Bailiffs turned up unexpectedly and ambushed you


The address on the warrant of control is not your current address[1] which proves the bailiff has traced you[2] then ambushed you.[3]

The bailiff attended without giving a Notice of Enforcement.[3]

You may have a historic unpaid court fine which has been revived by the Historic Debts Team.[4]

You can find out whether the bailiff traced you by calling HM Court Service on 0300 123 9252 or email historicdebt.contactcentre@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk and see if the security check trumps up the postcode for a different address.

You can make the bailiff give evidence that he kept a record of the time the Notice of Enforcement entered the postal system to the address the bailiff attended.[5]


Ask the bailiff to show evidence of the time the Notice of Enforcement entered the postal system.[6]

Template Letter

Send the letter to the bailiff company and get a certificate of posting from the post office.

Give a copy of the letter to the bailiff company by email and make a screenshot of the sent email capturing the time you gave it.

Send a copy of the letter by text message to the bailiff to his mobile and make a screenshot of the sent text message to record the time you gave it.

Keep all screenshots for your file.



[1] Section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978
[2] Contrary to Paragraph 12 of the Taking Control of Goods: National Standards April 2014
[3] Contrary to Paragraph 7.1 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[4] About HM Court Service Historic Debts Team
[5] Paragraph 7.1 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
[6] Paragraph 7.3 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007