confidential. |
Helpline:
0800 197 6026
Opening
hours: Monday to
Friday 10am–4pm.
Website:
www.bdl.org.uk
|
| Citizens
Advice
|
Citizens
Advice is a registered charity that offers free, independent
and confidential advice from more than 700 locations
throughout the UK.
|
Helpline:
0207 833 2181 to find your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Opening
hours: Monday to
Friday 8am–6pm
Website:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
which contains a directory of local CABs.
For
advice, visit the CAB Advice Guide website at www.adviceguide.org.uk.
|
| Community
Legal Service (CLS) |
The
Legal Services Commission (LSC) runs the Community Legal
Service (CLS) and administers what was previously known as
legal aid. The CLS Directory lists solicitors and advice
agencies in your area. |
Helpline:
0845 345 4345
Opening
hours: Monday to
Sunday 9am–5.30pm
Website:
www.clsdirect.org.uk
You
can find a CLS-approved legal advisor using the CLS Directory,
which is available at your local library or on the website.
The website is available in English, Welsh, Urdu, Bengali,
Chinese, Punjabi, Turkish and Gujarati. |
| Consumer
Credit CounsellingService (CCCS)
|
The
CCCS is a registered charity dedicated to providing free,
confidential counselling and money-management help to families
and individuals in financial distress. They provide
counselling on budgeting; advice on the wise use of credit;
and, where appropriate, achievable plans to repay debts. |
Helpline:
0800 138 1111
Opening
hours: Monday to
Friday 8am–8pm
Website:
www.cccs.co.uk
|
| Consumer
Direct
|
Consumer
Direct is the government-funded telephone and online service
offering information and advice on consumer issues. Consumer
Direct is funded by the Office of Fair Trading and delivered
in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards
Services. |
Helpline:
08454 04 05 06.
Opening
hours: Monday to
Friday 8am–6.30pm. Saturday 9am–1pm.
Website:
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
|
| Lawyers For
Your Business (LFYB) |
LFYB
is a Law Society initiative that represents some 1,400 firms
of solicitors in England and Wales who have come together to
ensure that businesses, especially smaller owner-managed ones,
get access to sound legal advice when they need it. |
Helpline:
0207 405 9075
Opening
hours: Monday to
Friday 9am–5.30pm. You will be sent a list of the member
solicitors in your area (including information on specialist
areas of work and languages spoken) and a voucher for a free
consultation.
Website:
click
here |
| National
Debtline |
National
Debtline provides free, confidential and independent advice
over the telephone for anyone in financial difficulty. Callers
will receive a free self-help information pack. |
Helpline:
0808 808 4000
Opening
hours: Monday to
Friday 9am–9pm and Saturdays 9.30am–1pm
Website:
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk |
| Small
Business Service (SBS)
|
SBS
is a government agency that has been established to help small
businesses and provide them with a single source of
high-quality information and advice. |
Helpline:
0207 215 5000
Opening
hours: Monday to
Friday 8.30am–5.30pm
Website:
www.sbs.gov.uk |
|
|
