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Bailiff Advice OnlineUK Debt Specialists
UK Debt Help · Stop Bailiff Action

Worried about bailiffs?
We can help you take back control.

Learn how an IVA could protect you from bailiff action, write off the debts you can’t afford, and give you one affordable monthly payment.

  • ✓ Stop bailiff and creditor contact
  • ✓ Write off the debts you cannot afford
  • ✓ One affordable monthly payment
See if you qualify Explore debt solutions

Checking your options won’t affect your credit score. All options are clearly explained and our advice on your options is always free. Free, independent guidance is also available at MoneyHelper.

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£ Debts over £5,000? You may qualify
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Helping people out of debt since 2017
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We are Bailiff Advice Online

Not just another debt company

We’ve been helping people in financial difficulty since 2017. Our aim is to treat every client fairly — with the reassurance that comes from dealing with a reputable, established company.

We help

We take the time to understand your situation and explain every option clearly.

We listen

Talking about debt is hard. Our team offers a sympathetic ear, free of judgment.

We understand

We operate a transparency policy, so you know exactly who you’re dealing with.

We resolve

When you’re ready, we’ll guide you through the right solution, step by step.

How To Stop Bailiffs

How you can stop bailiff action with an IVA

Dealing with bailiffs can be a daunting experience, particularly when you’re already facing financial pressure. An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a powerful way to regain control and prevent bailiff intervention. Once an IVA is approved, the creditors included in it are legally bound by its terms — interest and charges are frozen, direct contact stops, and they can no longer pursue enforcement action such as bailiffs for those debts.

What happens if I have nothing for bailiffs to take?

A common worry is bailiffs seizing possessions. Where there are minimal assets, an IVA bases your repayment purely on what you can afford, so the focus is on a manageable plan rather than losing essential belongings. Read more in what if I have nothing for bailiffs to take.

Can bailiffs force entry?

For most debts, bailiffs do not have the right to force entry into your home — they can usually only enter peaceably. Understanding your rights, and the protection a formal solution provides, helps keep your home secure. See can bailiffs force entry.

Can a bailiff force entry for council tax?

Council tax arrears are one of the most common reasons for bailiff action, but a bailiff cannot force entry into your home for council tax. With an IVA or another formal solution in place, council tax debt can be included and further enforcement stopped — see can a bailiff force entry for council tax.

Worried about bailiffs?

Free, confidential advice with no obligation.

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Debt Solutions

Four debt solutions that could stop bailiff action

Learn more about the UK debt solutions below, or speak to us for guidance on an IVA which could write off the debts you cannot afford and protect you from enforcement.

For debts over £5,000

IVA

An Individual Voluntary Arrangement is a legally binding agreement with your creditors, supervised by a licensed Insolvency Practitioner. Make reduced payments — usually over 5 to 6 years — after which the qualifying debts included can be written off. Once approved, included creditors can no longer take enforcement action such as bailiffs.

Learn more →
For debts over £2,000

Debt Management

Manage your unsecured debts into one affordable monthly payment. We negotiate with your creditors on your behalf to reduce payments to a manageable level, and handle all communication for you. An informal arrangement with no contract tying you in.

Learn more →
Last resort solution

Bankruptcy

A long-established solution for serious debt problems. Most, if not all, of your unsecured debts are written off, and bill collectors must stop contacting you. Usually you’re discharged within 12 months. We’ll discuss whether it’s right for you.

Learn more →
For debts under £30,000

Debt Relief Order (DRO)

A possible route for non-homeowners with little spare income and few assets. If you qualify, your creditors can’t recover their money without the court’s permission, and you’re usually freed from your debts after 12 months.

Learn more →
How It Works

We’re committed to helping you take back control

Three simple steps. The first one is the hardest — but you’re in the right place.

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Get in touch

Talking with one of our friendly assessors helps get the ball rolling — with no judgment and no pressure.

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Explore your options

Tell us about your situation and we’ll let you know which debt solutions could be a fit for your circumstances.

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No obligation

Take action

We carry out a suitability assessment, and if you qualify we’ll help put your application together — at your pace.

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Am I eligible for an IVA?

Let’s see if you qualify

If the following sounds like you, an IVA could be a solution worth exploring. There are other factors we’ll assess, such as your property status and income.

  • ✓ You have unsecured debts greater than £5,000
  • ✓ You owe money to two or more creditors
  • ✓ You can afford to pay at least £80 per month
5–6 yrs

A typical IVA term, after which qualifying debt you can’t afford is written off.

Check if you qualify

No upfront fees · Won’t affect your credit score to check

Bailiff Guides

Latest from our guides

Clear, jargon-free articles on dealing with bailiffs and understanding your options before you decide anything.

Bailiffs

How to Stop Bailiffs

Practical steps to stop bailiff action and the debt solutions that give legal protection.

Read guide →
Your Rights

Can Bailiffs Force Entry?

When a bailiff can and cannot enter your home, and how to keep it secure.

Read guide →
Your Rights

What Can Bailiffs Take?

Which possessions a bailiff can seize, and the goods that are protected.

Read guide →

Browse all guides

FAQs

Your questions, answered

How does an IVA stop bailiff action? +

Once an IVA is approved, the unsecured creditors included in it are legally bound by its terms. Interest and charges are frozen, they must stop contacting you directly, and they can no longer pursue enforcement action such as bailiffs for those debts. You make one affordable monthly payment instead.

Can bailiffs force entry into my home? +

For most debts — including council tax and county court judgments — a bailiff cannot force entry on a first visit. They can usually only enter peaceably, such as through an unlocked door, and you generally don’t have to let them in. A small number of debts carry stronger powers, so check which applies to you.

What can bailiffs take? +

Bailiffs can take certain non-essential goods of resale value. Items needed for basic domestic needs — such as a cooker, fridge and beds — are protected, as are reasonable tools for your work up to £1,350. They can’t take goods that belong to someone else.

Am I eligible for an IVA? +

Generally you may qualify if you have over £5,000 of unsecured debt, owe money to two or more creditors, and can afford at least £80 each month towards your debts. Other factors — such as your property status and income — are also assessed. Get in touch and we’ll talk it through.

Are there any upfront fees? +

There are no upfront fees. Fees only apply if your IVA is approved, and they are incorporated into your monthly payment. All fees are explained in full before you enter into any agreement. Our advice on your options is always free.

Guides Hub

Bailiff guides & debt advice

Everything in one place, grouped by topic. Each guide links to the right debt solution so you can take the next step when you’re ready.

Dealing with bailiffs

→ How to Stop Bailiffs→ Can Bailiffs Force Entry?→ What Can Bailiffs Take?→ Can a Bailiff Force Entry for Council Tax?

Your rights & the rules

→ Your Rights When Dealing With Bailiffs→ Types of Bailiffs Explained→ Bailiff Fees Explained→ Can Bailiffs Refuse a Payment Plan?

Your wellbeing & options

→ Bailiffs and Your Mental Health→ What If I Have Nothing for Bailiffs to Take?
Get in touch

Let’s talk.
Move forward with life.

Reaching out is the hardest step — and the most important one. Send us a few details and a member of our team will be in touch. Everything you share is private and confidential.

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Enquiries are sent securely to our team. We’ll never share your details.

Move forward with life

Facing your debt is the first step towards leaving it behind. A simple enquiry gets the ball rolling — with no judgment and no obligation.

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