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It is not uncommon for a creditor (assignor) to transfer their right to receive payment of a debt (assignment) to a third party (assignee). The assignee will then seek payment from the debtor.
The assignee of the debt can issue to the debtor company a statutory demand for the payment of the debt if the debt exceeds the statutory minimum, which is currently $2,000.
For the assignee issuing the statutory demand, there will be threshold issues as to whether notice of the assignment has been given to the debtor and whether appropriate details of the assignment are contained in the statutory demand.
Assignee has the same rights and obligations as the assignor
The assignee of the debt takes the assignment subject to the rights and obligations of the assignor.
This was demonstrated in the recent decision of Mascarene Pty Ltd v Slater [2016] VSC 395 relating to a building dispute.
In Mascarene a judgment debt was assigned and the assignee issued a statutory demand.
The Court held that the assignee was not prevented from seeking payment of interest as it had the same rights as the assignor, as if the assignment had not taken place.
However, the assignee also took the assignment subject to the obligations that would have applied to the assignor in respect of the debt.
In seeking to set aside the statutory demand the debtor company claimed it had an offsetting claim against the assignor for reinstatement costs relating to building works.
Although the assignee was not a party to the building contract and not personally liable for the reinstatement costs, the debtor company was successful in claiming the setoff and reducing the amount of the statutory demand by the amount of the reinstatement costs.
Comments
It is clear that an offsetting claim cannot be sidestepped by assigning the debt.
The assignee of a debt receives the benefit of the debt subject to the rights of the assignor but also subject to the assignor’s obligations in respect of the debt.
A statutory demand can be issued in respect of an assigned debt however the assignment does not prevent the debtor company from disputing the existence or amount of the alleged debt or seeking to raise an offsetting claim.
If you would like more information about these issues, please contact Graham Roberts on +61 7 3231 2404.
This publication is for information only and is not legal advice. You should obtain advice that is specific to your circumstances and not rely on this publication as legal advice. If there are any issues you would like us to advise you on arising from this publication, please let us know.
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