Chartered Institute of Credit Management LMS

View from the Sea Front - David Andrews looks at muttering builders, disgruntled OAPs and the solution to the recession - Crumbling rock ARTICLE July 2012

Cashing in - Marcus Hughes, Director of Business Development at Bottomline for Credit Management outlines the role the Bank Payment Obligation (BPO) will play in facilitating cross-border trade - Cross-border growth. Flexible cashflow. Moving on. Education ARTICLE July 2012

Crumbling empire - David Johnson, Director at Halo Financial looks at how the health of the Greek economy could be contagious - The same boat. Smashing plates. The other end of the scale. Turkeys on the menu (Greece) ARTICLE July 2012

News roundup - Research shows domino effect of late payment by Alex Simmons - Survey into international credit trends ARTICLE June 2012

Insolvency news - Confidence - David Kerr, Chief Executive of Insolvency Practitioners Association - "Many personal insolvency exports think that the current figures hide the true extent of the problem and that more insolvencies are inevitable when rates rise and fuel and other costs take their toll ..." (Export) ARTICLE June 2012

Boom and bust - For the first time ever, the debt collection industry has published the volumes and values of debt awaiting collection.  Sean Feast looks at the figures, and the media reaction - "Consumer collections by CSA members survey were £1.207 billion in H2 2011, reflecting increasing quarter on quarter collection that ended Q4 at £479 million - a rise of almost £100 million since Q2 ..." (England) ARTICLE June 2012

Faster funding - Samir Desai, CEO and co-founder of Funding Circle takes a look at how some firms are sourcing finance other than traditional bank loans and invoice financing - "Out of the ashes of the global recession have emerged a number of new and innovative businesses that remove the need for banks ..." (England) ARTICLE June 2012

Country Risk Assessment update - American and Japanese companies are benefiting from their favourable economic outlook - Australia and New Zealand despite strong growth, the manufacturing sectors are in trouble ARTICLE June 2012

Creditsafe Country Focus - Poland - About the country. Credit Ratings ARTICLE June 2012

Trade and the payment culture in Italy - Phil Mercer, Head of Euler Hermes Collections UK and Gianluca Rossini, CEO of Euler Hermes Collections Italy provide an expert insight on the Italian credit landscape and the collections process - Issues with recovery. Using the courts ARTICLE June 2012

Insolvency news - You have friends in Scotland - David Kerr, Chief Executive Insolvency Practitioners Association - Scottish Government, through its Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) is consulting on reform of insolvency procedures (England) ARTICLE May 2012

Overcoming the fear factor - Following the publication of  the Breedon report and recommendations that more should be done to promote factoring and invoice discounting, Sean Feast asks the experts to explain how invoice finance is currently perceived, how it works, its key benefits and whether Breedon will make any difference to its wider take-up - Consultants Glen Morgan MICM(Grad), Managing Director of Credebt.  Jenny Oldfield FICM, Managing Director of The Quartz Partnership. Simon Carter, Director of Touch Financial. Kate Sharp, Chief Executive of the Asset Based Finance Association (ABFA). John Atkinson, Head of Commercial Business for Hitachi Capital Invoice Financing ARTICLE May 2012

Using a compliance strategy to promote your business by Willem Wellinghoff, legal counsel, Cabot Credit Management - "Working with our customers to find the best solution in accordance with regulatory guidance and industry codes just makes sense ..." (England) ARTICLE May 2012

Consumer credit: a new regulatory environment - David Sheridan UK Country Manager for Aktiv Kapital, summarises some of the most recent changes in consumer credit regulation, and questions the long-term sustainability of a traditional contingency business model - Debt guidance. The lending code. A new regulator. Changing landscape. (England) ARTICLE May 2012

Head to Head - The accidental collector - In the second in our series of Head-to-Head interviews, Philip King caught up with the President of the Credit Services Association, Sara de Tute - "I was not especially looking for a job neither was I looking to work in debt collection ..." ARTICLE May 2012

The power of networking - Sharon Adams recently took part in the first Quality in Credit Management (CICMQ) Best Practice Network event and says that the words 'dynamic, passionate, innovative and inspiring' go only some of the way to describing how good she thought it was ARTICLE May 2012

