FAQs

Telephone the Bailiff on the number at the bottom of the letter to discuss payment of the due debt.

If the bailiff is a first call bailiff and the debt you owe is Council Tax then an arrangement over several weeks / months may be made - any arrangement is subject to us completing a walking possession agreement and this incurs you a statutory scale levy fee - however the amount you pay at this stage is cheaper than if the Enforcement Bailiffs are asked to recall to your address.

PLEASE MAKE CONTACT WITH JACOBS AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE YOUR FIRST LETTER FROM US

We offer a variety of payment options including

• Cash to Bailiff
• Credit Card (subject to 3% administration charge)
• Debit Card (subject of a £2 administration charge)
• Swipe Card at AllPay outlets (subject to a £2 adminstration charge) - please contact head office for a swipe card to be issued
• Giro Slips (subject to your Post Offices local charge)
• Standing Order
• BACS transfer
• CHAPS transfer

Payments should be directed through the Bailiff in Charge of your case.  Alternatively you should ring head office if you are on a payment arrangement scheme or PayOnline via this website.

We are in possession of a warrant / liability order obtained by the Council through the Courts.  You should pay the due amount and then contact the Council to query the liability raised.

You should not contact the Council for a payment arrangement as they have sent the debt to ourselves for collection.

The bailiff may remove your motor vehicle and sell it at auction.

Alternatively the case may be returned to the Council for them to consider further action including application for your committal to prison or to make you bankrupt - such further action will be more costly to the debtor than agreeing to deal with our first call bailiff.

A redemption fee (normally £24.50) is raised following seizure (taking legal control) of goods by our bailiff.

The fee is raised at the time goods are listed by the bailiff but is discharged last - ie following payment of the debt and all other fees.  Essentially once an account is paid in full then Jacobs will issue confirmation by letter that the goods have been redeemed and control of them passed back to the debtor.

Counsel's opininon has been sought on this matter and confirmed that the correct time to raise the fee is at the time of seizure.

You should not complain merely in respect that the bailiff has called and requested payment of a due debt.

However if you feel we have treated you in a inappropriate manner you should put any complaint in writing to our head office.  We will investigate your complaint and respond within 10 working days.

Although rare, complaints are analysed twice yearly and any corrective / preventative action implemented.

Debtors should not complain to our professional association unless our complaints procedure has been followed and representation made to this firm.

The Bailiff will have his County Court Certificate and Jacobs ID Card ready to show you on request.

We do NOT, by law , have to carry a copy of the warrant/liability order granted by the Magistrates for non payment of Council Tax or Business Rates.