You Have Paid the Fine Direct to Court But the Bailiff Is Threatening You for His Fees

It is the practice of several bailiff companies to threaten to take control of goods just to recover their fees. This is illegal. Here is why you do not have to pay any bailiffs' fees on your court fine.

Bailiffs must not seek to enforce the recovery of fees where an enforcement power has ceased to be exercisable. See paragraph 31 of the Taking Control of Goods: National Standards 2014.

You Have Two Routes of Remedy

Pay and Reclaim: Pay the demand to clear it, then recover the bailiff's fees in the small claims court.

Wait and Serve Notice: Wait for the bailiff to turn up, even with the police in attendance, then deploy a copy of the notice below by handing it through the letterbox or a window. The attending constable will have no choice but to remove the person from your property or place him under arrest if he shows a forged distress warrant.

To Use the Document Below, You Must:

Attach a copy of the receipt or other proof from HM Court Service that the court fine is paid. This proves the warrant is no longer effective because the sum due is now nil.

Have recording equipment running, preferably without the bailiff or constable knowing until after the recording has started.

Hand this document to the bailiff and a copy to police if they are present.