'Everyone struggling with debt should be treated with dignity and fairness': Money Wellness welcomes bailiff crackdown

If you're struggling with debt, dealing with bailiffs can be one of the most stressful experiences imaginable. New government plans aim to change that.

The government is introducing stronger regulation of private bailiffs in England and Wales, giving you greater protection if you're facing enforcement action and helping ensure you are treated fairly.

Right now, some people are being pushed into repayment arrangements that leave them unable to afford everyday essentials while trying to clear their debts. The new measures are designed to prevent this and improve standards across the enforcement sector.

What’s changing?

Under the new rules, private bailiffs will have to meet consistent professional standards.

To obtain or renew the certificate they need to work, bailiffs will be required to either:

• be accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB), or
• work for an enforcement firm that holds ECB accreditation.

You'll also have access to an independent complaints process if something goes wrong, giving you somewhere to turn if you believe you've been treated unfairly.

The aim is to improve accountability, raise standards and give you greater confidence that enforcement action is being carried out properly.

Why this matters

At Money Wellness, we regularly see the impact enforcement action can have on people who are already under inancial pressure.

In fact, 26% of the people we supported last year had been visited by a bailiff.

Most enforcement agents carry out an important job and operate responsibly. But, poor practice by a minority can have serious consequences. We've heard stories of people being pressured into repayment arrangements they simply can't afford, or facing intimidating behaviour at a time when they're already struggling.

When this happens, confidence in the entire sector suffers.

Stronger regulation should help protect financially vulnerable people while providing responsible enforcement firms with clear standards and expectations.

Regulation alone isn't enough

While these changes are a positive step, regulation is only part of the solution.

You need access to free debt advice before debts reach the enforcement stage. The earlier you get support, the more options you are likely to have.

Any repayment arrangement should also reflect what you can genuinely afford after covering essential living costs such as housing, food, energy and other household bills.

Debt enforcement should help you resolve your debts, not push you deeper into financial hardship.

The importance of early support

Our experience supporting people across the UK shows that financial problems rarely appear overnight. By the time bailiffs become involved, debt issues have often been building for months or even years.

That's why debt advice and debt enforcement need to work alongside each other.

You need to know where to turn for help before enforcement begins. And if enforcement does happen, you should be confident that you'll be treated fairly and that any repayment plan will be affordable.

We welcome the government's move towards greater oversight and stronger protections, and we will continue to campaign for fair treatment and better outcomes for people experiencing financial difficulty.

As Sebrina McCullough, our director of external affairs, said:

“This is welcome news from the government. Regulation of the enforcement sector is a huge step forward. Everyone struggling with debt should be treated with dignity and fairness, not pushed into repayment arrangements they can’t afford.

“Independent oversight of bailiffs and a proper complaints process give people somewhere to turn when things go wrong, something we - and the wider debt advice sector - have long called for. But regulation of bailiffs is only one part of the picture. We also need to make sure people can access free debt advice early, before problems escalate to enforcement, and that any repayment arrangement reflects what someone can genuinely afford after meeting their essential living costs.

“The ultimate measure of a good debt enforcement system should be whether it helps people resolve their debts without pushing them further into financial hardship. We look forward to seeing these changes deliver protections for people and families across the country.”