A bailiff, otherwise known as an enforcement agent, is a person allowed to visit your home to enforce the payment of a debt.
Stopping a Bailiff at the Door
The bailiff should have sent you a letter to let you know they will be visiting your address; this letter should usually be given 7 days before their expected arrival. Bailiffs are only permitted to come into your home between the hours of 6 am to 9 pm. If they arrive during the specified time, it is always best to try other means of communication such as speaking through the window or door before letting them in. Some bailiffs are also happy to speak to you on the phone while standing outside. You are entitled to lock any doors or windows if this makes you feel safer, however, it is always best not to come across as aggressive. If the bailiffs encounter any physical aggression or feel threatened, they are entitled to police assistance the same as if you did this to anybody on the street. Any physical violence should be prevented unless it is necessary to defend yourself or your property.
According to the new rules, bailiffs do not need to enter the property to take control of goods, but they can list goods they can see through a window.
If you manage to repay your debt it is important to get a receipt and keep it very safe, just in case you need it to prove payment. You should also thoroughly check the bailiff’s ID before making any payments (they should carry an ID card, sometimes on a lanyard) just to make sure they are who they say they are.
NB: If you are self-employed, they can visit your business address, but if you work for someone else, they shouldn’t come to your workplace.
When they can force entry
This depends on the kind of debt you owe, bailiffs can force their way into your home if they have a court warrant to do so to collect debts such as unpaid magistrates court fines, tax debts from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) etc. They need to show you the warrant which is granting them entry, check these documents for proper signatures, dates, and your actual name and address. They are allowed to use ‘reasonable force to access the property; an example would be getting a locksmith to open a door instead of breaking it down.
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