Bailiffs

If you owe money, your creditor may instruct bailiffs to try and get their money back. A bailiff is someone whose job it is to take away possessions belonging to people who owe money. The items are then sold and the money is used to pay off the debts.

Bailiffs can also be used to take back things that belong to your creditor. For example, if you were buying a car on hire purchase, the bailiffs can sometimes come and take back the car if you don’t pay the instalments.

There usually has to be a court order before bailiffs can come to take your things away. Even when the bailiffs have authorisation to act, it may be possible to negotiate with your creditor to call them off.

Bailiffs can be used to make you pay the following debts:

• Council tax arrears
• Business rates arrears
• High Court or County Court orders judgments
• Child support arrears
• Criminal court fines/parking/road traffic penalties
• Income tax arrears
• VAT debts
• Rent arrears

If you are experiencing problems with bailiffs take advice immediately.

Services - Debt