Bailiffs will soon have the right to resume visits to homes following an enforced break during the coronavirus lockdown.
Energy customers are the first group that could face bailiffs if they're behind on bills after regulator Ofgem approved the resumption work by bailiffs to collect overdue bills and fines.
Bailiff visits across a range of industries have been prevented from going to homes during the coronavirus lockdown, one of a range of measures to try to help people cope with the economic upheaval caused by the pandemic.
Government legislation indicates that the ban on physical visits by bailiffs will come to an end on August 23.
It comes as charities across the country warn of a wave of debt and other problems hitting the public.
Many people have been on furlough or have lost income due to the pandemic and there are fears that more families will end up behind on their bills.
What should you do if a bailiff comes to your home?
The Citizen's Advice Bureau gives extensive advice on how to deal with bailiffs.
There are a range of ways that bailiffs are likely to communicate with you, such as by letter, meaning that you may well get the chance to negotiate with them or speak to them before a visit.
However, if they do come to your home, there are a number of things to remember.
- Bailiffs are only allowed to try to come into your home between 6am and 9pm, they can not come at other times
- You should not let them in - speak to them through the door or over the phone
- Close and lock all entry points to your home such as doors and windows - bailiffs are allowed to enter your home through an unlocked doors
- The bailiff may be able to force entry for certain types of debt. If this is the case, they will do this by asking a locksmith to open the door. The Citizen's Advice Bureau says this is highly unlikely to happen
- If you feel physically threatened by a bailiff, call 999 immediately
For more advice on dealing with bailiffs visit Citizen's Advice Bureau
