Section 251U — Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007: Approved intermediaries

Approved intermediaries 251U 1 In this Part “ approved intermediary ” means an individual for the time being approved by a competent authority to act as an intermediary between a person wishing to make an application for a debt relief order and the official receiver.

2 In this section “ competent authority ” means a person or body for the time being designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of granting approvals under this section.

3 Designation as a competent authority may be limited so as to permit the authority only to approve persons of a particular description.

4 The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision as to—

a the procedure for designating persons or bodies as competent authorities;

b descriptions of individuals who are ineligible to be approved under this section;

c the procedure for granting approvals under this section;

d the withdrawal of designations or approvals under this section; and provision made under paragraph (a) or (c) may include provision requiring the payment of fees.

5 The rules may make provision about the activities to be carried out by an approved intermediary in connection with an application for a debt relief order, which may in particular include—

a assisting the debtor in making the application;

b checking that the application has been properly completed;

c sending the application to the official receiver.

6 The rules may also make provision about other activities to be carried out by approved intermediaries.

7 An approved intermediary may not charge a debtor any fee in connection with an application for a debt relief order.

8 An approved intermediary is not liable to any person in damages for anything done or omitted to be done when acting (or purporting to act) as an approved intermediary in connection with a particular application by a debtor for a debt relief order.

9 Subsection (8) does not apply if the act or omission was in bad faith.

10 Regulations under subsection (4) shall be made by statutory instrument subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.