|
News Index
Next
Previous
Citizens Advice is launching a campaign against bad bailiff practice
this week.
Evidence from local bureaux shows that private bailiffs used by local
authorities to collect unpaid council tax are acting almost as a law unto
themselves, with devastating effects on people’s lives.
Intimidation, harassment and excessive fee charging by bailiffs are driving
already vulnerable people deeper into poverty and debt.
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.
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.
Citizens Advice is disappointed that the new Draft Tribunals, Courts and
Enforcement Bill, which aims to introduce a single procedure for taking control
of goods, has dropped any plans to regulate the activities of bailiffs even
though the bill will give them added powers.
The draft Bill gives bailiffs the right to apply to court to use reasonable
force to enter premises. This will mean that debtors will no longer be able to
refuse bailiffs entry and could lead to increasing problems being brought to
local bureaux.
Citizens Advice are responding to the draft bill and local bureaux are being
encouraged to lobby their MPs on the need for a regulatory framework to be
included in the Bill.
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
f►Take away or threaten to seize essential household equipment such as
kettles, 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 commented: "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.
"This sort of behaviour along with excessive fee-charging by bailiffs is driving
already vulnerable people deeper into poverty and debt.
"It is essential that the regulation of bailiff practices is included in the
Government’s new draft bill to end these unacceptable practices."
Source:
Getting Paid
|
