BBC Moneybox - Have Your Say: Debt collection

fermi

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/moneybox/7956089.stm

Have Your Say: Debt collection

As the number of people with serious debts continues to rise, the powers given to bailiffs and their conduct when recovering money is likely to come under greater scrutiny.

The government has announced bailiffs will not be given greater powers to force entry but also said a scheme to regulate the sector will not begin for another three years

Are you are a creditor who has had problems recovering money?

Do you think bailiffs should have greater powers to recover debt?

Or have you struggled with debt yourself and been visited by a bailiff?

Tell us your experiences.

lemma1968

Like most things in life, you get good bailiffs and bad bailiffs.

Years ago my parents were in HUGE amounts of debt. They were regularly being visited by bailiffs, they signed walking possession warrants so regularly i would come home and find sofas gone, whole floors cleared (it was a business as well, a nursing home). The bailiff was such a frequent visitor that he would meet up with my father for a drink in the pub.

He was doing his job but did it in a human fashion. Eventually, the business went completely under, my folks lost everything and they eventually had a suspended possession order on the house executed. The same bailiff attended, and he and my father shook hands as the keys were handed over.

Its rare, but it happens. This was about 15 years ago.

I have had a visit from a bailiff for VAT and tax sometime ago. They would post a note trough the letterbox, and it always prompted me to ring the creditor and sort something out.

I am not sure about new powers for bailiffs. I am self employed but my main debtors are various government bodies. Generally, there is knack all i can do to get them to pay me quicker (and they take months), so i am behind in tax etc. I don't think i would want the to have more powers. For me it would not be a level playing field.

Sorry for the long post.