How to complain about a bailiff

You can complain about a bailiff (鈥榚nforcement agent鈥�) if you think they鈥檝e broken the rules, for example if they: threaten or harass you try to break into your home without a warrant try to charge you incorrect fees take goods belonging to someone else take essential items, including things you need for work You can complain both to: whoever the bailiff is working for the people you owe money to Who to complain to Who you need to complain to depends on whether the bailiff is a: private bailiff - either a certificated enforcement agent (also known as civil enforcement agents) or a high court enforcement officer county or family court bailiff a bailiff enforcing magistrates鈥� court fines (either a civilian enforcement officer or Approved Enforcement Agent) Complain about a private bailiff Most bailiffs work for private companies, even if they鈥檙e collecting money for the council or the government. They can also be directly employed by local authorities, or self-employed. If the bailiff is collecting money for a council or Transport for London ( TfL ) First complain to the council or TfL . If you鈥檙e still not happy, you can complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman . Complain to a trade organisation (if the bailiff is a member) You may also be able to complain to the bailiff鈥檚 trade association if they鈥檙e a member. Check the membership lists on the trade associations鈥� websites: Civil Enforcement Association ( CIVEA ) - member list High Court Enforcement Officers Association ( HCEOA ) - directory Follow the complaints procedure on the association鈥檚 website: CIVEA HCEOA If the bailiff is a high court enforcement officer If you have a serious complaint about a high court enforcement officer, you can ask a high court judge to consider whether they should be allowed to continue operating. You can complain by writing to: Civil Enforcement Policy Civil Law and Justice Division Ministry of Justice 102 Petty France London SW1H 9AJ Complain to a court about a bailiff鈥檚 behaviour If a bailiff has a certificate allowing them to carry out enforcement action (a certificated enforcement agent) you can ask the court to consider whether they should be allowed to continue operating. You need to: fill out and submit an EAC2 form send it to the court where the agent is registered - you can find this on the certificated enforcement register The court can remove the agent鈥檚 certificate or order them to pay compensation. It鈥檚 free to make a complaint, but you may have to pay legal costs if you complain to a court and they decide there were no 鈥榬easonable grounds鈥� for the complaint. Complain about a court bailiff or civilian enforcement officer You can make a complaint in writing or use the complaint form if you鈥檙e complaining about either: a county or family court bailiff a civilian enforcement officer You鈥檒l need to make the complaint to the court the bailiff has come from. Find out where to send the form by using court finder . Complain about a bailiff enforcing magistrates鈥� court fines If your complaint is about a privately-employed bailiff collecting a magistrates鈥� court fine, you should first complain to the firm that employs them. You should also send a copy of your complaint to the court where the warrant was issued. Find out where to send the complaint by using court finder .

Bailiff powers when they visit your home: What you can do when a bailiff visits

Bailiff powers when they visit your home

What you can do when a bailiff visits

A bailiff (鈥榚nforcement agent鈥�) may visit your home if you do not pay your debts - such as Council Tax bills, parking fines, court fines and county court, high court or family court judgments.

This will happen if you ignore letters saying that bailiffs will be used.

There are different kinds of bailiffs, known as:

鈥榗ertificated enforcement agents鈥� (also known as 鈥榗ivil enforcement agents鈥�)
鈥榟igh court enforcement officers鈥�
鈥榗ounty court and family court bailiffs鈥�
bailiffs who enforce magistrates鈥� court fines and warrants for arrests (either 鈥榗ivilian enforcement officers鈥� or 鈥楢pproved Enforcement Agents鈥�)

A bailiff may also visit your home for other reasons, for example to serve court documents or give notices and summons.

An Approved Enforcement Agent can arrest you if there鈥檚 a warrant for your arrest for breaking a community penalty order.

Bailiffs must usually give you at least 7 days鈥� notice of their first visit.

There鈥檚 a different process in .

Pay what you owe before a bailiff visits

If you think a bailiff might visit you to collect debts, you can stop this by paying the money you owe. Get advice about how to pay your debt from whoever you owe money to as soon as possible.

Find out what to do if you have a debt that you cannot pay.

You might be arrested if you do not pay criminal debts, such as fines or penalty notices.

Dealing with bailiffs

You usually do not have to open your door to a bailiff or let them in.

Bailiffs cannot enter your home:

by force, for example by pushing past you
if only children under 16 or vulnerable people (with disabilities, for example) are present
between 9pm and 6am
through anything except the door

Bailiffs are allowed to force their way into your home to collect unpaid criminal fines, Income Tax or Stamp Duty, but only as a last resort.

If you do not let a bailiff in or agree to pay them:

they could take things from outside your home, for example your car
you could end up owing even more money

If you do let a bailiff in but do not pay them they may take some of your belongings. They could sell the items to pay debts and cover their fees.

You may be able to get extra time to make a payment or get debt advice (for example, you have mental health problems or are seriously ill).

Check the bailiff鈥檚 identity

Before you let a bailiff in to take your things or pay them, ask to see:

proof of their identity, such as a badge, ID card or enforcement agent certificate
which company they鈥檙e from
a telephone contact number
a detailed breakdown of the amount owed

You can ask for proof of a bailiff鈥檚 identity and authorisation even if they鈥檝e visited before - for example, ask them to put it through the letterbox or show it at the window.

All bailiffs must have a certificate unless they鈥檙e exempt or they鈥檙e with someone who does have a certificate.

Anyone who claims to be a bailiff when they are not is committing fraud.

To check a bailiff鈥檚 identity, find out what kind of bailiff they are from their proof of identity and then:

if they say they鈥檙e a certificated enforcement agent ( if you have a question)
if they say they鈥檙e a high court enforcement officer
contact the court that sent them if they say they鈥檙e a county court bailiff, family court bailiff or a civilian enforcement officer

If they say they鈥檙e an Approved Enforcement Agent, check they鈥檙e from one of the following companies:

Compliant Data-Led Engagements & Resolutions (CDER) Group
Marston Holdings Limited
Jacobs Enforcement
Excel Civil Enforcement Limited
Swift Credit Services Limited

Paying a bailiff

You can pay the bailiff on the doorstep - you do not have to let them into your home.

Make sure you get a receipt to prove you鈥檝e paid.

If you cannot pay all the money right away, speak to the bailiff about how you could pay the money back.

Offer to pay what you can afford in weekly or monthly payments.

The bailiff does not have to accept your offer.

What bailiffs can and cannot take

If you let a bailiff into your home, they may take some of your belongings to sell.

Bailiffs can take luxury items, for example a TV or games console.

They cannot take:

things you need, such as your clothes, cooker or fridge
work tools and equipment which together are worth less than 拢1,350
someone else鈥檚 belongings, such as your partner鈥檚 computer

You鈥檒l have to prove that someone else鈥檚 goods do not belong to you.

What bailiffs can charge

How much you pay depends on your situation. Citizens Advice has .

Help or advice

You can get free help or advice on dealing with bailiffs from:

View a printable version of the whole guide

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