Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987

Poinding procedure

5 (1) The procedure in a poinding shall be in accordance with this paragraph and paragraph 6 below.

(2) Before executing the poinding, the sheriff officer shall—

(a) exhibit to any person present the summary warrant or, if the warrant does not identify the debtor, a certified copy of the warrant together with a statement certified by the creditor that the summary warrant applies to the debtor;

(b) demand payment of the sum recoverable from the debtor, if he is present, or any person present appearing to the sheriff officer to be authorised to act for the debtor; and

(c) make enquiry of any person present as to the ownership of the articles proposed to be poinded, and in particular whether there are any persons who own any articles in common with the debtor.

(3) The sheriff officer shall be accompanied at the poinding by one witness.

(4) The poinded articles shall be valued by the sheriff officer according to the price which they would be likely to fetch if sold on the open market unless he considers that the articles are such that a valuation by a professional valuer or other suitably skilled person is advisable, in which case he may arrange for such a valuation.

(5) The sheriff officer shall prepare a schedule (referred to in this Schedule as "the poinding schedule"), in the form prescribed by Act of Sederunt, which shall specify—

(a) the identity of the creditor and of the debtor;

(b) the articles poinded, and their respective values;

(c) the sum recoverable; and

(d) the place where the poinding was executed.

(6) On completion of the valuation the sheriff officer shall—

(a) along with the witness sign the poinding schedule;

(b) deliver the poinding schedule to any person in possession of the articles or—

(i) where the poinding was executed in a dwellinghouse or other premises, leave it in the premises; or

(ii) in any other case, deliver it to premises occupied by that person;

(c) if the person in possession of the articles is not the debtor and it is reasonably practicable, serve a copy of it by post on the debtor;

(d) inform the debtor (if present) of his right to redeem poinded articles under paragraph 6(4) below;

(e) inform any person present who owns any poinded article in common with the debtor of his right to redeem poinded articles under paragraph 22(2) and (3) below; and

(f) inform the debtor (if present) and any person present who owns any poinded article in common with the debtor, or who is in possession of any poinded article, of his right to apply for an order releasing articles from poinding under paragraph 1(4) above or paragraph 7(1) or 22(3)(b) below.

(7) The sheriff officer shall leave poinded articles at the place where they were poinded, except that where that place is not a dwellinghouse or other premises, if he considers it necessary for their security or the preservation of their value and there is insufficient time to obtain an order under paragraph 6(1 )(a) below, he shall remove them at the creditor's expense—

(a) to the nearest convenient premises belonging to the debtor or to the person in possession of the articles; or

(b) if no such premises are available, to the nearest suitable secure premises.

6 (1) The sheriff, on an application by the creditor, the sheriff officer or the debtor intimated in accordance with sub-paragraph (2) below, may at any time after the execution of a poinding make an order—

(a) for the security of any of the poinded articles; or

(b) in relation to any of the articles which are of a perishable nature or which are likely to deteriorate substantially and rapidly in condition or value, for their immediate disposal and, in the event of their disposal by sale, for payment of the proceeds of sale to the creditor or for consignation of the proceeds in court until the diligence is completed or otherwise ceases to have effect,

and a decision of the sheriff under paragraph (b) above for the immediate disposal of articles shall not be subject to appeal.

(2) An application for an order under sub-paragraph (1)(b) above—

(a) by the creditor or the sheriff officer, shall be intimated by him to the debtor;

(b) by the debtor, shall be intimated to the creditor or the officer of court,

at the time when it is made.

(3) It shall not be competent for a sheriff officer in executing a poinding to examine a person on oath as to the ownership of any article.

(4) Subject to sub-paragraph (1)(b) above, the debtor shall be entitled, within 14 days after the date of execution of the poinding, to redeem any poinded article at the value fixed under paragraph 5(4) above.

(5) The sheriff officer shall, on receiving payment from the debtor for the redemption under sub-paragraph (4) above of a poinded article, grant a receipt in the form prescribed by Act of Sederunt to the debtor; and the receipt shall operate as a release of the article from the poinding.

(6) Subject to paragraph 13(2)(b) below, the revaluation in the same poinding of an article which has been valued under paragraph 5(4) above shall not be competent.

(7) A poinding shall be deemed to have been executed on the date when the poinding schedule has been delivered, or left on the premises, in pursuance of paragraph 5(6)(b) above.

(8) At any time before the execution of a poinding on behalf of a creditor, a sheriff officer shall, if requested to do so by any other creditor who has exhibited to him a summary warrant authorising the poinding of articles belonging to the debtor, conjoin that creditor in the poinding.