NEWS...
World of Debt
European and other International Cross Border trading is a growing part of debt collection and debt purchasing.
If you are looking to other countries to operate in or seek international contacts, an excellent way of establishing connections, creating networking opportunities and finding out more, will be at the World Congress of Debt Collectors - taking place in Nice, France on the 25th-28th September 2008.
Around 300 delegates from all over the globe are expected. If you are really serious about trading internationally, this is the place to be.
The congress will take place in SAS Radisson in Nice, located at Promenade des Anglais 223.
The first day of the congress focuses on debt collection around the world (Europe, North America, Latin America, Middle East, Africa, Far East).
- On the second day there are interactive workshops:
- How to motivate your staff by Harry Strausser III from Remit Corporation (USA), U.S. Commercial Collections
- Practices and Trends by members of IACC
- Share your best ideas by Mr Gonsalves from ACA International
- European law by a CSA lobbyist from Brussels, Stefan Zickgraf
There is also the First European - Latin American Collection Companies Meeting as a panel session on Saturday, by inscription (registered delegates will receive a link to make the inscription, if this is of interest), this meeting will take place or in parallel to the sessions in the morning, or will be organised in the afternoon (according to inscriptions via the web page). The moderators will be Pablo Salamone from CMS People, Argentina and Pierre Haincourt (former Board Member of FENCA).
The congress starts with a welcoming drink and dinner at 18.00 on Thursday 25th, and the drink and dinner will be shared with ANCR, the French association.
On Friday, accompanying persons (partners, wives) have an organised trip: Nice, Grasse with the museum of parfums, St. Paul de Vence (medieval village) and the lunch in a typical French restaurant (full day).
Congress participants have a lunch in SAS Radisson, and then all participants and wives will be transported to Monte Carlo for the dinner in Cafe de Paris.
On Saturday partners and wives have a half-day trip to Monte Carlo, with a visit to the Oceanographic Museum and the old city.
Then the congress will finish with the Gala Dinner on Saturday night, with dancing till the morning...
In further 'European News', FENCA, the industry's representation in the European Community - where much of the national legislation now originates, in the form of EU directives - met with the EU Directorate General Enterprise and Industry, Regulatory Policy, Internal Market and Simplification, which prepares the legislation that directly impacts upon members of the CSA.
The meeting concentrated on some key questions concerning the industry, which the Directorate was more than happy to answer...
What practical steps could be taken to harmonise the internal market?
Harmonisation of national laws would contribute to the achievement of a single EU consumer credit market, but this alone will not attain required changes. Moreover, maximal harmonisation today is not politically viable, as has been demonstrated on many occasions. Progress has to be made through gradual targeted harmonisation of key issues. Market integration is a long-term objective. Besides the national regulations, we also have to consider cultural issues.
Is the commission going for real reform? What actions have and can be taken?
There are a number of steps that have already been taken: the adoption of legislative tools like the recent European Small Claims Procedure (Regulation 861/2007), as well as the European Order for Payment Procedure (Regulation 1896/2006), the European Order for Uncontested Claims (Regulation 805/2004) and the Directive on Late Payment in Commercial Transactions (Directive 2000/35) have initiated what some analytics call "the seed of a European Civil Law", I think these kind of actions are showing the way forward for targeted harmonisation.
Can there be a central benchmark for creditors to calculate interest on late payment?
This is one of the main areas we are analysing now in the current revision of the Directive on Late Payment in Commercial Transactions. The European Commission believes that late payment should be penalised, not only to cover the cost of borrowing or collection but to create a disincentive to late payment. In the revision of the Directive we hope to include a simple mathematic formula, helpful to creditors and based on rates of the European Central Bank.
Original articles courtesy of DBSG and CSA. For further information visit www.dbsg-uk.com or www.csa-uk.com.
