Debt collectors and bailiffs often fall under the same category when it comes to what they are trying to achieve, but in fact, they are actually quite different in the way in which they operate. Whether you are a business owner struggling with late payment of commercial debts or are concerned that someone might come and knock on your door to collect payments from you, it’s important to understand the difference between debt collectors and bailiffs. Our debt collection services can support you with any issues you face in the future, as we work with business owners struggling to collect payment from clients. Keep reading as we discuss this topic and share when you would consider using either of these services in the future.
What is the Key Difference Between Bailiffs and Debt Collectors?
While both of these job roles work to collect debt or assets from someone, the main difference is that a debt collector doesn’t necessarily have the legal power to collect a debt. They can still come to your home and demand payment, but they don’t have the legal permission to enter your home or attempt to seize what they are searching for. Debt collectors and bailiffs may even work together in some situations, as when the work is too challenging for debt collection services, bailiffs may step in to complete the task. The end goal is pretty much always the same, but the way in which they are able to go about collecting this money can be quite different.
What is a Bailiff?
Bailiffs are sometimes referred to as enforcement agents, and they have the legal power to collect a debt from an individual or company who has not paid money. These bailiffs and debt collectors work either for private companies or are self-employed and work on behalf of local councils to support businesses and individuals looking to get the money they are owed. They are often tasked with collecting council tax, court judgements and parking fines. Bailiffs are legally allowed to visit your property and remove or sell items in order to pay off the debt recovery agency or the debt you owe. This additional level of power helps to resolve more serious issues or ones that have been going on for months or years.
What is a Debt Collector?
Many situations aren’t deemed to be serious enough in the beginning stages to require the support of a bailiff. For that reason, you may opt to work with a debt collection agency instead. A debt collector will work with an agency that helps to collect money for businesses or individuals who are struggling to collect payments by themselves. The main thing to keep in mind is that they cannot force themselves onto someone’s property or take money or belongings from anyone to collect payment. That being said, debt collectors know all the best techniques to be able to collect the funds that you need in order to keep your business afloat. Our team has many years of experience and knows how to ensure that payments are made in a legal and effective manner to support your business operations.
Which Service Should I Use?
In most situations, the first service that a business owner would consider would be working with a debt collector. They can help with the initial solution of the issue to try and make the problem go away without getting bailiffs involved. Of course, if you find that this still doesn’t help, then it’s time to consider taking legal action.
Many companies find they don’t enjoy the difficult conversations that are involved in handling debt collection. That’s why it’s best to work with a team of professionals who are used to this type of situation to help you get back on track with your finances. Our team knows how to discuss sensitive topics with clients and works to find resolutions that work for both parties and make everyone happy in the end. Many times, companies don’t want to lose their clients, but at the same time, they have their own bills to pay. We work to help both parties come to a fair resolution, so you can focus on everything else that it takes to run a business.
Debt collectors and bailiffs are both extremely supportive of business owners and organisations across the country who find themselves in challenging situations when it comes to collecting debt. If you need the support of a debt collection agency, we’ll be here to answer your questions and work with you to get any money that you are owed from clients. Contact us today to learn more about the services we offer or to discuss any concerns you have about debt collection or working with bailiffs to improve your financial position this year.