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What Are the Main Bailiff Changes from April 6th? Part Three

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  • What Are the Main Bailiff Changes from April 6th? Part Three

    National Standards for Enforcement Agents



    Only two days ago, and still unpublished anywhere else as far as I know, is the fact the MOJ have announced their intention totally to rewrite the National Standards for Enforcement Agents. To some extent this makes sense as certain elements will no longer be relevant. However, there are also some major implications, such as those counting as ‘Vulnerable’ (see separate section below). Until such time as new standards are released, we are left using the existing ones.



    What is vulnerable?
    This is now determined entirely by the EA. There is nothing in writing yet which determines this category of debtor. We have been promised new National Standards for Enforcement Agents, and as mentioned above, these are to be totally rewritten. They are not there (even in a draft form) yet. We must assume the EA’s will apply the criteria for vulnerability as currently exists.


    Complaints


    There is nothing laid down about how to make a formal complaint through the courts. This is madness.



    Methods of Entry (including forced entry)


    These are covered in the TCE Act Schedule 12, (14 – 22) and (23 – 33)



    This is really split into three sections now, initial entry, re-entry(entries) and forced entry.


    Initial Entry
    As the regulations read, initial entry must be peaceful and only through an open door (unlocked OR ajar). The key difference here is EO's may no longer gain peaceful entry through an open window.


    Re-entry
    Where goods have been taken control of, but have not yet been removed, the EA is permitted to re-enter in order to inspect the goods or remove them for sale (effectively when they want to). This can be done with or without a warrant from the court. Although peaceful entry is not specified, it is fair to assume it means peaceful entry as there is a separate section of the Act for forced entry.


    Forced Entry
    This is what the Act says.



    Application for power to use reasonable force ( LINK )



    20(1)This paragraph applies if an enforcement agent has power to enter premises under paragraph 14 or 16 or under a warrant under paragraph 15.
    (2)If the enforcement agent applies to the court it may issue a warrant which authorises him to use, if necessary, reasonable force to enter the premises or to do anything for which entry is authorised. (Comment – what a shame to see the word reasonable used. What is reasonable?)



    21(1) This paragraph applies if an enforcement agent is applying for power to enter premises under a warrant under paragraph 15.
    (2)If the enforcement agent applies to the court it may include in the warrant provision authorising him to use, if necessary, reasonable force to enter the premises or to do anything for which entry is authorised. (Comment – this is the part where locksmiths etc… may be authorised. As it reads here, the provision must be included separately on the warrant granting forced entry).



    22(1) The court may not issue a warrant under paragraph 20 or include provision under paragraph 21 unless it is satisfied that prescribed conditions are met.
    (2) A warrant under paragraph 20 or provision included under paragraph 21 may require any constable to assist the enforcement agent to execute the warrant. (A clear, and very significant change from the police attending only in order to prevent a breach of the peace).

    Exempt Goods
    There are many items belonging to the debtor that may be taken into control. However there are some that are exempt, principally:
    • Bedding, clothing, furniture and provisions that the debtor and their family need for a basic level of domestic life
    • Items reasonably required for the care of a person under 18, a disabled person or an older person (over 65)
    • Perishable goods: refrigerated foodstuffs, fresh flowers etc.
    • Vehicles with a valid disabled person’s badge, vehicles used for police, fire or ambulance purposes or a vehicle with a valid British Medical Association badge or other health emergency badge because it is being used for health emergency purposes
    • Assistance dogs, sheep dogs, guard dogs and domestic pets
    • Tools of the trade: those needed by the debtor to do their job or run their business, for example tools, books, vehicles etc., but only to a value of £1,350


    With regards to tools of the trade, they may only be claimed as exempt by a sole trader who is the only person to use them for his work. It cannot be claimed where another person uses them or by a partnership or limited company.



    Fee Recovery
    The Taking Control of Goods Regulations state that, “fees referred to ……… may be recovered out of proceeds.” I assume this means that EA’s will be able to take their fees first before passing on the remainder to the creditor.


    What about HCEO’s?
    Again they are now called EA’s. The most common reason we see for something ending up under a High Court Writ is where a County Court Debt of £600 or over has been escalated to what was formerly an HCEO for collection.


