Council Tax Enforcement Bailiff Compliance Checklist



You did not get a final notice or a reminder.[1][2]

You didn't get a Notice of Enforcement.[3]

Bailiffs ambushed you.[3]

The bailiff attended less than seven days from the Notice of Enforcement.[4]

You are vulnerable.[5][6]

Bailiffs are sending threatening letters about a debt owed by someone else?.

Bailiffs took money from you for someone else's debt.

You paid or tendered the council tax arrears to the council who refused it.[7][8][9]

You dispute the council tax demanded.[10][11]

You recently moved.[12]

You want the council to write off your council tax arrears.[13]

You are claiming an out-of-work benefit.[14]

You want more time to pay the council tax arrears.[15]

You are getting nuisance SMS text messages from bailiffs.[16][17]

You are living or working abroad when bailiffs called.[18]

You telephoned a bailiff company, get a copy of the call recordings[19]

A document was left hanging out of your letterbox or communal doorway.[20][21]

The council fobbed you off with "contact the bailiffs".[22]

The bailiff attended before 6am or after 9pm.[23]

The bailiff attended with a TV crew.[24]

The bailiff jammed his foot into the door.[25][26]

The bailiff applied force to the door after you opened it.[27]

The bailiff was wearing a body-worn camera.[28[[29]

The bailiff said he can arrest you.[30]

The bailiff threatened you with a locksmith.[31][32][33]

The bailiff broke into your home.[34]

The bailiff said he is an 'officer'.[35][67]

You paid the council tax but the bailiff is pestering you about his fees.[36][37][38][39]

Your name is spelled wrong on the warrant or other document.[40]

Your address on the liability order or other bailiff document is wrong.[41]

The bailiff called about council tax over 12 months old.[42]

The bailiff called about council tax over six years old.[43]

The bailiff called about council tax owed by someone else.[44]

The bailiff forced you to pay someone else's council tax.[45]

You are students or sharers in a shared property or HMO.[46][47]

Money paid to bailiffs has gone missing.[48][49]

You have started new employment, get an attachment of earnings.[50][51]

You rather go to prison.[52]

You are going bankrupt.[53]

The bailiff has no enforcement certificate.[54]

The bailiff refused to show his ID or the Liability Order.[55][56]

The bailiff said he has a 'warrant'.[57][58]

The bailiff charged the enforcement stage fee more than once..[59]

The fees look too high.[60]

The bailiff charged a Sale Stage Fee.[61]

The bailiff charged a card processing fee.[62]

The bailiff refused to explain his fees and charges.[63]

The bailiff wrote on a document you paid voluntarily.[64]

The council charged £100+ for the Liability Order (reclaim it).[65]

A bailiff is pestering about council owed by a housemate

The bailiff made a controlled goods agreement.[68]

The bailiff has you up a creek, deploy Pay & Reclaim.[69][70]

The bailiff took photographs of jewellery, valuables documents or vehicle.[71]

The bailiff snatched car keys or knocked a phone out of your hand.[72]

The bailiff pocketed valuables, or your house or car keys.[71]

The bailiff clamped vehicle on hire-purchase, PCP or leased.[73][74][75][76][77][78]

Bailiff clamped or took your car from someone else's parking bay or land.[79][80]

The bailiff clamped or towed your vehicle for someone else's debt.[81][82]

The bailiffs clamped your vehicle while being used by someone.[83]

The Bailiff took your car without giving a statutory notice.[86][87]

The bailiff took your vehicle to a pound a long way away.[88]

You were charged high storage fees after towing your vehicle.[89][90]

The bailiff damaged your vehicle.[91][92][93][94]

The bailiff took control of your exempt vehicle or goods.[95][96]

The Bailiff clamped more than one vehicle (excessive levy).[97]

The bailiff sold your car less than 7 clear days after giving a Notice of Sale.

The bailiff sold your car or van without giving a valuation.[98][99]

The bailiff sold your car less than 7 days after taking it.[100]

The bailiff sold your car without giving a Notice of Sale.[101][102]

The bailiff sold your vehicle for less than £1,350.[103]

The bailiff was wearing a police-like attire.[104]

The Bailiff flashed a police-like warrant card or badge.[105]

The bailiff called the police, or pretended to call the police.[106]

The bailiff committed a crime in front of the police.[107]

The police arrested you without charging you with an offence.[108]

The police threatened to arrest you, or Threatened to cuff or detain you.[77][78]

The police arrested you for obstructing a bailiff.[109]

The police arrested you for interfering with controlled goods.[110]

The bailiff injured or assaulted you.[111][112]

The bailiff trashed your premises or ransacked your home.

The bailiff damaged your reputation.[113]

You want to complain about a bailiff.[114]

You want to prosecute a bailiff.[115][116]

You want to approach the media about your bailiff story.



