Pay your credit card – or else!

National charity Citizens Advice has warned that failure to pay your credit card bill could give bailiffs the excuse they need to break into your home an seize your belongings – and it will be perfectly legal.The charity is afraid that vulnerable people will be at increased risk from bailiffs who abuse their powers when the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill comes into force. If it becomes law the bill will allow bailiffs to enter people’s homes to enforce consumer credit debts such as credit card bills. This power is currently limited.Citizens Advice has asked that bailiffs be independently regulated and that this be included in the bill. It says there should be clear safeguards to that forcible entry is used as a last resort if the person is not vulnerable. The charity’s research shows that many private bailiffs use intimidation, harassment and charge excessive fees, which can increase poverty and debt for vulnerable people. An analysis of 500 recent cases showed that 64 per cent of bailiffs used harassment and intimidation, 40 per cent misrepresented their powers of entry, 42 per cent charged excessive fees and 25 per cent threatened debtors with imprisonment.David Harker, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice said: ‘Our evidence over many years shows that bailiffs have an appalling track record of abusing their existing powers against vulnerable people. They are often abusive and aggressive, and use threats of violence and prison to pressurise people into paying lump sums they cannot afford.’He said that bailiff was ‘long overdue for reform’, adding: ‘We are urging MPs to make sure the Bill includes independent regulation to rein in the worst excesses of bailiff behaviour. It is vital that the Bill also provides strong safeguards to ensure that forcible entry is only used as an absolute last resort, and only after the vulnerability of the debtor and their ability to make repayments have been taken into account.’