Sub Navigation

• About Bailiff’s Fees
• How much will the Bailiff charge me?
• Can the Bailiff charge me VAT?
• Example of Bailiff’s Fees for unpaid PCN’s
• Example of Bailiff Fees for arrears of Council Tax

Bailiff Offences

• What is illegal distress?
• What is irregular distress?
• What is excessive distress?
• Excessive overcharging.

Complaining about the fees.

• How to complain about the Bailiff fees
• Detailed Assessment of the Bailiff Fees.

Where to complain.

• Complaining to the Court about a Certificated Bailiff.
• Complaining to the Bailiff’s Professional Associations
• Complaining to the Local Authority
• Complaining to the Office of Fair Trading.
  

Can the bailiff charge me VAT?

A bailiff can only charge VAT on his fees when he is collecting certain debts. From September 1994, he is not allowed by law, to charge VAT on his enforcement fees when collecting:

• Council Tax
• Business Rates
• Magistrates Court Distress Warrants.
• Child Support arrears.
• Income Tax.

From September 1998, the bailiff is allowed to charge VAT on his fees for all Road Traffic Debts, unpaid Rent Arrears, Customs & Excise and all other types of distress.

It is vital that you obtain a receipt for all payments that you make to the bailiff, and he must by law provide a breakdown of how the fees have been calculated.