[1] Regulation 23(1)(a) of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992
[2] Regulation 33(1) of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992
[3] Paragraph 7.1 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[4] Regulation 6(1) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[5] Regulation 10(1) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[6] Paragraph 77 of the Taking Control of Goods: National Standards April 2014
[7] Paragraph 17(1)(b) of Schedule 4 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992
[8] Paragraph 6(3)(c) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[9] Regulation 17 of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014
[10] Section 6(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992
[11] Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992
[12] Section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978
[13] Section 13A(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992
[14] Regulation 2 of the Council Tax (Deductions from Income Support) Regulations 1993
[15] Paragraph 24 of the Taking Control of Goods: National Standards, April 2014
[16] Section 1(a)(ii) of the Malicious Communications Act 1988
[17] Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003
[18] Section 147 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[19] Section 45 of the Data Protection Act 2018
[20] Regulation 15(5)(b) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[21] Vulnerable to burglary: Section 9 of the Theft Act 1968
[22] Regulation 17 of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014
[23] Regulation 13(1) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[24] Section 168 of the Data Protection Act 2018
[25] Paragraph 18A(1)(d) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[26] Rai & Rai v Birmingham City Council [1993] (unreported)
[27] Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988
[28] Section 45 of the Data Protection Act 2018
[29] May become compulsory See latest news
[30] Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006
[31] Paragraph 18A(1)(d) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[32] Section 3 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971
[33] Section 25 of the Theft Act 1968
[34] Section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971
[35] Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006
[36] Regulation 3 of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014
[37] Regulation 17(1) of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014
[38] Paragraph 6(3) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[39] Paragraph 31 of the Taking Control of Goods National Standards, 6 April 2014
[40] Regulation 2(3) of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 See Explanatory Note
[41] Section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978
[42] Regulation 9(1) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[43] Section 9 of the Limitation Act 1980
[44] Regulation 10(1) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[45] Section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006
[46] Section 6(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992
[47] Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004
[48] Section 1 of the Theft Act 2006
[49] Section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006
[50] Regulation 37 of the The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992
[51] Regulation 38 of the The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992
[52] Regulation 47 of the The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992
[53] Regulation 49 of the The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992
[54] Section 63(6) of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[55] Paragraph 26(1)(a) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[56] Paragraph 26(1)(b) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[57] Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006
[58] Section 7 of the Fraud Act 2006
[59] Regulation 11 of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014
[60] Civil Procedure Rule 84.16
[61] Regulation 5(1)(c) of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014
[62] Regulation 4 of the Consumer Rights (Payment Surcharges) Regulations 2012
[63] Civil Procedure Rule 84.16
[64] Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006
[65] Schedule 1(5)(5.1) of the Magistrates' Courts Fees Order 2008
[66] Section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006
[67] Section 63 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[68] Regulation 15 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[69] Paragraph 6(3)(a) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[70] Regulation 17 of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014
[71] Potential victim: Section 9 of the Theft Act 1968
[72] Regulation 10(2) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[73] Paragraph 10 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[74] Section 4 of the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 2007
[75] Paragraph 66 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[76] Chitty on Contracts (32 ed.) ss39-307
[77] Mulwanyi v London Borough of Croydon and Newlyn Plc, Central London County Court, 7 Apr 2017
[78] Tandea v Marston Group Limited, Central London County Court, Jan 2020
[79] Paragraph 14(6) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[80] Paragraph 15 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[81] Paragraph 10 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[82] Civil Procedure Rule 85.4
[83] Regulations 10(2) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[84] Paragraph 13(1)(c) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[85] Regulation 18 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[86] Regulation 32 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[87] Regulation 33 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[88] Regulation 19 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[89] Regulation 8 of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014
[90] Civil Procedure Rule 84.16
[91] Paragraph 13(2) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[92] Paragraph 35 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[93] Regulation 34 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[94] Section 1 of the Criminal Damage Act 1971
[95] Regulation 4(1)(a) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[96] Civil Procedure Rule 85.8
[97] Paragraph 12 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[98] Paragraph 36 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[99] Regulation 35 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[100] Regulation 38 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[101] Paragraph 40 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[102] Regulation 37-40 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[103] Regulation 4(1)(a) of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[104] Section 90(2) of the Police Act 1996
[105] Section 90(3) of the Police Act 1996
[106] Section 45 of the Data Protection Act 2018
[107] Section 26(6)(a) of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
[108] Section 26(1) of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
[109] Paragraph 68(1) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[110] Paragraph 68(2) of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[111] Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988
[112] Section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861
[113] Section 1 of the Defamation Act 2013
[114] Regulation 9 of the Certification of Enforcement Agents Regulations 2014
[115] Section 1 of the Magistrates Courts Act 1980
[116] Part 7 Criminal Procedure Rules