January 2018 Newsletter

NICE TO SEE YOU, TO SEE YOU….

The 2017 annual CHO conference was held at the Heart of England Conference & Event Centre.  Over 170 delegates attended who enjoyed a day covering the challenges faced by members on topics such as fraud, repairs, fleet and cash recovery.  A panel debate chaired by Chris Ashworth included Ben Fletcher from the IFB, DC Dave Hindmarsh of the Metropolitan Police and TV celebrity and social media star Neil Thomas as well as James Bilham from Verius and encouraged a lively audience discussion that kept Ian on his toes with the MIC.  Following the conference there was a drinks reception.  Evening meal and entertainment when over 100 members let their hair down and danced the night away.  The new venue and format has proven a roaring success and we will build on this at the next conference.  Watch this space!

STOP COLLABORATE AND LISTEN

The CHO has engaged in a series of external discussions during the latter half of 2017 with other important trade bodies such as the BP, BVRLA and APIL and will be sharing priorities for 2018 with them to determine where a better result might be achieved for members by working together.  The CHO is developing a collective voice that is better able to influence outcomes.  Any members who have throughts about ways in which this might be achieved or problems that they are facing within any part of their business should contact Ian or Kirsty.  The CHO is there to help at every stage of the provision of credit hire.

A FRESH LOOK

The CHO is getting a new look in 2018. Platform 81 has been retained to create a new logo and redevelop the website to become a more interactive area with updated information.   Members benefits and an intelligence sharing portal.   We will give more news about this in future editions but if you have any ideas about what you think the website should include, please share them with us.

Over the years they’ve created a diverse and creative portfolio for a broad range of successful clients.  Take a look through their work to find out what they’ve done. www.platorm81.com

RISKY BUSINESS

A new risk identification business called Verius has bene created to provide credit hire companies with a data-sharing platform to counter fraud following the sale of Hill Dickinson’s insurance business which included Netfoil to Keoghs.  The CHO was instrumental in the provision of legal advice, negotiations between all parties and contract drafting to ensure the smooth transfer of data out of Hill Dickinson and into VBASE.  VBASE will provide an enhanced level of services to members to help prevent vehicle thefts, staged accidents, fraudulent claims and other criminal activity and the CHO will continue to work with them to develop that further.

Discussions are ongoing with the Insurance Fraud Bureau (IFB) to explore further opportunities that have not previously been available to our members in respect of fraud prevention and data sharing and include looking at the creation of an intelligence based portal within the new website that is GDPR compliant and offers complete security.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

The House of Commons Justice Committee has announced that it will re-instate its inquiry into whiplash and the Government’s Personal Injury Reform Agenda.  The Committee, which has already heard evidence from the ABI and APIL, asked for submissions to be sent in by 22^nd December.  The CHO made a submission to the Committee, who are now holding oral evidence sessions in January 2018.

The Ministry of Justice has still not released the second part of its consultation into Personal Injury Reform, which includes a call for evidence on credit hire.  The consultation was first announced in December 2016, despite a number of parliamentary questions and prompting from other parties.  There is still no indication as to when the MOJ will publish part 2, but the CHO has met with the MOJ to discuss this and will continue to press the point.

The Government has also delayed the publication of the Civil Liability Bill which contains measures to reform personal injury, including whiplash.  There is no sign of the bill in Parliamentary Business for the first part of 2018 and there is speculation that it may not appear until early summer at the earliest.  If the reforms proceed, the likely implantation date has been put back from the autumn of 2018 to April/May 2019.

During autumn 2017 the Civil Procedure Rules Committee announced an intention to implement standard Court directions in credit hire that would have had a serious impact to recoveries.  The CHO hosted a round table discussion with key stakeholders including the ABI, Defendant law firms and MASS and liaised with other key bodies including The Law Society and FOIL to draft an agreed summary.  The CHO continues to work with the CPRC on these now delayed reforms.  In the meantime other work has commenced with HMCTS and the MOJ relating to fee remission and ODR solutions about which more information will follow.

The CHO is gaining profile for being a pragmatic go to stakeholder and meetings have taken place and are due to take place with key publications including the insurance times, insurance post and Law Society Gazette.   David Cresswell of the ABP spoke at the conference which featured a write up in the ABP quarterly newsletter.  If there is an issue you feel the CHO need to address please let us know and we will work with you to ensure a more positive image for credit hire.

PARTNERSHIP PREVAILS

In September 2017 a meeting was held in Manchester with Validus and around 30 HC delegates to voice concerns over process and recovery profile of cases handled by the Validus and verify system.  A number of actions were agreed from that meeting and there will be follow up with Validus.  During the early part of 2018 it is hoped that tri-partite members will be held between Validus, insurers and the CHO to understand blockers and potential remedies to the problems reported by members.   We will report any developments.

OUR SURVEY SAYS

You will have recently received renewal forms and a link to a survey.  The information they include will help us to reconsider new fee banding and how that may play into better membership benefits.  It is really important that you return these to us so that we can make sure that being a member has a meaning to you and your company.  Plans include a potential HR resource, independent due diligence and endorsement of companies that are able to provide services to our members.  A library, training, more regular communication and regional meetings about specific issues such as salvage, fleet provision and GDPR.  A twitter feed has been set up www.twitter.com/thecholimited – please join it and share your thoughts with us there.  Ian will be in touch to discuss these with you and dates for regional meetings will be sent out soon.

GOOD CAUSES

For 2018 the CHO has entered into partnership with Winston’s Wish a charity who provide invaluable services to children who have been bereaved.  Events at the conference including a giant scalectrix and turn worthy of Britain’s Got Talent from Mark Tomkinson raised £2,000 and on the 1^st December the CHO sponsored a day on the helpline. As a result of calls that day 27 children have received care and support to help them through what many of us can only imagine.   In September 2018 we will be holding Go-karting event hosted by Nigel Mansell CBE.  Places are going fast so if you fancy a race against a Formula 1 hero, get in touch.  Other fundraising will continue information on your £20 challenge pack will follow.  We understand that you may have charities that you already support and work with and any help you can give to Winston’s Wish will be appreciated.   www.winstonswish.org.

IS GDPR ON YOUR RADAR?

Further information to follow at Regional Meetings