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A bailiff is a person who is authorised to collect a debt to the organisation/court/person to who the debt is owed. There are different types of bailiffs and some have more powers than others.
 


There are different kinds of bailiff -
- civilian enforcement officers (CEOs)(employed by the magistrates courts to enforce magistrates's courts orders such as fines)
- county court bailiffs (employed by Her Majesty court service to enforce county court judgments)
- certificated bailiffs (employed by organisations such as local authorities to levy distress for rent, council tax and road traffic debts)
- non-certificated bailiff (can recover money for a variety of debts but not council tax, road traffic debt, county court orders or levy distress for rent)
- enforcement officers (employed by the High court to enforce High court orders)

A bailiff must have some legal authority before he/she can collect the debt from you.That authority will be in the form of a warrant, warrant for execution, distress warrant, liability order.Before speaking to a bailiff ask for identification and proof of the authority.If the paperwork the bailiffs have does not relate to you or anyone living in the house then you should give the bailiffs proof of your identity (through the letterbox if you do not want to open the door).