bailiffs right to use locksmith?

fizzgalore

Could someone put me straight on something? A bailiff let himself into my house with the police, he'd seen me leave the property so knew there wouldnt be a breach of peace. He'd never stepped foot in my door before then. He got in house and used my phone to call me to say he was inside.

I checked his name to check if he was registered - he was not.

Do bailiffs have these rights?

spacey2012

A bailiff can only act with a valid court order, I would suggest you explore what court order or warrant they claimed to hold.

maninthestreet

http://www.stopthebailiff.org.uk/bailiff-advice.html

peter_the_piper

Bailiffeadviceonline.co.uk might help

HO87

There are effectively two types of bailiffs. Certificated bailiffs who are registered (usually) at their local county court (You can search for the guy here). Such bailiffs are privately employed.

Then there are county court bailiffs who are employees of the court. There is not publicly accessible register of them but a check with your local court will confirm whether the person concerned is genuine or otherwise.

Although they would run a mile from the title of bailiff the truth is that they have picked up where bailiffs have left off and Average Joe would continue to describe them as bailiffs - and that is High Court Enforcement Officers. (You can download a national list of them - in PDF format - here).

If he is not registered (certificated) then he is likely to be a county court bailiff or an HCEO. I would be amazed if the police did not assure themselves that the guy was kosher and had the necessary paperwork i.e. walking possession/warrant etc.

iolanthe07

If he was accompanied by a police officer, he would almost certainly have had a warrant granted by a court to enter your premises.

fizzgalore

He had neither - he was not on bailiff register, and claimed he did not need to provide original warrant. The police informed me they were called so that 'breach of peace' was not broken and did not check out before coming as they were calling station and courts to establish if a warrant existed to use a locksmtih, on my insistence. Bailiff entered with police when I was absent from property.

Coupon-mad

fizzgalore wrote: »

He had neither - he was not on bailiff register, and claimed he did not need to provide original warrant. The police informed me they were called so that 'breach of peace' was not broken and did not check out before coming as they were calling station and courts to establish if a warrant existed to use a locksmtih, on my insistence. Bailiff entered with police when I was absent from property.

Post about this on bailiffadviceonline if you want expert advice. We know that Sheila on that website is very helpful and her advice is second to none regarding what bailiffs can and can't do. Costs £10 to get Sheila's advice but we only have good reports about it.