How long does it take for the bailiff to pay after collecting from my debtors?

14 days

Bailiff companies have a policy to hold money collected from debtors for a period of 14 days.

This is to protect them from the effects of chargebacks by debtors reclaiming money taken by payment card or contacting their bank and reversing a bank transfer if they show the transfer was made under duress or under the pain of an impending repercussion.

The debtor may not have been aware he is a debtor,^[1][2][3] or he may have a right to appeal the debt, and he has a right to apply to the court to set aside the enforcement power by completing a form N244 and a witness statement, or he may apply to vary the original order by completing a means enquiry form.^[4]

If the debtor applies to the court to stay the enforcement power, the bailiff company will continue to hold the money until further order by the court.

If the debtor makes no application to the court, or does not reverse the money transfer through his bank, the bailiff company will pay out the money in about 14 days.

If a debtor acts after paying the money to you, the bailiff company may ask you to return the money to them pending further order by the court.

^{[1] Civil Procedure Rule 83.7(1)
[2] Civil Procedure Rule 23.10
[3] See Apply to stay the writ and set aside the judgment
[4] Civil Procedure Rule 83.7(4)}