F1Pt. 7A (arts. 208A-208X) inserted (30.6.2011) by Debt Relief Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 16), ss. 1(b), 7(1); S.R. 2011/13, art. 2
208U—(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 Article “competent authority” means a person or body for the time being designated by the Department for the purposes of granting approvals under this Article.
(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 Department 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 Article;
(c)the procedure for granting approvals under this Article;
(d)the withdrawal of designations or approvals under this Article;
and provision made under sub-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) Paragraph (8) does not apply if the act or omission was in bad faith.
(10) The Department may, out of the proceeds of fees charged under Article 361(1)(za), make payments to competent authorities or approved intermediaries in connection with the exercise of the functions of approved intermediaries under this Part.
208V Schedule 2ZB (which makes provision about debt relief restrictions orders and debt relief restrictions undertakings) has effect.
208W The Department must maintain a register of matters relating to—
(a)debt relief orders;
(b)debt relief restrictions orders; and
(c)debt relief restrictions undertakings.
208X—(1) In this Part—
“the application date”, in relation to a debt relief order or an application for a debt relief order, means the date on which the application for the order is made to the official receiver;
“approved intermediary” has the meaning given in Article 208U(1);
“debt relief order” means an order made by the official receiver under this Part;
“debtor” means—
in relation to an application for a debt relief order, the applicant; and
in relation to a debt relief order, the person in relation to whom the order is made;
“debt relief restrictions order” and “debt relief restrictions undertaking” means an order made, or an undertaking accepted, under Schedule 2ZB;
“the determination date”, in relation to a debt relief order or an application for a debt relief order, means the date on which the application for the order is determined by the official receiver;
“the effective date” has the meaning given in Article 208E(7);
“excluded debt” is to be construed in accordance with Article 208A;
“moratorium” and “moratorium period” are to be construed in accordance with Articles 208G and 208H;
“qualifying debt”, in relation to a debtor, has the meaning given in Article 208A(2);
“the register” means the register maintained under Article 208W;
“specified qualifying debt” has the meaning given in Article 208G(1).
(2) In this Part references to a creditor specified in a debt relief order as the person to whom a qualifying debt is owed by the debtor include a reference to any person to whom the right to claim the whole or any part of the debt has passed, by assignment or operation of law, after the date of the application for the order.]