At Stop the Bailiffs, our work is grounded in the belief that access to justice must not be limited to those with legal training or substantial financial means. We assist individuals in contesting enforcement action where bailiffs have acted improperly, and we do so with an emphasis on clarity, legality, and fairness. Our services are specifically designed for those who find themselves on the receiving end of enforcement measures that often lack proper legal foundation or procedural compliance.
Our role commences once enforcement has taken place. At that point, we begin a thorough investigation into the origins of the debt and examine, with legal precision, the conduct of the enforcement agents involved. Each case is reviewed against the standards imposed by statute, including the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and its associated regulations, in particular the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013. We scrutinise whether there has been compliance with the procedural requirements, such as the provision of a valid notice of enforcement under Regulation 7, the validity of the warrant, and whether the debtor’s goods are exempt pursuant to paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 12 to the 2007 Act.
Our strategic approach does not rely on abstract legalism. We translate the relevant law and procedure into comprehensible terms so that our clients can follow the process and assert their rights without being overwhelmed by legal complexity. The plain-speaking nature of our advice does not dilute its legal force. Instead, it enables individuals to engage confidently with enforcement processes and, where appropriate, to challenge them through proper legal channels.
It remains a regrettable feature of the current system that many debtors are left unrepresented or misadvised, particularly by public advice agencies that are overstretched and often unfamiliar with the nuanced statutory framework that governs enforcement law. Courts themselves, though bound by the overriding objective under Civil Procedure Rule 1.1 to deal with cases justly and at proportionate cost, have on occasion overlooked the need to ensure procedural fairness where enforcement agents have overstepped their lawful authority.
We hold courts and bailiffs to account by invoking established legal principles and precedent. Our analysis frequently draws on authorities such as Blacks v United Kingdom (Application No. 39669/98) and Bragg v Oceanus Mutual [1982] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 132, alongside domestic principles of procedural fairness and proportionality. The remedy may include applications under CPR 85 to assert third-party claims to goods, or damages under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 where unlawful seizure has taken place. In suitable cases, we support our clients in pursuing redress through the County Court or in applications to set aside the enforcement mechanism itself.
We have made it our mission to provide high-quality legal support at a fraction of the cost typically charged by solicitors. We do not operate on a speculative or diluted basis. Rather, our low fixed-fee model, starting from £49, allows individuals to obtain expert analysis and action at a cost that respects their financial vulnerability. Unlike many solicitors who may charge several hundred pounds simply to review papers, and often without specialist knowledge of enforcement law, our team offers both expertise and accessibility.
We also equip the public with detailed, legally grounded guidance through our articles and casework publications. These materials are not mere commentary. They are crafted with the same care and rigour that underpins our client work, intended to demystify the law and help individuals advocate for themselves when formal representation is out of reach.
The service we provide complements the court’s obligation to deliver justice in accordance with the overriding objective. By empowering litigants in person and exposing non-compliance where it arises, we assist the judiciary in ensuring that enforcement is carried out within the bounds of the law, with due regard to proportionality, fairness, and transparency.
In short, we offer a practical and principled route for individuals to obtain redress where enforcement action has strayed beyond what the law permits. Through clear advice, detailed legal analysis, and strategic support, we remain committed to securing just outcomes for those who might otherwise be ignored or excluded by the formal legal system.
Jason Bennison
[1] Civil Procedure Rule 1.1(2)(d)
[2] Civil Procedure Rule 1.3
[3] Civil Procedure Rule 1.1
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