Bailiff AdviceUK consumer guidance
Principal scope: England and Wales
Scotland and Northern Ireland use different procedures
HomeUrgent Steps During an Enforcement Attendance

Civil enforcement information

Urgent Steps During an Enforcement Attendance

Remain calm. Verify who is present, why they are there and what authority they rely on. Do not use physical force, damage equipment or make dishonest statements.

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Immediate sequence

  1. Ask the person to show identification, the company name, the creditor, a contact number and a detailed balance. Ask for the information through the letterbox or at a window if you do not open the door.
  2. Check whether the person is a certificated enforcement agent, a High Court enforcement agent, a County Court bailiff or another officer. Use the official register or contact the relevant court where appropriate.
  3. Keep a contemporaneous record of names, times, words used, vehicles, documents, photographs, body-worn camera references and any goods identified.
  4. Do not sign a document you have not read and understood. Do not dispose of or conceal goods that have already been lawfully taken into control.
  5. If the debt, address, identity, ownership or vulnerability position is disputed, say so clearly and provide concise genuine evidence. Avoid unnecessary admissions.
  6. If a vehicle is being immobilised or goods are being removed, obtain urgent advice about ownership, exemption, CPR Part 85, payment, creditor contact and any application that may be required.
  7. If there is an immediate threat of violence or crime, contact the police. Do not assume that police attendance will decide a civil dispute about fees, title or the validity of enforcement.

Door and entry

You usually do not have to open the door or let an enforcement agent into a home. Entry powers differ by debt, premises and procedural history. Some powers permit reasonable force in defined circumstances, including certain criminal fines and tax debts. Re-entry after goods have been taken into control is a separate issue. Read the entry guide before relying on a general slogan.

What not to do

  1. Do not assault, threaten, detain or physically obstruct the visitor.
  2. Do not damage a clamp, lock, vehicle or enforcement notice.
  3. Do not fabricate receipts, ownership documents, leases, vulnerability evidence or court statements.
  4. Do not assume that hiding a vehicle, changing registration details or transferring assets defeats lawful control.
  5. Do not miss a court, payment or eviction deadline while waiting for a response from this website.

Sources

  1. GOV.UK: bailiff powers when they visit your home
  2. Certificated Enforcement Agent Register
  3. Schedule 12, Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
  4. Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013

Review status

Legal content reviewed against the sources identified on this page on 27 July 2026. The next review is due on 27 July 2028.