Business Management - "Oi, you, I've a job for you!" - Tim Fearon considers the art of delegation - "For the majority of managers, delegation is about getting rid of tasks they'd rather not do ..." ARTICLE May 2012

Global Trade 2012 - Patrick O Connelly in the first of a series looks at how export and import are the keys to recovery and the vehicles to help it drive ARTICLE May 2012

Pushing the envelope - Derek Scott discusses written communication within the world of credit management, and some of the more memorable correspondence that he has received ARTICLE May 2012

News roundup - Credit managers' index suggest economy is contracting by Sean Feast - Quarterly Credit Managers' Index (CMI - Q4 2011) has fallen below the 50-point threshold for the first time (England) ARTICLE April 2012

Insolvency news - Pre-packs, football and commercial reality - David Kerr, Chief Executive Insolvency Practitioners Association - Planet football (England) ARTICLE April 2012

Round table - UK business communities are taking matters into their own hands as the battle against bad debt in trade credit is set to get harder throughout the year.  David Appleyard and Brent Cummings look at the influence of credit unions in the world of construction and how they are adapting to the times - Pulling together.  Intelligent thinking ARTICLE April 2012

Time at the bar - The recent vote to allow solicitors firms as affiliate members of the Credit Services Association (CSA) was a close call.  Sean Feast canvassed opinions from different sides of the industry - Peter Wallwork - Chief Executive of the Credit Services Association, Nick Cherry - Site Director for Phillips and Cohen Associates UK, Steve Lewis - Director of LPL Commercial Services, David Sheridan - UK Country Manager, Aktiv Kapital (England) ARTICLE April 2012

Head to Head - Dream academy - In the first in a new series of Head-to-Head interviews, Philip King spoke to Frances Coulson, President of R3 - "It has been a year when we have had to stand up and be counted, both in our members' interests, and those of creditors ..." - R3 Fact file ARTICLE April 2012

Data in the dark - Stephen Cowan examines new proposals from Europe that look to reform the data protection regime - "Those concerned about privacy issues will be pleased with the proposal although no doubt many of them will say the measure does not go far enough ..." - Key changes ARTICLE April 2012

Unjust enrichment for some - Business people may sometimes informally vary a contract, unintentionally resulting in the unjust enrichment of a debtor whereupon the law is not always helpful to the creditor.  Peter Walker highlights a recent case and suggests possible solutions for credit managers - Undisputed facts. Reluctant courts. Improvements. Policy of no restitution ARTICLE April 2012

View from the sea front - David Andrews visits the City of London and Margate and discusses their two different futures - "The reality is that none of the economists whose job it is to predict where we are all headed over the coming months if not years can get it right ..." - Pot luck. Another system (England) ARTICLE April 2012

Business Management - The merry-go-round of credit - Charlie Robertson, Chair of the ICM's Executive Board and Advisory Council says that to achieve momentum requires taking the first step - "Couch potatoes tend to stay potatoes.  Achievers - people who get into a successful rhythm - continue working hard and end up achieving more and more ..." ARTICLE April 2012

View from The Water Mill - A steady hand by Philip King - "I was especially interested to hear the Government's thoughts around the need to upskill those in the public sector responsible for collecting debts, since this is an area where no doubt the ICM can play an even greater role ..." ARTICLE March 2012

News roundup - Government gets tough on fraud and debt by Sean Feast - The Government has launched a major new initiative to reduce fraud, error and debt within the public sector ARTICLE March 2012

IPA Lecture raises questions on Government proposals - Chief Bankruptcy Registrar Stephen Baister - President of the Institute of Credit Management: a damning critique of proposals for reform (England) ARTICLE March 2012

Insolvency news - Debt Management - David Kerr, Chief Executive Insolvency Practitioners Association - Managing debt. Setting standards (England) ARTICLE March 2012

Credit Insurance - The world at war - The big three credit insurers have all recently hosted press conferences and briefings with their take on the Eurozone and the wider global economy.  Sean Feast reports from Paris, and Alex Simmons and Iona McIntyre from London and Cardiff - Italy - painting a true picture. Central Europe - hungry for success. A complicated year ARTICLE March 2012

