Summary of Action Points with regard to dealings with Michael K Howard, re Advertising Contract, following 1st Quarterly meeting of 27 June 2024 with MKH
In attendance:
Robert Hill (Contract Manager, Michael K Howard)
Karen Jackson (Contract Manager, Insolvency Service)
Muhunthan Vaithianathar (Examiner, OR Operations Section, INSS)
This minute supplements the management notice, M23-02, issued on the 26 March 2002, which introduced MKH as the new advertising contractor in succession to Reynells as of the 02 April 2024 and will also be published on the intranet under OR Operations, Advertising Contract.
Following a meeting with MKH and after consulting ORs, the following additional procedures were agreed to ensure a more smooth and efficient running of the contract from the point of view of both The Service and MKH.
The operational changes are highlighted and should be implemented straightaway and any problems should be reported to either Muhunthan Vaithianathar (020 7637 6298) or Karen Jackson (020 7291 6824) in OR Operations Section.
Payment of Invoices
A few queries were originally raised regarding the length of invoice numbers and this making it impractical to pay grouped invoices together, as there is only enough space on LOLA for 20 characters. After discussing this with several offices and cashiers, we have decided to leave things as they are. The invoice numbers have reduced to seven characters and the general concensus of the offices was that there are no real problems with the payment procedure. The only point to note is that MKH have asked that invoice numbers should always be quoted on any remittances sent to them. This should be done on LOLA and the details are then automatically quoted on the payment schedule.
Certificate of insertion/Copy adverts
The certificate of insertion, ie copy adverts should now be more user friendly for both ourselves and the courts when filing copy adverts, and more easily identify the case and the newspaper it was advertised in, similar to the copy advert Reynells produced. If there are any problems with the copy adverts, can you please let us know.
Form B37.37, Notice to creditors of intended dividend (for newspaper)
The LOIS generated form, B37.37, Notice to creditors of intended dividend (for newspaper) includes a standard paragraph which states “Please note that the description above relates to the date of the bankruptcy order, eg 15 August 2002, and does not reflect on any person or persons now living or trading from the address(es) stated.” This was added as a result of a New Ideas suggestion. However after further evaluation, this has not proved to be cost effective. Therefore we have decided to drop this standard paragraph from the template.
Alternative Publications
MKH should now be starting to look at alternative publications that give the same coverage as existing ones, but at a cheaper rate. MKH have stated they are looking at not just the rate, but quality of service also. Details will be forwarded to the Official Receivers shortly.
Requests not to Advertise
There have been occasional instances where MKH have advertised notices, when the instructions were for the notices not to be advertised. An example is where we send notices to all people who were informed of a bankruptcy that is subsequently annulled. MKH took this letter to mean that the annulment should be advertised. If we can make it quite clear on such notices that this is not a request for an advert, then hopefully such occurrences will not happen again.
Acknowledgement of adverts
The acknowledgement of adverts has proved a problematic area with varying opinions as to the way forward/options available in order to have a consistent approach for all offices. After reviewing the responses from ORs offices on the possibility of using the general office in-box to receive all acknowledgements, it has been decided to look at this matter further, with perhaps a trial in one of the offices that expressed a strong opinion. We will liase with offices who expressed a strong opinion on this matter.
Muhunthan Vaithianathar
OR Operations Section
16 August 2023