The number and total value of debt judgments in Jersey fell in the first half of 2019 compared to the same period 2018, according to figures released by Registry Trust.
There were 88 business judgments in HY1 2019, two fewer than in HY1 2018. The total value dropped to £510,358, a 51 percent decrease compared to the first half year 2018 figures. The average judgment value fell 50 percent to £5,800, though the median business judgment’s value increased by 41 percent to £3,023.
There were 766 judgments registered in Jersey during HY1 2019, 14 percent fewer than in the first six months of 2018. The total value of all judgments fell 36 percent from £4.1million (HY1 2018) to £2.6million (HY1 2019). The average value of judgments dropped 26 percent to £3,412, and the median fell by 20 percent to £250.
The number of debt judgments against consumers has declined in the first half of 2019 when compared to the same time period in 2018. Judgments against consumers fell 16 percent to 678 and the total value of consumer judgments dropped 31 percent to £2.1million. The average value of a consumer judgment was £3,102 a decrease of 19 percent; the median value fell by 11 percent to £216.
During the first six months of 2019, 4.9 percent of Jersey’s judgments were satisfied. This contrasts with 13.88 percent in England and Wales.
Registry Trust deputy chairman, Mick McAteer said: “Both the number and value of judgments against consumers in Jersey have shown a significant and, on the face of it, encouraging fall over the past year. It will be interesting to see if this improvement continues.”
Registry Trust is a non-profit organisation which collects judgment information from jurisdictions throughout the British Isles and Ireland. In Jersey it collects, verifies and makes publicly available judgment records from the petty debts and royal court. A judgment is incontrovertible proof of unmanaged debt.
In the first half of 2019 Registry Trust received 19,548 requests to search the register for Jersey online at www.trustonline.org.uk. TrustOnline allows anyone to search for judgments and similar information registered against consumers and businesses in any jurisdiction across the British Isles and Ireland. “We have upgraded TrustOnline to make it mobile friendly,” said Mr McAteer. “It is now cheap, quick and efficient to enquire about whoever you transact with. If there’s a judgment on their record, think twice.”