A new place to find security - Martin Brassell, Co-founder and Chief Executive of Inngot on harnessing the potential in intangible assets - A growing need. An intangible asset. New times, new solutions. Valuing intangibles. How do you pin down intangibles? ARTICLE March 2012

Norway - Creditsafe - Country Focus - Norway - About the country. Credit Ratings ARTICLE March 2012

Safety in numbers - Frank Card discusses his first dalliance with credit unions and the state of play today - "Historically, the charging of interest on money lent has been frowned upon, and was regarded as usury ..." (England) ARTICLE March 2012

Italy - Country Risk Assessment update - Italy (A4) ARTICLE March 2012

News roundup - Troubled football clubs could close in 2012 by Sean Feast ARTICLE February 2012

Insolvency news - The Insolvency service under scrutiny - David Kerr, Chief Executive Insolvency Practitioners Association - Role/function of the IS. Regulation of IPs. Control of IPs' remuneration. Reductions in budget. Pre-pack administrations (England) ARTICLE February 2012

Checking out - Richard Bisset, Bluerock Consulting takes a closer look at the future of cheques and faster payments - The cost of cheques. Faster Payment Service (FPS). Plastic fantastic. Mobile. Corporate needs. The banks' position. The future (England) ARTICLE February 2012

Credit Insurance - The challenge for 2012 - Credit insurance is likely to be the spotlight once again this year as individual businesses, and indeed whole sectors, come under pressure.  Sean Feast asked the same key questions of the big three - Euler Hermes UK, Atradius and Coface - to find out what's going on and why - Alun Sweeney, Regional Director for Atradius UK and Ireland. Fabrice Desnos, Chief Executive for Euler Hermes UK. Xavier Denecker, Managing Director for Coface UK and Ireland ARTICLE February 2012

Keeping the administration wolf from the door - "Business survival rests on two key things - cash and management. If a failing business has sufficient cash it doesn't generally need a pre-pack administration ..." ARTICLE February 2012

Going 'round in circles - Credit Circles - or Credit Forums as they are now styled - are coming under scrutiny once again.  But are they the credit manager's friend or his foe?  Laurie Beagle FICM, Divisional Director at P&A Receivables Services plc gives a personal perspective in the first of a series of articles on this important subject - "Our forums have developed into communities where the members can and do communicate with their opposite numbers, co-sponsors and technical advisors. There is always help at hand ..." - Credit Circles ARTICLE February 2012

Sign on the dotted line - A judge recently reviewed a 17th century statue and 19th century law cases in the context of modern emailed contractual negotiations and a contract of guarantee. Peter Walker, whose handwriting is 16th century italic, concludes that pen-and-ink signatures still have their place - Emails over the seas. Emails and 17th century law. Important principle (England) ARTICLE February 2012

Magnum PI - Raymond Joyce, Partner in the Commercial Department of Freeth Cartwright LLP on when snooping crosses the line and the benefits of hiring a private investigator to a credit manager - Purpose. Who hires them? Evidence and court. Illegally obtained (England) ARTICLE February 2012

Leading from the front - Tim Fearon starts a new series on leadership, and says that you don't have to be well known to be great - What is leadership? ARTICLE February 2012

Business Management - Three of a kind - Can quality leadership make a difference to our progress in 2012?  Charlie Robertson, Chair of the Institute of Credit Management, considers three different types of leader - Leadership types? - Ineffective, Abusive, Inspirational ARTICLE February 2012

News roundup - Dismal credit managers' index score continues to cause concern by Sean Feast - UK PMI (Manufacturing and Services). UK CMI v Nationwide Consumer Confidence Index ARTICLE January 2012

A Modest Proposal? - Stephen Baister, President of the Institute of Credit Management, offers a very personal view on new Insolvency proposals - Time to pay. Complex matters. Powerful reasons (England) ARTICLE January 2012

Courting bad debts - Jeremy Sutcliffe examines the Personal Insolvency statistics and the recent response from Government - "The financial upshot for estates with assets is that Insolvency Practitioners can legitimately work at hourly rates with little effective control or meaningful feedback ..." (England) ARTICLE January 2012

View from the Sea Front - David Andrews on why his local estate agents are so jolly and the effect the growing population could have on economies - Muck and brass. Loadsamoney. Light on the horizon (England) ARTICLE January 2012