    With HCEO’s collection of fees changes, as when the EA is acting under a High Court writ, they may recover all fees for that stage if the FULL DEBT is repaid after the start of the stage, but BEFORE its completion AND the controlled goods agreement is not breached.


    NOTE:for HCEO’s (EA’s) there are two enforcement stages in addition to the compliance stage, not just one prior to sale of goods. Fees are set out in the Schedule linked HERE.


    If no CGA is agreed, or the debtor breaches it, the EA may recover BOTH the first and second enforcement stage fees in all circumstances. This amounts to £760.00 of fees in addition to any debt owed!


    On the positive side, there is less incentive for the EA to force sale of goods for the extra £525.00 (+ %age), though common sense will prevail. If there is a Porsche parked in the driveway, the EA is likely to go for sale. If it is clear the goods are not there and the debtor is genuinely struggling, they are far less likely to go for the sale. We hope this will not be abused, though is something we will need to be alert for.


    Vulnerable debtors will be afforded some protection in that they must be given time to seek help. However, the definition of vulnerability lies with the EA!



    The role of the police under the new regulations
    This is a change of some concern.Currently police attend to stop a breach of the peace. The regulations now state clearly that for forced entry, (-ie- with a Court Warrant), the EA, “may require any constable to assist.

    Police attendance must therefore be seen as them being there to help the EA.



    Giving help to posters – what should I say?
    If members are covered under the transitional regulations, keep paying religiously and do not miss any payments, even by one day. If they do they will fall under the new regulations.

    For new accounts post April 6th, to a large extent the approach is self evident from the regulations. Unless there are significant issues over procedures not being correctly followed, the best suggestion for any debtor is to engage with the bailiffs as soon as possible.

    As said in the last ‘Sticky’ in a quotation from a highly respected bailiff specialist, “The days when a debtor can ignore bailiff correspondence are finished.


    If debtors are beyond the Compliance Stage and into Enforcement, it is still very much in their interests to engage with the bailiffs to try to arrange something.

    Quite a lot of councils will now be using their own EA’s, so it is very much a case of damage limitation to the debtor’s wallet.


    How flexible repayment plans will be remains an unknown quantity, though there is guidance in the TCE Act Regs 111, 113 and Section 21 Linked HERE which allows for the provision of application for approval to include a debt in a Debt Management Scheme by the debtor applying through the County Court (TCE Act Part 5), though self-managed DMP’s seem not to be approved of (though are not entirely ruled out). It remains unclear just how much this provision will be able to be used by debtors, and sadly the poorest ones who cannot afford this application are likely to be the ones who need it most.


    GENERAL COMMENT


    As we hope you can see, while elements of the new regulations are welcomed, there is still plenty of scope for rogue Enforcement Agents to abuse them. Many of these have been pointed out, though massive chunks remain untouched currently. The content posted here may well be added to before (and after) Monday as more issues come to light. Only today, The Sun newspaper carried a large headline about the new regulations and how they are going to cost us, the public, a lot more money. Papers like this can massively affect the opinion of the public, so we should expect a period of fairly rapid change. Many councils are only now producing their own guidance, so this may enable us to add to what is already here. Hopefully we have covered enough to give a decent insight. We know much remains almost untouched (seizing goods on the highway etc..., Non-Domestic rates, etc...., etc.... )

    The MOJ has left things far too open, and not covered insufficient detail things consumer groups and bailiff companies alike had wanted clarified. Both remain very conerned.

    Finally, for anyone with problems, just post on the forum as usual - help will be at hand.
    Last edited by BeagleyBailiff; 4th April 2014, 19:00:PM.
    Tags: None

  • #2
    Re: What Are the Main Bailiff Changes from April 6th? Part Three

    Lord Foulks has just been on ITV Daybreak crowing about how the new rules are the answer to a poor debtors prayers in effect as the bailiff can't have the washing machine, ccoker of fridge away, can they still have the freezer? along with items required for subsistence, and can't enter where there are children alone. Can you see Marstons finest obeying that when a 14 year old who looks mature answers the door? To be fair to the bailiff as in law a child is a person under 18 it will be problematic with teenagers. He mentioned the 9pm - 6am curfew on bailiffs but didn't mention they can now call on Sundays. Also mentioned that violence against debtors and physical force is banned. Is he being disingenuous?

