Most of the 2m people in UK contacted by bailiffs report intimidating behaviour
More than 2 million people have been contacted by bailiffs during the cost of living crisis, according to Citizens Advice, with a majority of those who came into contact with a debt collector reporting they felt harassed or intimidated.
The charity estimates that bailiffs added £250m in fees to people’s debts in the past 18 months, driving people deeper into financial hardship.
More than a third of people who came into contact with a bailiff were subjected to behaviour that broke Ministry of Justice rules, Citizens Advice said. These included bailiffs forcing their way into homes, not taking into account vulnerabilities such as disability or illness, or taking goods needed for work reasons.
Nearly 60% experienced harassment or intimidation through doorstep visits, the misrepresentation of powers or even threats to break into the property.
Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said that bailiffs were “a law unto themselves” and called for more regulation.
“Rogue behaviour is making things far worse for people in really difficult situations – sometimes pushing them further into debt,” she said.
“Rules are in place to try and ensure bailiffs act fairly to recover debt, but our advisers are hearing from people every day who are being intimidated and harassed by bailiffs.
John, not his real name, who lives with his partner and children in a rural area and have a child who is disabled, said he was woken one morning before Christmas at about 6am by a call from a bailiff who was outside his home.
John had a £90 debt for a missed council tax payment and was put on to a repayment plan. The bailiff demanded nearly £500 in extra fees for their visit and threatened to take his car, which they’d already clamped. John was
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