Empira

Empira: High Court enforcement and civil debts in England and Wales

Empira is an enforcement company with nationwide coverage in England and Wales dedicated to the enforcement of High Court judgments and civil enforcement orders. Its activity focuses on debt recovery for institutional clients and the enforcement of court judgments, combining proprietary technology, case management and teams specialised by type of debt.

The firm states that its approach combines the use of analytical tools and technology with acting "fairly and proportionally", and indicates that at every stage of the process it identifies and supports vulnerable customers. It has a compliance team focused on maintaining the security of client and debtor data.

Enforcement and debt recovery services

Empira's service catalogue covers different areas of civil and tax enforcement:

• Parking charge enforcement: the company states it has experience in collecting unpaid parking charges and offers, together with its sister companies, an end-to-end process that includes debt recovery strategies and litigation.
• Council Tax: a dedicated local taxation team seeks full payment or a reasonable payment arrangement during the compliance phase; if there is no response, an enforcement agent is assigned to attend the debtor's home.
• Business Rates: a team dedicated to business rates, with the same logic of contact and agreement during the compliance phase and, failing that, a visit from an enforcement agent.
• High Court: enforcement of judgments against companies and individuals ordered to pay money, return goods or give up land. It includes High Court judgments, county court judgments over £600 transferred to the High Court, employment tribunal and ACAS awards, possession orders and writs of delivery.
• Commercial rent arrears (CRAR) and commercial lease forfeiture: enforcement service to recover commercial rents, with the possibility of peaceable re-entry to the premises within 48 hours of instruction.
• Removal of unauthorised encampments: service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with the aim of completing the eviction within 24 hours of notification, securing the site and delivering a full report.
• Sundry Debt: recovery of varied portfolios through contact by phone, post and personal service, with the possibility of using the litigation services of its sister company to obtain county court judgments, warrants of control or High Court writs of control.

Debtor portal and payments

Empira offers a debtor portal that allows you to manage your case, view a detailed summary, make payments and set up arrangements to split payments. Registration is described as simple and non-intrusive. The company states that, together with its payment gateway partner, it provides a quick and secure system for making payments, and it has an automated payment line.

Accreditations and compliance

The firm details several accreditations and memberships:

• Member of the High Court Enforcement Officers Association (HCEOA). James Metcalfe, a director of Empira, is the company's High Court Enforcement Officer, which allows it to enforce High Court writs and other orders.
• Member of the Civil Enforcement Association (CIVEA), with adherence to its code of practice which, according to the company, exceeds national standards.
• Accredited member of the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB), the body that ensures fair treatment for those subject to enforcement action in England and Wales.
• Member of the accredited service provider scheme administered by the International Parking Community, which allows it to enforce unpaid parking charges on private land.
• Registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) as a data controller with registration number ZB014680.

Sustainability

Empira states its aspiration to be "carbon negative" and says it plants a tree for every thousand cases managed, with the aim of offsetting its carbon footprint and replenishing the paper used. The website also mentions a carbon reduction plan.

Location and contact

Unit B, 210 Cygnet Court, Centre Park, Warrington, WA1 1PP