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: What Are the Main Bailiff Changes from April 6th? Part Three

      People such as him are talking about things which are NOT changes, they have always been the case. I have read somewhere (in the regulations???) that EA's cannot take something if it is 'in the hands of' the debtor being used. Thus taking this laptop now would not be allowed. I could not find this part again last night, so didn't put it down. Exempt goods are clearly covered in the links above however.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: What Are the Main Bailiff Changes from April 6th? Part Three

        In the past 24 hours I received so many requests to give interviews ( and I would have loved to have done so) but this was impossible due hospital treatment. I have however been able to listen to the various interviews throughout the day and I am simply shocked at the way in which the some media stories are making it appear that debtors will REALLY be protected from 'aggressive bailiffs'. Apparently this is because under the new regulations bailiffs cannot:

        enter a home where only a child is present:

        visit the property late at night

        remove a cooker or fridge.

        I have been dealing with bailiff queries for many years and I have never come across ONE case yet where a bailiff removed a cooker or fridge and neither have I ever come across a case yet where a bailiff entered a property where only a child was present !!!

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: What Are the Main Bailiff Changes from April 6th? Part Three

          I'm afraid the media crowing about how great these so called "Refolrms" will cure the expoitation of impoverished debtors by aggressive bailiffs will be telling a different tale within a month or so when the full effects become apparent and people are saddled with even more unpayable debt .

          I tend to agree with Waies that attachments on a proper and fair sliding scale are the way forward, not "Taking Control of Goods" and flogging them for a fraction of their value.

          Incidentally what if the bailiff cannot get control of any goods as the debtor will not lety them in and barricades themselves in, or is homeless or is after their call that clears out the house, and the next the next EA evicts on that possession order for those arrears of Bedroom Tax how will they collect from a family oin the street. Threaten the B & B with taking their goods most likely (Jeez I am being cynical)

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: What Are the Main Bailiff Changes from April 6th? Part Three

            Originally posted by Milo View Post
            In the past 24 hours I received so many requests to give interviews ( and I would have loved to have done so) but this was impossible due hospital treatment. I have however been able to listen to the various interviews throughout the day and I am simply shocked at the way in which the some media stories are making it appear that debtors will REALLY be protected from 'aggressive bailiffs'. Apparently this is because under the new regulations bailiffs cannot:

            enter a home where only a child is present:

            visit the property late at night

            remove a cooker or fridge.

            I have been dealing with bailiff queries for many years and I have never come across ONE case yet where a bailiff removed a cooker or fridge and neither have I ever come across a case yet where a bailiff entered a property where only a child was present !!!
            Indeed, as already mentioned in post 3 these are NOT changes. They are doing a PR campaign. There are some amendments to be made, and the MOJ is aware of mistakes in some of their legislation and will be issuing correction notes. They confirmed this over the phone only yesterday.

            They want advice put up by sites to be kept simple and not full of links. From that perspective, LB have covered the bare essentials and have missed huge sections like recovery of commercial debt for the time being (CRAR). Links are only to back up what has been said and to the broad legislation which most will not read. At the end of the day, we have to work with the legislation as it is though, as that is what EA's will be doing.

            Incidentally, there has been a significant increase in the number of AOE's / AOB's recently.
            Last edited by BeagleyBailiff; 5th April 2014, 11:52:AM.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: What Are the Main Bailiff Changes from April 6th? Part Three

              Call me naive, assume that I live in cloud-coockoo-land and that when I feed my porkers I attach their troff to a mongolfiere, but.....

              The first job of an Enforcement Agent is to sort the debtors into two categories, the can't payers and the won't payers.

              Once established this huge difference it is up to the EA to decide the next course of action.

              Should a can't payer be exempt from enforcement action? Should a wont payer be enforced upon, no mtter what? Let's look at a couple of (not so much) hypotethical examples.

              Situation A

              One could be a can't payer because after having managed a branch of Barklloyds Building Society for year was found with his fingers in the till, hence the fine which remains unpaid.

              No job, no ESA (dismissed for gross misconduct) and, as with most of us, no saving, despite the huge salary, because of buying espensive holidays, expensive clothes and shoes, and living on a diet of smoked salmon, caviar (both good as high on omega 3 oils) and champagne (drunk in moderaton it's OK).

