News and Media

Lessons on the road with enforcement agents. CIVEA CEO, Russell Hamblin-Boone reflects on time with enforcement agents at work. There are a minority of people who have direct experience of the enforcement process and many m...

Enforcement is the last resort for unpaid traffic penalties. You may have seen today a prominent article in The Times titled ‘Bailiffs sent to millions more motorists as traffic fines rise’ – it’s also possible that if you d...

What is the difference between CIVEA and the ECB – and why are both needed? The launch of the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) in 2022 was the culmination of a ground-breaking partnership between the enforcement industry and ...

Effective enforcement – the economic and ethical case for civil enforcement. Part Three. Previously in this series, we spoke about a common point of confusion that Civil enforcement agents are not debt collectors and are onl...

Effective enforcement – the economic and ethical case for civil enforcement. Part Two. In the first part of this blog series, we spoke about how the Welsh Parliament recently debated a Bill for the further regulation of deb...

Effective enforcement – the economic and ethical case for civil enforcement. Part One. There has been recent publicity raising concerns about the increase in the number of Liability Orders issued to enforcement agents for cou...

Why CIVEA members are embracing ECB accreditation. The recent introduction of Enforcement Conduct Board Accreditation is welcomed by CIVEA and its members as the next step on a path of reform, which began with the implementa...

It is not surprising that people struggling with their mental health are more likely to fall into debt. Judgement and prioritisation can become impaired when someone is vulnerable, leading to situations where people may feel ...

I need my car to get to work, can it still be seized by Enforcement Agents? Yes, unless it is specifically required for your job. This is a common reason for people to mistakenly make complaints against enforcement agents (i...

Can I go to prison for non-payment of Council Tax? Courts have the power to commit a person to prison for non-payment of council tax. Each year a small number of people go to prison. But nobody wants that to happen, and the ...

Can my car be immobilised by an Enforcement Agent if it is on finance? Possibly, yes. There is a common misunderstanding that a car on finance cannot be immobilised under any circumstances. Enforcement agents (incorrectly but...

The risks of ‘stop the bailiff’ adverts and who to trust for legitimate debt advice. A recent investigation by the BBC found that adverts claiming to offer ‘help with debts’ on social media were targeting people in financial...

I have just bought a car and I’m being chased for the previous owner’s debt – what should I do? Enforcement firms are not always told when a car has been sold on. It is illegal not to notify the DVLA of a change of ownership...

Can enforcement agents (bailiffs) take your pets? Enforcement agents can only take control of certain goods and they must complete a Controlled Goods Agreement listing the items that may be taken away. Pets are never include...

Can I just ignore an enforcement agents (bailiffs)? A common misconception is that avoiding contact with enforcement agents will eventually lead to them giving up and moving on. This is not the case. The work undertaken by ...

Can someone else pay my debt for me? An enforcement agent (bailiff) can accept a payment from a third party on behalf of someone with outstanding debt, but regulations state that this must clearly be a voluntary payment. In...

Can I avoid enforcement by moving house? No. Moving house will not resolve the debt that you owe your local authority and enforcement agents (bailiffs) can trace and visit you at a new address to recover the debt owed from a...

What do I do if an Enforcement Agent (Bailiff) thinks I am someone else? With a backlog in the courts, there can be circumstances where people have moved since a court hearing took place and this results in an Enforcement Age...

My housemate has received a Notice of Enforcement, are my possessions at risk? If you have a housemate that receives a letter of enforcement, it is always advised to encourage them to speak to the enforcement company and res...

Can an Enforcement Agent (Bailiff) take away a car that is on finance? Enforcement agents (EAs) have the legal right to clamp a vehicle while they make enquires about its status (for a minimum of 2 hours before it can be rem...

What can and cannot be taken by Enforcement Agents (Bailiffs)? Around 40% of overdue Council Tax debt is collected at the Compliance Stage before a visit ever takes place. Paying what is owed early means local authorities rec...

Can enforcement agents (bailiffs) force entry into my home? Enforcement agents (EAs) have more powers than standard debt collectors. They can legally enter a home through any open or unlocked door. They can visit households ...

What will happen If I refuse to answer my door to enforcement agents (bailiffs)? You are not under any legal obligation to allow an enforcement agent (bailiff) into your home. However, the best way to avoid additional fees an...

Why do enforcement agents (bailiffs) charge fees? Enforcement fees are set by the Government and the same charges are applied to all types of debt. They are applied to the amount outstanding and must be paid at the same time....

