Ross and Roberts are a debt enforcement agency (bailiffs). They collect Council Tax arrears for local councils, debts for private companies and rent arrears in communities across the UK.
Ross & Roberts Civil Enforcement Agents claim to be one of Britain’s Top 10 civil enforcement service providers. They were established in 1997 and have become a national company with over 250 staff, and 180 clients nationwide. They promote themselves and their service on their website as dealing with customers fairly.
They ensure local enforcement agents and collectors (otherwise known as Bailiffs) with the relevant training and local knowledge to make the debt collection as smooth as possible. Ross and Robert’s Debt Collection Service is focused on collecting debt at Compliance Stage. By doing this, it claims it avoids the debtor incurring additional enforcement fees.
What Do Ross and Roberts Enforcement Services Do?
Council Tax Debt Collection
Ross & Roberts have been working with over 80 local authorities for a number of years. They offer a service to each individual council, along with a range of different payment options to debtors.
Non-Domestic Rates
As financial pressures continue on businesses, as do the number of councils collecting debt associated with business rates
Civil Parking Enforcement
Ross & Roberts provide Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR). This technology is used to grab your number plate to try and enforce parking fines. The succes rates will depned on whether the fines are privately issued by companies or local councils. Non-payment of parking charges is increasing nationwide. Millions of parking tickets are given out each year – with a large proportion of these staying unpaid.
Ross & Roberts have a specialist debt recovery team dedicated to Private Parking Debt Collection, such is the high volume of debts to recover. They may use a High Court Enforcement Services against you if the debt escalates to that point.
High Court Enforcements
Ross & Roberts are authorised High Court Enforcement Officers. They provide the following services:
Judgement Enforcement
Transfer Up
Employment Tribunal Awards
Orders for Possession
Traveller Evictions
Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery
Sundry Debts They May Chase
These include housing benefit overpayments, former tenant debts and repair charges
Commercial Property Debts
Ross & Robert’s Debt Recovery work with a number of Private Landlords to help recover what is owed.
Other Services
These include Tracing Service; Void Inspection Service and Insolvency Services.
Can Ross and Roberts Send Bailiffs to My House?
In some cases, if court action has been taken and your debts are still due then the courts may appoint Ross and Roberts Bailiffs to recover property and assets to the value of the debt.
Can Ross and Roberts break into My House?
The chances of Ross and Roberts being able to enter your property are quite rare. They can only do this if a Liability Order has been issued against you by a magistrate on behalf of the local authority. If you are a business then there would need to be an unpaid fine from a Magistrate, County Court or High Court.
Reasonable Force
It is the law that enforcement agencies are only able to enter a property if they have been inside the property before. They are then able to use what is known as ‘reasonable force’ to re-enter. This could involve the use of a Locksmith to help them gain entry. They can only try and gain entry during the hours of 6am to 9pm.
What Can Ross and Roberts Bailiffs Take?
There are restrictions on what can be removed from your property by bailiffs. If you have given them entry of they have gained entry by other means, then they can remove what is known as ‘Walking Possessions’. These are those which are subject to ‘Taking Control of Goods Regulations’. They will make an inventory of any of those possessions in your home and estimate the current value. You can enter into a ‘Controlled Goods Agreement’ with them which will give you time to pay the outstanding debt.
If you fail to pay them, then they can return to your property and remove items. There are certain items which Ross and Roberts bailiffs cannot take. These include essential items such as bedding, refrigerators, medical equipment, cookers and other items.
