The Citizens Advice Bureaux is calling for bailiffs to be regulated after it discovered the debt collectors use intimidation, harassment and excessive fee charging to drive vulnerable people further into debt.
Evidence from local CAB bureaux shows that private bailiffs used by the local authority to collect unpaid council tax are acting almost as a law unto themselves, with devastating effects on people’s lives.
The ‘Putting Bailiffs On The Spot’ campaign aims to lobby MP’s on the need for bailiffs to be regulated and to work with local authorities to improve the practice of bailiffs collecting council tax. The campaign is launched this week at the Citizens Advice Annual Conference in York.
Chiltern Debt Management general manager Jackie Newton says: “Just because someone is in debt doesn’t mean they lose all of their rights and we have written to our MP to make sure our support for the campaign is recorded. People in debt need professional help not professional intimidation.”
For many years, Citizens Advice has argued that the use of bailiffs to collect debts by seizing goods is open to abuse and leaves many people in debt with no real protection.
There are few controls over what bailiffs do and how much they charge, with bailiff powers set out in a complex series of archaic laws – some dating back to 1267.
CAB evidence shows that bailiffs often:
- Misrepresent their powers
- Are abusive and aggressive
- Lie and cheat their way into people’s homes
- Use threats of violence and prison to pressurise people into paying lump sums they cannot afford
- Impose fees that can double, treble or increase the original debt many times over
- Take away or threaten to seize essential household equipment such as kettles, vacuum cleaners, fridges and washing machines
- Remove property from the wrong person or take goods not owned by the person in debt
David Harker, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice says: “It is a scandal and a disgrace that six years after the publication of the Government’s own review there has been so little action taken, and the misery and abuse continues. Reports from clients of intimidation, unreasonable demands and excessive charges by bailiffs are commonplace.
Case studies:
A CAB in West Yorkshire reported that a client who owed council tax arrears of £389.89. The council referred his case to bailiffs as he is now living outside the council area. The bailiff said they were coming to remove property to the value of £489 – £100 more than the original bill. The bailiff was rude and threatening and said if he wasn’t allowed access he would break the door down. The bailiff refused any payment by instalment, even though the client could pay almost half the amount straight away. The client was left frustrated and distressed by this.
A CAB in London reported that bailiffs arrived at the home of a client and threatened to break the door down, until the client’s ex-husband and six year-old child inside were so frightened they let them in. The bailiff then threatened to take the family dog and puppy along with other possessions, and intimidated the man into giving him details of his son’s bankcard and security code to withdraw funds. The client was frightened and distressed as to how to placate the intimidating bailiff as offers to pay by instalments were rejected.
