Dealing with bailiffs

If you owe money, one of the ways your creditors might try to get their money back is by using bailiffs. Bailiffs can take your goods away and sell them to repay some of your debts.

Before a bailiff calls you should receive a letter warning you that they are thinking of taking bailiff action. If you have received this you still have time to stop them coming to your home. Do not ignore the letter and contact the creditor straight away to work out a payment arrangement with them.

You will know that a bailiff is calling if you get a notice of enforcement. Do not ignore the notice as you will be charged fees, which will increase the amount you owe. Contact the creditor and work out an amount you can afford to pay over a period of time.

DO NOT LET THE BAILIFFS INTO YOUR HOUSE…

• Close all windows
• Don’t open the door
• Do a budget and work out what you can afford to pay them
• Phone the creditor and make an offer to pay
• Only offer what you can afford to pay in weekly or monthly payments

There are rules about how bailiffs should behave and they need to take special care if you are a vulnerable person. If any of these apply to you make sure you tell the bailiff…

• You are elderly
• Disabled
• A single parent
• Seriously ill
• You have mental health issues

For more help and advice on bailiffs and what they can and cannot do check out the website here.