CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > August 2019 49 LEGAL: 2 Driver CPC Deadline Reminder For many professional lorry, bus or coach drivers in the UK, the deadline to complete their Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) periodic training and maintain their current card is approaching. If you haven’t already done so, you need to make sure you’ve completed 35 hours of periodic training by 9th September 2019. Following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU professional drivers of lorries and buses will still need a valid Driver CPC to continue to operate in the UK. It is illegal for drivers to operate without a Driver Qualification Card (DQC). Consultation to Ban Old Tyres As of 23rd June, the Government has launched a consultation to ban the use of tyres aged 10 years old or more on buses, coaches, HGVs and minibuses. The consultation will run until 1st September 2019 and, if supported, could see the new rules come into force by early 2020. The consultation can be found at www.gov.uk/ government/consultations/banning-tyres-aged-10-years- and-older1 The Government’s reasoning behind this is to ensure that the highest safety standards are adhered to throughout all affected industries. With credit insurance premiums being so high it is likely you have smaller customers that you decide not to insure. It is important you don’t forget about the importance of credit management for your un-insured accounts and make good use of your credit information and collections services. What is the starting point for instructing a third-party collections agency? When instructing your chosen agency, tell them everything you know. All potential contact details, any known reasons for non- payment, have payment promises been broken, have payment plans been defaulted? Make sure your chosen agency understands their level of authority - will you accept a payment plan for example? Whilst your agency should be geared to collect your money as quickly as possible, ideally in a full payment, sometimes in a ‘can’t pay’ situation, reducing the debt over a short period of time can be more cost effective then resorting to legal action. How can we ensure a collections agency best represents our business? The collection agency you choose is an extension of your company. When considering a debt collection agency, it’s important to determine the processes and manner in which they conduct their collections activity and if it is in line with your own company values. For new customers a phone call to confirm they have received an invoice gives you the opportunity to ask if they are happy with the service they received and if they have everything they need to make the payment. By opening dialogue with your customer, you have the potential to up and cross sell your services. Don’t be afraid that a third party will upset your customers. A good third party agency will bespoke their process to what you need and can add real value to your customer relationships. A good collections agency will understand your position when it comes to repeat business. If you are looking to deal with the subject customer again - tell your agency, they should have the ability to adjust their approach to suit you and your customers. If you wish to learn more about the service provided by Top Service, please contact Stella Reilly on 01527 518800 .