what rights do i have against bailiffs?

Question

how to get round bailiffs entering my property

Answer 1

hello Richard.i have tones of experience with bailiffs,first off the only bailiff who can force an entry must have a warrant from the court this however is usually only used when you haven't payed your gas bill and they come to put a meter in,they will come with a locksmith and police if you don't let them in they get the locksmith to open the door.if however its the other sort of debt then your laughing really,they cannot come in uninvited so its a battle of wills they will try and intimidate you,they will try bully boy ta tics threaten them with the police.never lose you temper,if you do communicate with them,do it through the window don't open the door.if all that fails and they gain access to your home,claim that you own nothing in the property have a friend say they lent you EVERYTHING as they cant take whats not yours.[they will cover everywhere with post it notes ignore this its for intimidation next they will try and get cash of you and lastly they get you to agree to a payment scheme.hope this helps.if you add additional details put them on and i can tell you pacifically what to do next.

Answer 2

They're like vampires. They have to be 'invited' in. They have no right of forcible entry. Leave your windows shut and your door locked. When they call round refuse them access. They cannot enter if you do this. They may threaten you with the police but this is just to scare you. All the police can do is stop any breach of the peace. They cannot assist the bailiffs gain entry. Having been refused entry the bailiffs are supposed to return the debt to the court. And they cannot do a walking distraint by looking through the windows.

Answer 3

Look here http://www.insolvencyhelpline.co.uk/debt_basics/bailiff-guide.htm

Can a bailiff force his/her way into my house?

Most bailiffs do not have the right to force their way into your home to seize your goods. The only exception is that bailiffs from the Collector of Taxes (Inland Revenue) can get a warrant to force entry, but this is very rare.

All other bailiffs have a right of peaceful entry only. This means that they cannot use force to enter your home, for example, by breaking a window or a door. However, they can enter your property through an open door or window (front and back) and can climb over fences and gates, but cannot break them down. See also ''If a bailiff does gain peaceful entry to my house, what will they do?''

You do not have to let a bailiff into your house. A bailiff cannot force their way past you if you answer the door. If all your doors and windows are securely closed they will not be able to gain peaceful entry to your house unless you let them in.

Bailiffs are well aware of their limited powers and may use a variety of different means to gain entry peaceably. They may attempt to walk in as soon as a door is opened. They may ask if they can use your telephone to check if an arrangement is satisfactory with their office. They may simply ask you if you would prefer to discuss matters inside. You do not have to go along with any of these methods.

Answer 4

If they are actual court bailiffs (and very few are) you dont have a choice as they can get the police to enter. However if its a private bailiff (the kind that collect council tax debt, parking fines etc. just dnt answer the door. Once you open the door they can walk in - they can also climb in through an open window. They have no rights to break in and cannot get the police to enter. They will make petty threats to try and frighten you - just ignore them and they go away in the end xxxxxxxxxxxx

Answer 5

You have no rights, once you invite the bailiffs in your premises, once the door opens you will notice that the bailiffs will put their foot inside and you will not be able to close the door or can not refuse them to enter. What you should do, look through the window and see the bailiffs, do not open the door, make sure the back door is also locked. They can not enter your premises by force. If necessary talk to your visitor through the letter box. Don't need to shout or swear at the bailiffs, keep yourself calm, otherwise you will be charged as breach of peace.

Answer 6

What Rights Do Bailiffs Have

Answer 7

the answers that say bailiffs cannot enter your property without your permission are NOT TRUE for all cases. when the courts have ordered you to pay the money and you dont comply then they can force entry, break in and take your stuff even if you are not home, they must have a member of the... i cant remember if it is the local council or a police officer... but they cant force entry on their own they need someone with them it might be a police officer or someone like that but what would be the point of them if they needed your permission to enter your property,

" you haven't paid your debt, we want to take your property to sell on to recover the money, can we come in?"
"no. i'm not going to let you in"
"oh ok then thanx anyway".

who would let them in? the whole point of them is they recover money and/or goods to repay debtors when then borrower wont pay. if they couldn't force entry what would be the point of them?

however if they are just employed by a private company directly i dont think they can come in but they are generraly quite happy to push the law to the very limit, eg like someone else said if you open the door the foot will go in it and they will force entry saying you opened the door, so if you are expecting them dont open the door to anyone unless you know them by sight as a personal friend or family member. they will bully and intimidate you but dont rise to it cause they'll get you charged for abuse or breach of peace. if you have children then make sure they know not to answer the door as well. baliffs are not above bullying them either. try the citizens advice beureu i think u can find their number in the fone book of maybe on the net, they give free legal advice but are a government body not a private company so have no bias in the advice. good luck

Answer 8

They have no right of entry unless invited. (In the UK)

Please note that bailiffs are chosen for being pushy and very assertive. They will also know the law with respect to entry very well.

Answer 9

Bailiffs HAVE to be invited into your property, they are NOT allowed to break the door down. If they do, you can call the Police. If you refuse them entry, they cannot enter.

Answer 10

This is, indeed, just one more law against the poor, and while idiots make useless and uncaring remarks, remember that this is the same Government who sold gongs to crooks, and crooks who use the UK as a tax haven, flying in and out of Monaco, paying little or nothing in tax. This is why the poor are so heavily taxed, the multitudes ofpoor paying for the rich and Governments who lick the ar se of the rich. While you may say, in your weird and uncaring fashion "let them eat cake", I need not remind you what happens to people who make such crass remarks. Come the revolution...