In 2020, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) brought together the debt advice sector and the bailiff industry to form the Enforcement Oversight Working Group. This group has co-authored a report called Taking Control for Good - introducing the Enforcement Conduct Authority, published on 25 July by the CSJ. In place of the current system of bailiff self-regulation, the report recommends the … [Read more...]
Threats of CCJs and bailiffs – are debt collectors bluffing?
Have you received scary letters from a debt collector demanding payments? These letters may threaten defaults, county court judgments (CCJs) and bailiffs taking your possessions. Sometimes the letters are bluffing, but the number of CCJs is continuing to go up. In the first half of 2019, there were 586,765 CCJs and more than half were for less than £650. This article covers consumer debts … [Read more...]
Councils sent 2.3 million debts to bailiffs in 2016/7
Councils are using bailiffs more frequently to collect council tax arrears, parking tickets and other debts. Money Advice Trust has collected figures from councils across the country that show: councils referred 2.3 million debts to bailiffs in 2016/7 this is an increase of 14% on 2 years ago and c. 30% on 4 years ago. You can see individual council details using the map … [Read more...]
Bailiffs – do you have to let them in? What you need to know.
A visit from bailiffs is a nightmare idea for many people. They have changed their name to enforcement agents but that doesn't make it any less scary. This article looks at what happens after a debt is sent to the bailiffs, the two key rules for dealing with bailiffs and what to do if things go wrong. There is a section at the end about good (and bad) places to get help. In 2021 the new Debt … [Read more...]
How to stop a debt being sent to the bailiffs
Are you worried about bailiffs? If you have problem debts, seeing programs like Can't pay? We'll take it away can be alarming. As one reader said: If I stop my direct debit and don't pay them this month surely they will not be happy? I don’t want bailiffs around my house. If you have already had a letter from a bailiff read: Bailiffs - do you have to let them in? What you need to know. This … [Read more...]