Bailiff bashing
Question
I've had a problem with a bailiff. Four days after I'd paid what owed, the bailiff turned up and, even though I showed him the receipt, he towed away my car. I had to pay almost £500 to get my car back. Can I make a complaint?
Answer
It sounds as though the bailiff acted improperly. Bailiffs can seize and sell your goods to cover the amount of a debt you owe, but obviously they should not do that if you've already paid in full.
There are three main types of bailiff: county court bailiffs; certificated bailiffs; and private bailiffs.
According to the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA), if you have a complaint about a county court bailiff, "you should write to the Court Manager of the county court concerned. You should state your name, address, the case number, the warrant number and the facts about your complaint".
To complain about a certified or private bailiff, you should first contact the firm that employs them. If this isn't satisfactory then you can call the trade association they belong to - either the Certificated Bailiffs Association (also know as the Enforcement Services Association) on 0117 9074 771, the Association of Civil Enforcement Agencies (ACEA) on 01924 350090 or the High Court Enforcement Officers' Association (HCEOA) on 020 7152 4017.
If you need more help and advice you could contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
Updated: 16/03/2010
Question answered by CAB
