Money Box Live: Bailiffs
Money Box
BBC
4.2 • 825 Ratings
🗓️ 27 November 2019
⏱️ 31 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What can and can't bailiffs do when they knock on your door to collect a debt? What happens if it's not your debt, or you've paid it off already? And can you refuse them entry?
Louise Cooper is joined by Matt Hartley from Money Advice Trust, the charity that runs National Debtline and Business Debtline; by Russell Hamblin-Boone, CEO, Civil Enforcement Association, the trade association representing civil enforcement agencies (bailiffs) and by Mike Holmyard from Citizens Advice Scotland.
If you'd like to share your stories, contact the Money Box team. The number to call is 03 700 100 444, geographic charges apply. The lines open at 1pm on Wednesday. Or email moneybox@bbc.co.uk or tweet @moneybox
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | In Northern Ireland, from the late 70s to the early 90s, the IRA killed over 40 alleged informers. |
| 0:08.0 | But the man who often found, tortured and sometimes killed these people on behalf of the IRA |
| 0:12.0 | was himself an informer, a secret British army agent with the codename Stakeknife. |
| 0:18.0 | Who gets to play God? And why me? Why my family? |
| 0:21.3 | When lies are still being told to this day, who do you believe? |
| 0:25.1 | I wouldn't even know where to start, and I'm with the IRA. |
| 0:28.5 | Steakknife. |
| 0:29.7 | Listen first on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:33.5 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:37.9 | Has a bailiff ever turned up on your doorstep and come in? |
| 0:43.3 | Lee recorded it when it happened to her. |
| 0:46.7 | This gentleman is walking around my house. |
| 0:50.3 | He hasn't been given the authority. |
| 0:52.8 | Where's your room? |
| 0:58.0 | That's my child's room that you're now walking into. This is now my room. |
| 1:00.0 | This is my partner. |
| 1:01.0 | This is mine in Andrew's room. |
| 1:03.0 | So where would they keep statements now? |
| 1:06.0 | No, he's opening drawers. He's going into my wardrobe. |
| 1:10.0 | He's picking up items. He's picking up items of clothing. |
| 1:16.2 | What is most astonishing is that Lee and her fiancé, Andrew, didn't actually owe any money. Their address was given to a debt collection company, a bailiff, by the debtor, presumably to avoid payment. |
| 1:30.7 | What made it even more of a shock to Lee was that the bailiffs arrived out of the blue with no warning, |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.