Bailiff

Bailiffs collect payments for debts and deliver enforcement notices, summons and other court documents.

Also known as: Enforcement agent, enforcement officer, High Court enforcement officer

• Starter salary£24,000 a year
• Experienced£40,000 a year
• Typical hours35 to 40 a week

What you'll do

As a bailiff, you could:

• write to people who owe money to ask for repayment
• visit individuals or companies to serve notices and collect payments
• handle challenging situations in a calm and confident manner
• take payments or arrange for people to repay what they owe
• provide information to people about sources of support
• attend court to ask for permission to enter properties
• remove items and arrange to sell them at auction
• keep accurate records of visits on a case management system

Working environment

You could work in a court, in an office, at a client's home or at a client's business.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time and you'll travel often.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• the ability to work well with others
• knowledge of public safety and security
• excellent verbal communication skills
• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• the ability to understand people's reactions
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

How to become a bailiff

You can get into this job through an apprenticeship or by applying directly.

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do do a Senior Credit Controller and Debt Collection Specialist Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, for example, with a debt recovery company or the courts service.

This can take up to 2 years to complete and combines on-the-job learning and time spent with a training provider.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

Direct application

You can apply directly to debt recovery companies for trainee roles. Employers will give you full training if you're taken on.

As part of the job involves being able to handle difficult situations, experience gained in parking enforcement, police, armed forces or security work may be helpful.

To work as a bailiff or enforcement officer for the courts, you may need GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), including English and maths.

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks
• have a full driving licence
• be over 18 years of age

Career path and progression

With experience, you could manage a team of bailiffs, co-ordinating their work and caseloads.

You could also be self-employed, working for debt recovery agencies.

Career tips

Job vacancies can be for permanent staff or self-employed. In both cases, advertised salary rates may include a basic figure plus on-target earnings (OTE) or commission. These depend on meeting individual or company targets. It's important to check what proportion of the salary is made up of OTE.

Guides for this industry

• Law & Legal: pay, interviews and getting started →

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