THE NUMBER OF JUDGMENTS REGISTERED AGAINST CONSUMERS IN JERSEY FALLS BY 18 PERCENT IN Q4 2020 - BUT THE TOTAL VALUE SEES HUGE RISES

The number of judgments issued in the Jersey Petty and Royal Courts against consumers fell in the fourth quarter of 2020 compared to the same quarter in 2019, according to data published today (08.01.2021) by Registry Trust. The total number of judgments issued against consumers fell from 287 to 234, a fall of 18 percent.

But, the total value of judgments issued against Jersey consumers saw a huge rise of 453 percent, from £605,646 to £3.34 million. As a result, the average value jumped from £2,110 to £14,317, a rise of 578 percent. The median value also rose but by a smaller amount, 28 percent, from £365 to £467.

Judgments against Jersey businesses saw even sharper falls. The numbers of judgments against businesses in Q4 2020 fell to 37, a fall of 20 percent from the 46 issued in the same period of 2019.

The total value of business judgments registered in the quarter also fell, by 58 percent, from £273,192 to £114,677 in the same period of 2019. The average value of business judgments almost halved, down 48 percent from £5,939 to £3,099. The median value fell even further, down 77 percent from £4,945 to £1,143.

Registry Trust chairman, Mick McAteer, said: “The protections provided by policy and regulatory interventions, and creditor forbearance, meant judgment numbers in Q4 2020 are well down on the same quarter in 2019. But, it is important to note that the full economic of Covid-19 has not shown up in the data. That will change as protections are unwound. The quarter also saw a significant increase in large value judgments against consumers.”