Government urged to crack down on bailiffs who are 'law unto themselves'

Reported problems jump to 90,000 as Citizens Advice and StepChange call for independent regulator

Pressure is growing on the government to crack down on bailiffs, many of whom have been accused of being a “law unto themselves” by Citizens Advice.

The charity recorded a 24 per cent rise in problems with bailiffs to 90,000 a year and called for an independent regulator to ensure that consumers are protected.

Bailiffs currently regulate themselves, a situation that has allowed some firms to “flout the rules” and “push the limits of the law”, Citizens Advice said.

Citizens Advice estimates that households collectively owe about £19bn in council tax and utilities arrears, which now cause more problems than any other form of debt.

Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said rogue bailiffs were inflicting widespread harm on people and their families.

The government introduced changes four years ago which said bailiffs “should not press people to make unrealistic offers” and should “refer reasonable offers on to the creditor”.

But while those reforms were “well intentioned” they have had little effect on improving the behaviour of some bailiffs, Ms Guy said.

“Faced with the evidence we’ve put in front of them, the Ministry of Justice has no other option but to establish an independent bailiff regulator.”

Debt charity StepChange also backs reform of the bailiff sector which it said would help the approximately one-third of people who contact its helpline with problems paying council tax or utility bills.

Phil Andrew, StepChange chief executive, said: “The fact is that all the main debt advice charities are continuing to see too many cases where bailiffs are breaking the rules.

“This is completely unacceptable, especially as the people on the receiving end are often distressed, vulnerable and unempowered.

“Across the debt advice sector, we are united in the view that it’s now time for regulation to be more robust, and for the rules to be properly enforced.

“Even some bailiff firms seem to be realising that the days of informal regulation need to end.”