How can I tell an enforcement agent (bailiff) is who they say they are? Every Enforcement Agent (formerly known as a bailiff) is required to be awarded a certificate before they can work in the UK. An enforcement agent’s cert...

Are enforcement agents (bailiffs) legal in the UK?. In short, yes. CIVEA members work legally on behalf of local authorities, National Highways, Transport for London and Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). The...

Are enforcement agents (bailiffs) the same as debt collectors? Civil Enforcement Agents, previously known as bailiffs, are often confused with debt collectors that work for private companies. This is an incorrect assumption a...

Enforcement agents should not be confused with energy suppliers that force-fit prepayment meters. Responding to concerns about the force-fitting of prepayment meters, Russell Hamblin-Boone explained:A certificated enforcement...

Latest statistics indicate ongoing importance of Council Tax collection. The impact of pausing enforcement activity during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns continues to be reflected in the latest government statistics. It rein...

GovDebt 2022 blog: From debt collection to debt resolution. The GovDebt Conference, organised by GovNet Events, brought together government finance, debt and risk professionals to discuss the challenges of public sector debt ...

Shaping our industry for the challenges ahead.Paul Whyte, President of CIVEA, reflects on his appointment and considers what comes next. I have held the CIVEA Presidency for just over four months and in that short time I have...

Inspiration, collaboration and fresh energy. Sarah Naylor, Vice President of CIVEA, shares her thoughts and ambitions in her new role with CIVEA. As the youngest, and second female, Vice President for CIVEA since its establis...

How to protect yourself from imposter bailiffs and fraudsters. Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. Today we look at the topic of fraud and how members of the publi...

CIVEA share reform plans at Enforcement Summit 2021. The Enforcement Summit, produced by Parking Review, is an annual networking conference that provides a forum for discussion around the latest policy, legislative and opera...

Unpaid SME rent arrears will impact local services. There has been much discussion about the resumption of evictions from residential properties following a moratorium on landlords evicting people for non-payment of rent.The ...

Welcoming our newest CIVEA members. We are delighted to welcome two new members to CIVEA this month. Just Digital Marketplace joins CIVEA as our latest corporate member and County Durham Outreach and Support (CDOS) joins us i...

What to consider before introducing electric vehicles to enforcement fleets. With enforcement firms diversifying into new areas, such as recovering penalties for infringing clean air zones, enforcement industry specialist Dar...

Early engagement can reduce the costs of debt repayment. Following on from its recent Debt Awareness Week initiative, which was publicly supported by many CIVEA members, leading debt charity StepChange has published a new rep...

How the compliance stage ascertains 'what's behind the door'. As the primary trade association for civil enforcement agencies, representing more than 95% of the industry, CIVEA works to educate about that the enforcement proc...

How the biggest loss in insurance history affects enforcement. Enforcement industry specialist Darren Coldspring from Verlingue, a leading UK chartered insurance broker, shares his advice on reducing the likelihood of increas...

Protecting Enforcement Agents from aggressive behaviour. Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. Today we consider violence towards Enforcement Agents and why they are...

How to protect yourself from imposter bailiffs and fraudsters. Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. Today we look at the topic of fraud and how members of the publi...

How precautions facilitate essential activity. Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. Today we look at the enhanced safety precautions Enforcement Agents are taking a...

The importance of clearing debt early in 2021. Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. In our latest blog, we discuss escalating debts over the festive period and how ...

The fundamental differences between public and private sector collections. Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. Today, we consider the differences between the publi...

The reality of enforcement operations and outcomes Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. Today, we consider historic misconceptions around the enforcement process an...

The collective effort behind improving standards. Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. In this blog, Dave Pickering discusses how self-regulation works and why the...

The value of transparency in civil enforcement. Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. In this blog, Dr Wendy Kennett, discusses how, in the light of the regular cal...

Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. In this blog, Caroline Wells discusses how enforcement firms continue to raise standards and improve processes. It is easier ...

Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. In this blog, we consider the public perception of ‘fairness’, relating to the enforcement industry. The vast majority of the g...

Welcome to our blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. In this blog, we consider what it means to be a member of CIVEA. CIVEA, the civil enforcement association, is the principal tr...

Welcome to our new blog series, exploring the key topics being discussed in the enforcement industry. In this blog, we provide some background information and insight on what CIVEA is and why it exists. CIVEA, the civil enfor...