Just demonstrates support for utilities and telecoms sectors, with three-year headline sponsorship of U&T events

This strategic partnership comes at a point where Credit Strategy is anticipating huge interest among utilities and telecoms professionals in these events, which will be hosted as part of the Collections & Vulnerability Summit later this year.

At a time when call volumes in collections have been peaking across all sectors and creditors have transformed their operations, the U&T Conference will provide a platform for collections leaders to share information and best practice on collections processes, enforcement policies, vulnerability initiatives and use of technology.

For Just, which launched in September 2019, this sponsorship comes after the company secured contracts to deliver post-judgment enforcement solutions to multiple utilities firms. Announcing the partnership, the enforcement market integrator said it sees a future where enforcement is used as an integrated part of the collection process, for those identified as needing an additional nudge and/or those that deliberately try to avoid paying at any cost.

Just founder, Jamie Waller, said: “We want to help make enforcement accessible, safe and cost effective for the industry to use and we’ve started lobbying government on a number of points, such as the correct application of VAT, introducing virtual technology, and reducing the court cost of issuing proceedings.”

Just provides the data analytics, behavioural science, open banking and early-stage collections and vulnerability treatment plans for clients. It also integrates with the industry to provide the physical enforcement visits, but only where necessary. During the Covid-19 lockdown, the company launched an industry first - a virtual enforcement solution, which it hopes to roll out nationwide when enforcement is permissible again (scheduled for August 24).

Predicting that “a tsunami of debt is on its way, across utilities, telecoms and many other sectors”, Waller explained that regulators will become more demanding, and that proportionate collection strategies will be expected among utilities firms. He said that post-litigation enforcement is a good way for the utilities sector to secure meaningful payment plans against debtors assets, and that enforcement organisations will need to change from a ‘pay up and pay now’ attitude to an ‘engage with us and allow us to help you’ solution.

Waller added: “Everyone has the right to be paid what they are owed, but not at any cost and the Just use of data and virtual enforcement tools will allow creditors secure the money they are owed in a meaningful and fair manner.”

Just director of client development, Victoria Oliver, said: “It’s important that we support the industry during these challenging times by not only bringing better and more suitable solutions to them, but also supporting learning and development amongst their peers. We feel that sponsoring the U&T Conference for three consecutive years provides that support.”

The U&T Conference will be hosted as part of the Collections & Vulnerability Summit on 12 November 2020 at the Midland Hotel, Manchester. The Vulnerability Awareness Dinner, which features the U&T Awards and follows the conference, also takes place at the Midland Hotel that evening. Entries for the awards are now open.