GOVERNMENT TODAY CONFIRMED: Nearly half all bailiff's are UNCERTIFICATED

[Herbie]

You will see from my earlier posts that I have written a number of times that there are just 1,410 Certifcated Bailiff's. I was slightly out with this figure as confirmed by the following:


HARRIET HARMAN MP HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT TODAY:


The regulatory impact assessment for the Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Bill published on 30 January 2007 estimates that there are 1,200 uncertificated bailiffs.

As at 30 March 2007 the Register of Certificated Bailiffs maintained by HMCS currently lists 1,482 certificated bailiffs. There should be no bailiffs doing work requiring certification who do not hold a current certificate.


NB: This confirms that nearly HALF OF ALL BAILIFFS ARE UNCERTIFICATED. This is an utter scandal.

[helpful1]

At this moment certification is the only real way of keeping a track of bailiffs on the road when attending court the judge issuing the bailiffs ticket SHOULD make sure that the bailiff is competent and understands the laws of rent and distress this i can assure you does not happen and as long as the relevent paperwork is sent in with the application the judge will grant the certificate and this moment without ever questioning the bailifds knowledge Phililps bailiffs are sending every body for their certificate with the vast majority never actually doing any bailiff work non of them have even been given the laws of rent and distress to read up on or had any bailiff training
Philips are just beating the system so then can used inexperienced people to act on there warrants HMCS who Philips have 2 contracts for will soon have bailiffs with no training or experience knocking on doors BUT have a BAILIFFS CERTIFICATE

THIS CAN NOT GO ON

[repoman]

Helpful1.

Not always the case but I hear what you say. I think it is largely down to the Judge and how much knowledge they have of bailiff law. Certainly when I obtained my certificate last month the Judge I went before took around half an hour to consider my application and ask me various questions, and talking about his interpretation of bailiff law. Certainly he gave me the impression and without mentioning names advised me of two occasions where he has revoked certificates.

Having said that I like you share the view that there needs to be lots of training and better regulation - see my earlier posts regarding a friend of mine who had a visit from Ross & Roberts!

RM

[helpful1]

i have been certificated for 13 years and have worked for several companies and seen bailiffs come and go and hand on my heart i can not name 1 that has been questioned by a judge all hearings are the first of the day and are followed by bigger cases all the judge wants to do is see the paperwork see the bailiff and sign the certificate
Philips as i said are just putting everyone in for their certificates due to the fact the judge wont ask a single question and this is from Newcastle to Lincoln to Birmingham these employees have had no training and some have never even collected a payment but this will allow them to enforce HMCS fines

[repoman]

Perhaps I'll renew my certificate in the North next year!!! I think it's just a matter of luck as to which Judge you get!!! And I probably was not helped by the fact that the trial that was scheduled after my application hearing was settled before the hearing so the Judge had nothing after my application!!!!

Nevertheless, I was glad he did ask questions and gave me the opportunity to show I did know what I was on about!!!

RM

[seanamarts]

Are there not bailiffs out there who do act within the law angry at those who are not, surely these rogue bailiff /bailiff companies and such like, giving these dare i say good guys a bad name

[setmefree]

Originally Posted by seanamarts

Are there not bailiffs out there who do act within the law angry at those who are not, surely these rogue bailiff /bailiff companies and such like, giving these dare i say good guys a bad name

I agree completely..
Also if the Bailiff companies are responsible for their Bailiffs, then there should she be a clause in their contracts from the local authorities,i.e. if you send a Bailiff to collect Council or PCN's and they are found to be not Certificated,which they are required to be, they should be sacked straight away, and if 5 Bailiff's are reported for the same offence from the same company, the contract should be withdrawn, and the Bailiff firm fined substancially.

[lipupfatty]

I heard philips are greatly understaffed bailiff wise and they are not bothered about certificating bailiffs as they dont stay long enough

[The Watcher]

Originally Posted by setmefree

I agree completely..
Also if the Bailiff companies are responsible for their Bailiffs, then there should she be a clause in their contracts from the local authorities,i.e. if you send a Bailiff to collect Council or PCN's and they are found to be not Certificated,which they are required to be, they should be sacked straight away, and if 5 Bailiff's are reported for the same offence from the same company, the contract should be withdrawn, and the Bailiff firm fined substancially.

The Councils will not do this as they KNOW that the bailiff firms break the law and KNOW that any alternative will also do the same thing !

[setmefree]

Originally Posted by The Watcher

The Councils will not do this as they KNOW that the bailiff firms break the law and KNOW that any alternative will also do the same thing !

well that's certainly a true answer,we are now living in a corrupt society and those in authority exploit it more and more every day.

[helpful1]

Originally Posted by lipupfatty

I heard philips are greatly understaffed bailiff wise and they are not bothered about certificating bailiffs as they dont stay long enough

the HMCS contract says a bailiff company must have a Bailiff certificated within 6 months of employment and yes Philips have had a reputation for years of a high turn over of staff due to the way they get treated by senior management and the directors of the company and i believe alot of their experinced bailiffs are leaving to join one of their major competitors the Bailiffs at Philips are on "comission" only no vans or anything provided which puts pressure on them to collect payments which in turn puts them in a position where they are probably putting too much pressure on the people they are calling at they have told there 1st call bailiffs who are technically trainiees that if they do not get ONE payment every day they will be sacked how can you work like that
I know this site has a lot of anti bailiffs on but this job can be done right and fare
To name and shame by bailiffs is a good idea just dont know how maybe everyone should go to their local county court and if anyone form Philips is up for their certification put a letter in writing questioning the experince of the person concerned and hope the judge asks the right questions and if he thinks they are not suitable not grant it

[whatamuppet]

just to throw a spanner in the works......

the law states a bailiff must be certificated to levy distress.

therefore if a bailiff is not certificates he can still visit to obtain payment/ setup installments etc, even if he does not have his certificate...

what's your views??

[helpful1]

you are correct for council tax etc but not for HMCS fines

[SOMEFRIENDLYUK]

hi folowing the tread and wondering if anyone knows about high court enforcement officers -does anyone know where you can get a up to date definitive list officers. i have my reasons for asking and i'm going to put a new thread on sometime when i have sorted some facts. I found a list on the dept of constitutional affairs but its dated jan 07 -i ve tried the dcf, the associasion of high court enforcement officers and trawled the net but i can't seem to find out where i can get an answer.
any help would be much appreciated and wil become clear when i post a new thread -thanks all

[Herbie]

Wrong answer. Sorry