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How to become a Bailiff

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Bailiff courses

Career progression and salary expectations for a Bailiff

Bailiff

| Up to £28,000

The role of a Bailiff

What does a Bailiff do?

Looking to reclaim the love for your career? You should become a Bailiff…Bailiffs, or Enforcement Agents, visit people’s homes to collect debts. If the money owed can’t be paid back they may also reclaim property, or even evict tenants in extreme situations.There are two types of Bailiff: court-appointed officers, and those certified by enforcement agencies, who collect money on behalf of their clients, although the tasks they carry out will often be the same.Typical day-to-day duties for a Bailiff may include:

Contacting debtors to ask for payment
Visiting debtors homes when they haven’t responded
Offering financial advice, and support for repayment
Serving summonses
Seizing goods and property for those who can’t make payments
Arranging for confiscated property to be sold at auction

Is a career as a Bailiff right for me?

In order to become a Bailiff, confidence, conviction and strength of character are absolutely essential.You may often be viewed negatively by members of the public for carrying out your orders, and being able to deal with difficult situations is all part and parcel of the job.Similarly, as those you encounter may easily become angry or upset, the ability to talk with people from all different walks of life should be seen as a prerequisite. See also: patience.Other important attributes for a Bailiff include:

Tact
Assertiveness
An in-depth understanding of the law
Fairness, and a good sense of justice
Excellent judgement skills
Physical strength

What's it like to be a Bailiff?

""I get a lot of stick from my friends for what I do – for some of them it’s right up there with Traffic Warden as one of the worst jobs you can do. But a lot of the preconceptions are pretty wide of the mark. We do much more to help people than we’re given credit for, even giving financial advice and info on loans to help people make their payments on time. There are some aspects I enjoy more than others, of course, but as long as you’re fair and have everyone’s best interests in mind, it can be really rewarding. Weird, right?""

Get qualified as a Bailiff

There are no formal qualifications needed to become a Bailiff, however, you will need a Bailiff General Certificate before you get started (there is no study involved for this certification).

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