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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bailiffs' behaviour to be controlled by new laws | Bailiffs' behaviour to be controlled by new laws |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Laws to tackle aggressive bailiffs will be introduced next year in England and Wales, the government has announced. | Laws to tackle aggressive bailiffs will be introduced next year in England and Wales, the government has announced. |
| Bailiffs will be banned from entering homes at night or where only children are present, and new safeguards will prevent them from using force against people who owe money. | Bailiffs will be banned from entering homes at night or where only children are present, and new safeguards will prevent them from using force against people who owe money. |
| They will also no longer have free rein to fix their own fees, because set fee scales will be brought in. | They will also no longer have free rein to fix their own fees, because set fee scales will be brought in. |
| Justice Minister Helen Grant said the crackdown was badly needed. | Justice Minister Helen Grant said the crackdown was badly needed. |
| Bad name | Bad name |
| The bailiff industry is fragmented and partly unregulated, and there have been concerns from householders and businesses about heavy handed tactics employed to recover debts, says |BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman. | The bailiff industry is fragmented and partly unregulated, and there have been concerns from householders and businesses about heavy handed tactics employed to recover debts, says |BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman. |
| Mrs Grant said a small minority of bailiffs had been able to give the industry a bad name. | Mrs Grant said a small minority of bailiffs had been able to give the industry a bad name. |
| New laws will crack down on bailiffs | New laws will crack down on bailiffs |
| She also said the fees charged were sometimes "extortionate". | She also said the fees charged were sometimes "extortionate". |
| Following a Ministry of Justice consultation last year, the government will legislate next year to introduce new measures to combat the problem. | Following a Ministry of Justice consultation last year, the government will legislate next year to introduce new measures to combat the problem. |
| Mandatory training and a new certification process for bailiffs will be introduced. | Mandatory training and a new certification process for bailiffs will be introduced. |
| Rent arrears | Rent arrears |
| There will be a set of simple rules detailing when a bailiff can enter a property, what they can take and a fee structure to end excessive and multiple charges. | There will be a set of simple rules detailing when a bailiff can enter a property, what they can take and a fee structure to end excessive and multiple charges. |
| Landlords will be banned from using bailiffs to seize property for rent arrears, without going to court. | Landlords will be banned from using bailiffs to seize property for rent arrears, without going to court. |
| Mrs Grant said: "Bailiffs will not be able to use force against the person and they will not be able to enter any homes with just children there. | Mrs Grant said: "Bailiffs will not be able to use force against the person and they will not be able to enter any homes with just children there. |
| "There are some very good bailiffs around, don't get me wrong - but it is being reported to us from MPs and other organisations that there is bad practice, and we need to deal with it." | "There are some very good bailiffs around, don't get me wrong - but it is being reported to us from MPs and other organisations that there is bad practice, and we need to deal with it." |
| Companies, councils and courts all use bailiffs to collect money owed to them. | Companies, councils and courts all use bailiffs to collect money owed to them. |
| What do you make of the proposed legislation? Have you had any experience of dealing with bailiffs? You can share your thoughts and experiences using the form below. |