Trading through the Eurozone crisis - "To add to our national woes, insolvencies show no signs of abating. 2011 was a year which, even prior to the Eurozone troubles reaching full throttle, still saw the disappearance of many established names, in the UK and further afield ..." ARTICLE January 2012

Credit Manager - The Game - What is it?. How can it be used? Who designed it? ARTICLE January 2012

Potato or Potahto, Tomato or Tomahto - Patrick O Connelly, founder and managing director of the Tao Institute  in the third and final part of his series about China - The risk. The trade. The credit ARTICLE January 2012

Better support for UK Export - Glyn Powell takes a look at the financial options for UK exporters in the current economy - Bond Support Scheme. Export Working Capital.  EXIP. Forex support. Letter of Credit. EU consultation. Conclusion ARTICLE January 2012

Strictly speaking - Derek Scott advocates the importance of effective communication in the world of credit management, with examples of best - and worst - practice - "Cashflow is the lifeblood of an organisation, yet it still seems that many companies are under the illusion that anyone (as long as they're cheap) can be trained to collect cash ..." - Diplomacy Derek. Quick thinking ARTICLE January 2012

The supply of trade credit by small-to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is the product of both customer demand and the possibility of strategic advantage, but is subject to risk. In the current financial climate the demand for trade credit may be heightened, leading to further increased risk. This paper seeks to evaluate current risk mitigation measures in the UK and considers how these might be improved. Design/methodology/approach–The supply of and demand for trade credit and the inherent risks are explained by reference to ... RESEARCH/WHITEPAPER 2011

Institute embarks on campaign to highlight debtor obligations. ICM is to conduct a long term research programme into consumer debt and the obligation of debtors to repay money owed (England) ARTICLE November 2011

Insolvency News. David Kerr, CEO of the Insolvency Practitioners Association, explains the regulation and complaints process for Insolvency Practitioners (England) ARTICLE November 2011

The Big Freeze. Stephen Cowan Managing Partner at Yuill + Kyle, debt recovery & credit control lawyers (Scotland). Examines the proposed European freezing orders and their impact ARTICLE November 2011

Justice for all. Jeremy Sutcliffe casts his eye over the 2010 judicial & court statistics and examines their implications (England) ARTICLE November 2011

Member Benefit. What's your early warning system for trouble with debtors? ARTICLE November 2011

Right on your doorstep. Sean Feast, Editor of Credit Management explores when doorstep collectors should be employed, how clients will know their customers will be protected and how agencies ensure their staff are right for the job ARTICLE November 2011

View from the Sea Front. David Andrews offers his observations on the recession and condemns those who seek to talk us back into it (England) ARTICLE November 2011

Kind to be cruel. Ian Woodley takes a look at the continuing lack of growth and the real problems behind the banks not lending (England) ARTICLE November 2011

Trading Places. Patrick O. Connelly, reports on International Trade ARTICLE November 2011

Benefits and legal help for CICM Members. Report on the European Commission and Law Society conveyancing quality scheme accreditation (England) ARTICLE November 2011

Debt Purchase Industry to solve the Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) redress question. Report from Willem Wellinghoff, Legal Counsel of Cabot Financial Ltd (England) ARTICLE November 2011

Insolvency news. Chris Laughton, Editor of Recovery Manager, looks at personal insolvency issues (England) ARTICLE October 2011

The Fraud Act and traps for the unwary. Raymond Joyce, Partner of Freeth Cartwright scratches the murky surface of fraud ARTICLE October 2011

International Trade - Russia. Andrea Kirkby provides an insight into Russia ARTICLE October 2011

The Eagle flies. Phil Mercer, Managing Director, Euler Hermes Collections reports that Poland has come a very long way in a comparatively short time ARTICLE October 2011

A matter of life and death.  Charlie Robertson, CICM Chair looks at changes to the economy ARTICLE October 2011

Information Exchange. Mike Bradford, Founder and Director of Regulatory Strategies examines the important of data protection (England) ARTICLE October 2011

Defend the overseas judgment. Peter Walker examines if overseas receivers have succeeded in enforcing money judgments of their local courts in England ARTICLE October 2011