Prior to the 6th April 2014, bailiffs and enforcement agents were subject to far less rigorous regulations. What this meant in practice is that unscrupulous collection agencies would take advantage of debtors by doing things like turning up to seize goods unannounced, multiplying collection fees, and sometimes even seizing more property than was necessary to clear the debt.

So the government reviewed the industry, and introduced a slate of clear rules and regulations which make the process much clearer, fairer and, ultimately less open to abuse.

Resources

• Bailiff Advice Overview
• What can Bailiffs take?
• Bailiffs Fees Explained
• Taking control of goods Act 2013
• Council Tax Repayment Plans
• Application for help

Whereas previously Enforcement Agencies might often have been vague or inconsistent with the information they provide ahead of visiting you or seizing goods – unclear fees, undated letters, that sort of thing – now there is no room for confusion.

The regulations now stipulate what notifications enforcement agents must use. These notifications, and what they must detail, are as follows:

NOTICE OF ENFORCEMENT

• Amount of the debt and the relevance Compliance Stage fee of £75
• Precise date to pay debt, or agree payment plan
• The date a bailiff will visit should payment agreement be broken
• Any additional fees you might incur by failing to keep payment agreement

CONTROLLED GOODS AGREEMENT

• Detailed list of good entered into the Controlled Goods Agreement, including detailed descriptions (eg: computer, television, car etc), make and model (if known), and any relevant serial number, colour and any identifying marks
• Value of debt to be paid (including bailiff fees) the Compliance Stage fee, Enforcement Stage fee and any expenses
• Clear explanation that breaking the payment agreement will result in removal of listed goods for sale
• Costs you will incur for removal of goods
• Must be signed by the debtor, a person authorised by the debtor or a person ‘in apparent authority

WARNING OF IMMOBILISATION

• must be provided if a motor vehicle is to be clamped
• must be signed by the bailiff/enforcement agent.

NOTICE OF INTENTION TO RE-ENTER PREMISES

• sent when the Control Goods Agreement payment plan is not kept up
• advises that the bailiff intends to re-enter the premises to ‘inspect the goods’ or ‘remove them for sale’
• must detail the Control Goods Agreement and how it has been breached.

NOTICE AFTER ENTRY OR TAKING CONTROL OF GOODS (ON A HIGHWAY) AND INVENTORY OF GOODS TAKEN INTO CONTROL

• details the action taken to enter premises or to take control of a vehicle on a highway
• clear instructions on how to make payment and the date and time by which the payment must be made
• goods will be released on payment in full (or upon signing a payment arrangement with the enforcement agent)
• requires the signature of the bailiff/enforcement agent.

NOTICE THAT GOODS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR STORAGE OR SALE

• must be provided when goods are actually removed
• must outline all the fees charged to date including any ‘expenses’ and the daily or weekly storage fee
• payment in full will avoid the sale of the goods at which point they may be collected
• requires the signature of the bailiff/enforcement agent.

INVENTORY

• advises that goods have been ‘taken into control’
  o requires the signature of the bailiff/enforcement agent.

NOTICE OF SALE

• must be provided prior to the sale the goods
• must provide the name of any co-owner and all fees charged (including any expenses)
• must include details of the date, time and place of the proposed sale
• must list the goods (model, serial number etc.) and their ‘valuation’
• the sale is conditional on the reserve price being met. If this condition is not met, a new time and place of sale must be given in a further notice.

NOTICE OF ABANDONMENT OF GOODS

• informs you that goods listed have been formally abandoned and that you may collect them
• reason for abandonment will be because the debtor or co-owner was not given notice of the sale within the period required by law
• goods must be collected within 28 days of the date provided.

Yes. The Compliance stage is seven ‘clear days’. It starts when you receive a written warning (a Notice of Enforcement) informing you that the agency intends to visit you with a view to taking control of goods. Payment of the debt, or agreeing a payment plan at this stage will prevent further action being taken.

No. Under the new regulations bailiffs are obliged to leave a variety of items that are exempt from seizure. Detailed information on what is and isn’t exempt from seizure can be found here.

Whilst the regulations are clear on the fees that must be charged by the enforcement agent on all debts where some enforcement action had commenced before 6th April 2014, they are quite complicated.

Even more confusingly, different rules and fees are applied to different kinds of debts and fines. The rules do however strive to correlate different stages of enforcement action to the newly defined three stages of Compliance, Enforcement and Sale, and apply fees accordingly.

Where you have any fees relating to action carried out prior to 6th April 2014 we would recommend that you contact us to discuss whether the fees you are being asked to pay are correct.

The best way to ensure a difficult situation doesn’t escalate into an upsetting and traumatic one is to seek impartial expert advice as soon as you receive any written notification from a bailiff – don’t ignore the letter in the hope that it will all just go away.

Our advice can help you formulate a reasonable budget and repayment plan and put you on the front foot in your response to any debt collection organisations.

And always remember that bailiffs simply want to collect the debt, and if you offer a clear and agreeable path to achieving this, they will be keen to work with you and will be just as keen as you to avoid escalating the situation.

We are more than happy to help you ensure that you receive the advice and planning guidance you need. To discuss your situation, call us now on 0300 302 1806 anytime between 8am – 8pm, Monday – Friday