Skip to content

How to become a Bailiff

Bailiff

Career progression and salary expectations for a Bailiff

1

Bailiff

| Up to £28,000

The role of a Bailiff

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
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
""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

Want to see more?
View all Bailiff courses
All Bailiff jobs
Need Advice? Ask our virtual career advisor