What is an emergency
An emergency is a situation that threatens the client’s home, essential goods and services, or liberty if it is not dealt with promptly. It needs immediate action to resolve and takes priority over exploring the client’s situation in detail.
Emergencies also involve the time you have to deal with the situation, rather than just the sanctions available to the creditor.
Common examples of emergencies
Sheriff officers threatening to visit the client’s home and/or remove goods today.
The client is facing the imminent loss of essential goods – eg, hire purchase goods that are about to be repossessed.
The client is about to be evicted for rent arrears.
The client is facing imminent disconnection of essential utilities.
A warrant has been issued for the client’s arrest for an unpaid fine.
The client is due in court the next day.
The client has no money for food or electricity/gas.
A deadline for a response to enforcement action is approaching.
The client attends with an expired charge for payment.
Each of these is time-sensitive and requires immediate action to avoid a detrimental effect on the client.