In attendance: Representing:

Introduction

Graham Stewart welcomed attendees to the user group and requested that everyone introduce themselves.

1. IP Banking Transactional Banking Changes

GS informed the group that the Bank of England were withdrawing their retail banking services and advised that as of the 1^st June 2005 the Office of HM Paymaster General would be providing transactional banking services to the Insolvency service. Graham then introduced Pat Cardy who conducted a short presentation regarding OPG. 

PC invited the group to ask questions. Marc Landsman queried how the move to OPG would affect him as an IP. Pat assured the group that service delivery would not be affected in a negative way and hoped that services would be improved. Tim Foley asked if on-line access would still be available. GS advised that on-line access would not be affected.

GS informed the group that a Dear IP article would be issued detailing all the changes.

2. Performance

Ron Heppenstall advised the group that the number of on-line access users had increased by 16% over the last 12 months. RH then referred the group to the graphs that GS had produced indicating that the posting receipts query had not been met due to ongoing problems receiving the post. GS advised that this should not be an issue when IP Banking move to OPG because the bank Giro credit slips will be delivered by Natwest’s internal courier.

3. Security

RH addressed the group on security and circulated copies of the latest cheque fraud. GS circulated a sample copy of the payable orders used by OPG and informed the group that the risk of cheque fraud would be decreased when the new payable orders come into force. GS advised that IP Banking were hopeful that the risk of cheque fraud caused by interception during transit would be reduced by the introduction of secure envelopes. Jim Curtois suggested that the IP’s consider using such envelopes to decrease the risk of interception when the cheques are forwarded on. RH advised the group that BACS is still the safest option when making payments.

4. Financial Systems

JC advised that in previous meetings the group had received feedback concerning the implementation of a new in-house financial system. JC informed the group that work on this system was halted in December 2004. He advised that the existing system had been upgraded to meet current requirements. GS ensured the group that service delivery would not be affected and the current system would continue to receive enhancements to meet demands.

5.Annulments and SoS Fees

JC informed the Group that lawyers acting for the bankrupt in a few recent annulment cases had used a scheme under which the annulment is sought on the basis of a solicitor’s undertaking to secure the debts and expenses of the bankrupt. Once the annulment is granted, the bankrupt can use his interest in his property as security for a loan to pay off the debts and expenses. The question at stake was whether the Secretary of State fee would be payable with this type of arrangement. Legal advice is being sought.

6. User Satisfaction Survey Initial Results 

GS circulated results of a recent User Satisfaction Survey and advised that we needed to increase the number of reply’s received to improve the quality of the data; to this end, he invited the group to suggest ways of doing this. Alison Williams informed the group that the surveys are never forwarded to the correct people within the IP Community. TF suggested sending out surveys with cheques. Alison Poppitt suggested e-mailing the surveys using the addresses held on the on-line access database. GS suggested producing an IP Banking newsletter and attaching the surveys to that. GS to undertake an investigation of the best method that would result in an increased reply rate.  

7. Banking Remittances into the Insolvency Services Account

JC advised the group that he had received feedback from an IP who was having problems banking funds into the ISA, as the banks were not willing to accept remittances. JC informed the group that when the unit moves to OPG this problem will be rectified as IP’s will be able to bank cash and cheques at any Natwest branch.

8. Banking Fee Update

GS informed the group that he was aware of the problems and increased workloads caused by the introduction of the banking fee. GS invited the group to submit ways of improving the process. A lengthy discussion followed and it was agreed that the IP Banking senior management team would investigate the ideas suggested and report back findings.

9. Any other Business

TF asked for an update on the payment of gross interest. JC advised the group that after receiving mixed views concerning the issue he had not taken it any further and asked the group to vote on the idea. The majority confirmed that they were in favour of the idea. JC agreed to take the matter further and report back.

Christine Collins advised that she had received an increased number of Official Receiver cashbooks containing miscellaneous estate receipts and when contacting the unit the staff were unable to identify the receipt. JC will liase with OR Banking and report back.

JC thanked everybody for attending and closed the meeting.