The government have announced the current £318 fee to have personal details removed from the Insolvency Register and the official public record, the Gazette is to be scrapped.
The Person at Risk of Violence (PARV) Order fees will no longer be applied from November meaning vulnerable people, including those fleeing domestic abuse and people involved in debt proceedings, will no longer have to pay to have their name and address removed.
In scrapping the ‘unnecessary’ fee, the government say they are continuing with their commitment to ‘stand up for victims and halve violence against women and girls’ in its Plan for Change.
Currently people’s names and addresses are added to the Insolvency Register when they apply for an insolvency debt solution, such as bankruptcy, a debt relief order, or an individual voluntary arrangement. Currently, to apply for a PARV Order, individuals must demonstrate that disclosure of their address would reasonably expect to lead to violence. They do not have to prove that they have experienced violence, only that they reasonably believe they may. They then complete an application form which is accompanied by a witness statement, attend court, and pay the applicable court fee.
The changes will remove costs as a barrier to safety and protect survivors facing debt and financial hardship said Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC:
“Women who experience domestic abuse can spend their lives on the run. They deserve protection. The publication of victims’ personal details on the Insolvency Register must not be another tool perpetrators can use to torment their victims. This simple change can be the difference between a life of peace and one of fear. I hope that abolishing this fee gives some degree of relief to the people who need it.
“As part of our Plan for Change, we are determined to protect more victims from abuse and halve Violence Against Women and Girls in the next decade.”
Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse said:
“We welcome the government’s decision to abolish the fee for Persons at Risk of Violence Orders when applying for insolvency solutions.
“Until now, survivors have been forced to pay extra just to stay safe and avoid having their names and addresses published on a public insolvency database. This blocked many from accessing vital insolvency options because the perpetrator’s economic abuse left them unable to afford the fee. Removing this cost is an important step towards ensuring survivors can seek protection without taking on yet more financial burden when trying to resolve coerced debts.”
The news is a victory for Money Wellness who have campaigned for this change concluded Policy and Public Affairs Officer Adam Rolfe.
