Warrant sale

Warrant sale

A warrant sale was a statutory means of collecting debts in Scotland until 2001. Legal procedure for warrant sales was governed by The Debtors (Scotland) Act 1987. The practice was controversial, those who opposed it were concerned that it affected the poorest section of society who genuinely were unable to pay a debt, others claimed the legislation was needed to ensure people paid their debts.

It became a contentious political issue in the late 1980s, when Scottish councils used the legislation against an ever-increasing number of Poll Tax defaulters. This involved councils applying for a warrant from the local court to collect the money owed by non-payers. Sheriff officers (private companies, even though their title suggests they are court employees) were the choice of the local authorities to collect the outstanding debts. Under the 1987 act, the debt collectors were permitted to enter a debtor's home and poind (put a value on) items, which would be subject to a later, public, sale under warrant. (Warrant Sale).

The practice was abolished when Tommy Sheridan, MSP, of the Scottish Socialist Party, introduced a Private Member's Bill in 2001, and the Scottish Parliament voted to remove the legislation from Scots law under the Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Act 2001.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • warrant sale — noun (Scot; law) A public auction of poinded or seized household goods and personal property, authorized by a sheriff for the recuperation of unpaid debt • • • Main Entry: ↑warrant …   Useful english dictionary

  • warrant — verb In contracts, to engage or promise that a certain fact or state of facts, in relation to the subjectmatter, is, or shall be, as it is represented to be. In conveyancing, to assure the title to property sold, by an express covenant to that… …   Black's law dictionary

  • Warrant of execution — This relates to civil enforcement of debts; for the death penalty, see Execution warrant A Warrant of Execution is a form of writ of execution used in British courts. It is a method of enforcing judgments and empowers a County Court bailiff to… …   Wikipedia

  • Sale of commissions — The sale of commissions was a common practice in most European armies where wealthy and noble officers purchased their rank. Only the Imperial Russian Army and the Prussian Army never used such a system. The British Army, which used this practice …   Wikipedia

  • warrant of possession — A warrant evicting the defendant and placing a purchaser at execution sale in possession. Hill v Kitchens, 39 Ga App 789, 148 SE 754 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Act 2001 — The Abolition of Poindings and Warrant Sales Act 2001 was an act by the Scottish Parliament which abolished the previous practice in which a debtor’s goods are priced (poinding) in preparation for the enforced sale of the debtor’s possessions… …   Wikipedia

  • Marcus v. Search Warrant — Supreme Court of the United States Argued March 30, 1961 Decided June 19, 19 …   Wikipedia

  • landlord's warrant — A distress warrant; a warrant from a landlord to levy upon the tenant s goods and chattels, and sell the same at public sale, to compel payment of the rent or the observance of some other stipulation in the lease. See distraint distress See also… …   Black's law dictionary

  • landlord's warrant — A distress warrant; a warrant from a landlord to levy upon the tenant s goods and chattels, and sell the same at public sale, to compel payment of the rent or the observance of some other stipulation in the lease. See distraint distress See also… …   Black's law dictionary

  • fair sale — In foreclosure and other judicial proceedings, this means a sale conducted with fairness and impartiality as respects the rights and interests of the parties affected. A sale at a price sufficient to warrant confirmation or approval when it is… …   Black's law dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”