Different Types of bailiff

In a nutshell, a bailiff is someone authorised to collect a debt on behalf of a creditor (someone who is legally owed money). They may do this by asking for immediate payment of the debt, or by “taking control” of the debtor’s goods and selling those at auction to raise the money needed to repay the debt.

Certificated Enforcement Agents are the most common type of bailiffs. They are used to take control of goods and act on a warrant issued by the County Court for debts such as: rent arrears; council tax arrears; parking fines; and child support agency arrears. 

They are not officers of the court, but they are certified by the court. The certification process enables the court to exercise a degree of control over the standards of competence and conduct of these enforcement agents.

County Court Bailiffs can enforce a judgment up to £5,000 but, if the debt is for more than £5000, the judgment must be transferred to the High Court for execution. The High Court enforcement route can be taken if the judgment is for £600 or above.

County Court bailiffs are used to enforce County Court orders and those orders made at tribunals that have been transferred to the County Court for enforcement. 

They are directly employed by the courts (specifically, by HM Court and Tribunals Service) and are responsible to the court for their actions.

Since they are Crown employees they do not need to be certificated. When recovering money under a Country Court judgement, a bailiff’s authority to act comes from the warrant of control.

They can take control of goods to recover money owed under the order and associated costs.

A civil enforcement officer, also known as a traffic warden or parking warden, is a person who ensures enforcement of on- and off-street parking and takes care of other public spaces, including parks or pavements.