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Nova Scotia Personal Property Registry |
What is the Personal Property Registry?
The Personal Property Registry (PPR) is a centralized computer registry that serves the entire province of Nova Scotia. The PPR allows both individuals and institutions to record their financial interest in personal property (cars, boats, appliances, etc.). For example, if you arrange a car loan from a financial institution, then the car is the security for your loan and the institution becomes the secured party. Until you have repaid the loan, the institution has an interest in the car. The institution registers its security interest in the PPR. This registration establishes the institution's priority against other secured parties who have a secured interest in the car. This information is available and accessible by any individual or company who may wish to purchase the car or grant another loan using the car as collateral.
What benefits does the new PPR service offer?
- Convenience – PPR offers remote access from your office or home as an alternative to personal visits to government locations, although access will be available on terminals in participating locations, such as the Registry of Deeds offices throughout the province.
- Province-wide access – Unlike the prior county-based paper system, the PPR permits clients to register and search all registered notices for the entire province with only one transaction.
- Time savings – PPR is efficient because it saves you from time-consuming travel to government offices and paper intensive manual searches.
- Availability – You have access to the PPR beyond normal business hours, subject to system maintenance and backup processes.
- Protection – The PPR provides easy access to information which improves protection for consumers and secured parties making legislation more effective.
- Accuracy – Direct input of information by the clients ensures accuracy and timeliness, resulting in risk reduction and service responsiveness.
What basis does the PPR have in law?
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Part of the reform process included an amendment to the Creditors’ Relief Act, whereby the PPSA permits the registration of notices of judgment and notices of claim against personal property.
What is the status of security documents filed under the old legislation?
A personal property security document filed or registered in a county registry under the old legislation will continue to be in effect and made available for search by clients for the remainder of its term, to a maximum of three years from the proclamation date of the PPSA. Subsequently, clients can choose to continue such security interests by renewing their documents in the new PPR.
The PPR is a notice-based system in which no documents are filed in contrast to the old system in which actual documents were placed in the Registry of Deeds. Secured parties are responsible for entering accurate and timely information in the PPR upon registration. The legislation does not envision registry office staff registering or searching information on behalf of the client, but they will be available to offer assistance when necessary. Upon registration, a verification statement will be available to the registrant confirming the details of the security interest. Amendments to the registration information will produce a notice of change report that is distributed electronically or by mail, to all secured parties as addressed in the registration. The legislation stipulates secured parties are required, for a fee, to make a copy of the security agreement available to those entitled to receive or inspect them.
Associated with the PPR, on-line access is available to the index for the Pre-PPSA documents. This function identifies the possible existence and location of a document filed during the Pre-PPSA period. Once identified, an electronic request can be transmitted to the appropriate registry office where a copy of the document can be faxed or mailed to the requesting party. What are some of the Personal Property Registry functions?
The PPR provides the following functions: enter, amend, renew, re-register, and discharge registrations; globally change registrations for a secured party; search the PPR database by debtor name, serial numbered collateral identification, or registration number; access Nova Scotia's Pre-PPSA index; and perform a variety of administrative functions to help manage your account.
For large volume users, the capability exists to submit a batch file consisting of multiple registrations and searches.
What types of registrations are available?
The PPR accepts five types of registrations including:
The PPR, available through ACOL, has been designed for simplicity. The familiar Windows-based graphical user interface with pop-down menus and context-sensitive help is used to save time in learning and using the system.
User IDs and passwords will identify who has entered registrations or changes to registrations. The PPR will automatically require changes to passwords on a regular basis. Information registered in the PPR will be archived frequently and stored at alternative locations.
What do I need to connect to the PPR?
You can access the PPR from your home or business using your personal computer. This requires the ACOL Desktop software provided by Unisys which will be delivered to you when registration for the service is complete. Connection to the PPR is through a dial-up line or through your local Internet service provider. For infrequent users of the registry, client-activated workstations are located at the Registry of Deeds offices throughout the province. Daily access to these workstations will be available by contacting registry staff for user privileges and instructions.
ACOL is an exciting new on-line information service that has the potential to provide electronic access to a wide variety of government information that is maintained by the four provincial governments of Atlantic Canada. It utilizes the latest electronic commerce technology adhering to stringent standards for security and confidentiality. It offers a convenient, single-point of access to public information from your remote personal computer or the client-activated workstations located in participating government departments. Unlike many other services, ACOL has the ability to submit information for registration purposes in addition to the simple retrieval of data. Doing business with government is easier and more efficient than ever before!
This service is managed by Unisys Canada Inc. within a public/private partnership with the governments of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. It is based on a multi-year contract that was signed by the four premiers on May 10, 1996.
For more information about ACOL, including equipment requirements, obtaining an ACOL account, payment arrangements, and ACOL service availability, please refer to the ACOL Information Guide.
How do I register for PPR access?
For remote access to the PPR service, you require an ACOL account with PPR access privileges. To acquire an account, complete all documents in the ACOL client application package. These can be obtained from the Client Support Centre. Return the completed forms and initial fees to Unisys for processing.
Once your application has been received, Unisys creates an ACOL master client account and user IDs with PPR access privileges as indicated by you for those individuals identified from your firm. Each client will receive the ACOL Welcome Package that includes a welcome letter with your user IDs and initial passwords to access the system.
The ACOL Desktop software and software license with simple installation instructions will also be mailed to you. While all software is user-friendly and easy to load, telephone support from the Client Support Centre will be available. Once installed, on-line help is available in the software.
For more information, refer to the ACOL Information Guide, contact the ACOL Client Support Centre, or visit the Personal Property Registry office closest to you.
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12 May 2004