              On the drive there is a newish Jaguar which belongs to him, it's not on finance, but because of necessary cutbacks in the family budget is the only car in the family and it's mainly used by his wife who is a District Nurse and without the car she can not perform her duties as effectively as.

              The EA seizes the car and since there is no cash coming forth it is removed and sold at auction, forcing the ex-bank manager's wife to do her rounds on a bycicle....not such a bad outcome, as she needed the exercise anyhow.

              Was the EA acting beyond guidelines, but not quite illegally?

              Situation B

              One could be a won't payer because they choose to spend their disposable income on booze rather than pay the agreed £10 per week to the Court after they were convicted for drinking and driving.

              Since losing the driving licence the debtor sold the car and catches the bus to work. He works in a small factory situated just behind a Morrisbury Supermarket, and every day, before catching the bus home he buys there his daily bottle of Bacardi and a small can of coke.

              Having been on low wages all of his life, his home, which is a council house, is quite well decorated but modestly furnished, with nothing of great value.

              The outstanding amount he has with the Court is £950, who issued a Warrant of control.

              The factory worker did not respond to the letter from the Enforcement Agency, who added £75 for the pleasure, so after 7 clear working days they send out the EA to enforce the warrant adding a further £235 to the process.

              Factory worker now owes £1,270.

              When the EA arrives factory worker lets him in, offering a large Bacardi with a splash of coke to the EA, who politely refuses, and after a brief coversation EA leaves without having taken an inventory and returns the Warrant to Court stating that he found nothing to take control of, but advising the Court to take suitable further action against the factory worker who clearly prefers to risk his health by drinking a bottle of rum a day rather than pay the £10pw agreed in the first instance when he was convicted and fined for drink driving.

              Has the EA acted fairly or overstepped the mark by advising the Court on a course of action?

              Answers can be sent to me on the back of a £20 note.
              The Black rat (Rattus rattus) is a common (hence the accusation of being Pleb) long-tailed rodent of the genus Rattus (rats) in the subfamily Murinae (murine rodents). The species originated in tropical Asia and spread through the Near East in Roman times (another thing that we ought to thanks the Romans for, besides roads, aqueducts and public toilets) before reaching Europe by the 1st century and spreading with Europeans across the world.

              A mutation of the beast now comes black leather clad, riding a motorcycle that looks like a battenbergh cake on wheels.

              A skilled predator, totally ruthless with it's prey, but also known to be extremely generous in doling out tickes that can provide points for motorists who want to downsize from mechanically propelled vehicles to bycicles.



              It's a dirty job, but someone got to do it!

              My opinions are free to anyone who wishes to make them theirs, but please be advised that my opinions might change without warning once more true facts are ascertained

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: What Are the Main Bailiff Changes from April 6th? Part Three

                I am unsure about the relevance of the initial comments on a professional forum. The rest is all explained in the stickies. Enforcement will take place for people who have not paid what they should have. Fees will be charged accordingly. The new standards will cover other relevant issues - please refer to link.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: What Are the Main Bailiff Changes from April 6th? Part Three

                  Originally posted by Milo View Post
                  In the past 24 hours I received so many requests to give interviews ( and I would have loved to have done so) but this was impossible due hospital treatment. I have however been able to listen to the various interviews throughout the day and I am simply shocked at the way in which the some media stories are making it appear that debtors will REALLY be protected from 'aggressive bailiffs'. Apparently this is because under the new regulations bailiffs cannot:
                  enter a home where only a child is present:
                  visit the property late at night
                  remove a cooker or fridge.
                  I have been dealing with bailiff queries for many years and I have never come across ONE case yet where a bailiff removed a cooker or fridge and neither have I ever come across a case yet where a bailiff entered a property where only a child was present !!!
                  On the programme "Can't Pay ? We'll Take it Away" one particular Bailiff called at a house where there was only a child present and although he didn't enter the house, he did request the keys to a car parked on the property, which the child proceeded to find and then give to the Bailiff. Which in my mind is just as bad, fortunately this particular Bailiff has since been suspended and has lost his licence.
                  A large majority of Bailiffs do not know what their powers are or ignore that fact and many make threats of one kind or another which is against their code of conduct.

                  Comment

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