Few letters cause as much panic as one from an enforcement agent. The good news: bailiffs are bound by strict rules, and knowing them takes away most of their power to frighten you.
What a bailiff can and cannot do
- They must normally give you seven days’ notice before a first visit.
- They cannot force their way into your home on a first visit for most debts.
- They must show ID and paperwork naming the debt when you ask.
- They cannot visit before 6am or after 9pm, and cannot take essential household items.
What to do first
Do not ignore the notice, but do not panic either. Check the debt is really yours and that the amount is right. You do not have to open the door while you get advice.
How a debt solution can stop enforcement
Once a formal solution such as an IVA or a Debt Relief Order is in place, most enforcement action on the included debts has to stop. Even an informal plan can persuade creditors to call the bailiffs off, because a realistic payment beats an expensive doorstep visit.