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Bailiffs: Enforcement of debt inquiry

Inquiry

The Committee are inquiring into the enforcement of debt by bailiffs (also known as enforcement agents) in England and Wales. The Committee wishes to understand the impact of the 2014 enforcement agent reforms introduced by the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, and whether improvements should be made.

Terms of Reference

The Justice Committee has agreed to carry out an inquiry into the enforcement of debt by bailiffs (also known as enforcement agents) in England and Wales.

The Committee will investigate the following topics:

  • What was the impact of the 2014 enforcement agent reforms introduced by the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007?
  • Why has there been an increase in complaints regarding enforcement agents?
  • Is the fee structure working to encourage enforcement agents and debtors to settle at an early stage and to minimise the financial impact on debtors?
  • Does the current system of self-regulation work as intended, and if not, should enforcement agents by regulated by an independent regulator?

The inquiry will focus on High Court and Civil Enforcement officers.

The Ministry of Justice is carrying out its own call for evidence into the 2014 enforcement agent reforms. Their call for evidence runs to 17 February 2019. In order to avoid duplication, the Justice Committee is not publishing a call for written evidence.

Further information

If you have questions about this inquiry please contact the inquiry manager, Fiona Hoban (hobanf@parliament.uk).

Reports, special reports and government responses

View all reports and responses
17th Report - Bailiffs: Enforcement of debt (Enhanced HTML)
Inquiry Bailiffs: Enforcement of debt inquiry
HC 1836
Report
Response to this report
Fifth Special Report - Bailiffs: Enforcement of debt: Government Response to the Committee’s Seventeenth Report of Session 2017–2019
HC 979
Special Report
17th Report - Bailiffs: Enforcement of debt
Inquiry Bailiffs: Enforcement of debt inquiry
HC 1836
Report

Oral evidence transcripts

View all oral evidence transcripts
26 February 2019
Inquiry Bailiffs: Enforcement of debt inquiry
Witnesses Carole Kenney, Customer Service and Performance Delivery Director, Phoenix, Tracey Stone, Director, JTR Collections Ltd, Andrew Wilson, Chair, High Court Enforcement Officers Association; Andrew Hobley, Assistant Ombudsman, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, John Kruse, Freelance Consultant and founder of The Campaign for Enforcement Reform, Barrie Minney, Chair, Local Authority Civil Enforcement Forum, David Platts, Head of ICT and Revenues, Stratford Upon Avon District Council
Oral Evidence
15 January 2019
Inquiry Bailiffs: Enforcement of debt inquiry
Witnesses Joanna Elson, Chief Executive, Money Advice Trust, Joe Lane, Policy Manager, Citizens Advice, Peter Tutton, Head of Policy, StepChange Debt CharityRussell Hamblin-Boone, Chief Executive, Civil Enforcement Association, Simon Jacobs, Partner, Jacobs
Oral Evidence
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (BFF0010)
The Campaign for Enforcement Reform (BFF0009)
Marston Holdings (BFF0008)

Contact us

  • Email: justicecom@parliament.uk
  • Phone: 020 7219 6684 (general enquiries) | 020 7219 3051 (media enquiries)
  • Address: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA