A bailiff may be defined as a person that has been authorized by the court of law to collect the loan, council tax or other such amount that any citizen has failed to pay the same to the company, person or the council. The citizens are at liberty to consult the council tax advisors in terms of the actions of the bailiffs and repayment of taxes or loans.
The Bailiffs may be classified into the following types as per the different work expected from them.
a. County Court Bailiffs
These bailiffs come under the Civil Service rules as regards their monitoring, appraisal and recruitment. They work under the Court Manager and are answerable to the district judge for their duties and other actions. They have to carry out the Country Court’s orders with regard to Warrant of Possession, Warrant of Execution or Warrant for Return of Goods. Their work includes Warrants of Committal and personal service of the documents of the court.
b. Certified Bailiffs
The County Court Judge issues them the certificate that is valid for two years. They are treated as representatives of the court as they work under it. These bailiffs are authorized to process council tax, parking fines and distress for rent etc on behalf of the court.
c. Private Bailiffs
These bailiffs are employed by the private sector companies. They do not come under the competence and conduct of the state authorities. They work under the direct control of their employers that formulate their service conditions. Candidly, they are not the court’s officers even though they have to enforce the court orders. It is all between the creditor and the bailiff as to what type of debt is to be processed by them.
d . Distrainors
Certain sections of civil enforcement require the persons to implement distress for particular type of debts, e.g. Collector of Taxes Right for levying distress for unpaid tax and NIC. The civil servants under the Inland Revenue also work under the same monitoring, appraisal and recruitment standards like that of the County Court Bailiffs. Complaints if any can be lodged with the Officer in Charge and in case of any problem Regional Offices, M.P.s or the Revenue Adjudicator could be contacted.
e. Sheriffs or the High Court Enforcement Officers
Sheriffs usually enforce the judgments of the High Courts. They are seen as the representatives of the court and are responsible to the judiciary. Any warrants exceeding £5,000 of the County Court are enforced by them.
f. Civilian Enforcement Officers
They are authorized to execute arrest warrants, commitment for non-payment of fines and other issues. Usually, they do not execute distress warrants. Local authorities sometimes employ the CEOs for execution of arrest warrants for the defaulters that fail to pay the local tax debts.
g. Approved Enforcement Agencies
Any private agency intending to work as AEA, i.e. Approved Enforcement Agency has to meet the requisite conditions of the Approval of Enforcement Agencies Regulations. The AEA employees are also authorized to serve the warrants like the CEOs in addition to the requirement that they may be asked to serve distress warrants too.
The citizens may consult the council tax advisors in the event of any problem with the bailiffs. For more information visit here www.counciltaxadvisors.co.uk