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Dealing with repeated Bailiff visits

Receiving repeated bailiff visits can feel overwhelming and intrusive. Bailiffs may visit several times if debts are unpaid and communication isn’t made. But there are legal limits and rights you can use. At Bailiff Helpline, we’ll help you understand when visits are lawful and what you can do to stop unnecessary return visits.
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How Often Can Bailiffs Visit?

There’s no fixed cap on the number of bailiff visits. If a debt remains unpaid and you don’t engage, they may return multiple times. Fees may increase with each visit. Acting early gives you the best chance to stop further visits.

What Notice Must Bailiffs Give Before Visiting?

Before the first visit, bailiffs must send a Notice of Enforcement allowing at least 7 clear days. Each subsequent visit must respect this process. This notice gives you time to explore your options and respond.

When Can Bailiffs Not Force Entry?

For most consumer/household debts (credit cards, utilities, council tax), bailiffs cannot force entry. Entry must be voluntary or through an unlocked door. Forced entry is usually limited to debts like certain fines, taxes, or criminal debt.

How to Minimise or Stop Bailiff Visits?

  • Arrange affordable payment plans
  • Seek debt advice from our team
  • Challenge the debt if it’s incorrect or unfair

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How many times will bailiffs try to visit?
    Bailiffs may visit multiple times until the debt is paid or a payment arrangement is agreed. Repeated visits are common where there’s no communication or offer to pay.
  2. Do bailiffs charge for each visit?
    Yes. Each stage—notice, visit, attempted enforcement—may add fees and costs to the debt. Ignoring visits can increase what you owe.
  3. Can bailiffs visit without warning?
    No—before the first visit they must give you at least 7 days’ notice via a Notice of Enforcement. Unannounced visits without this notice are not lawful for most debts.
  4. Can they come every day?
    Technically, there is no limit, but harassment and unreasonable frequency could be challenged. If visits feel excessive, you may have grounds to complain or seek help.
  5. Can I refuse them entry?
    Yes. You do not have to open the door. Bailiffs cannot force entry for most debts. Keeping your door closed and not inviting them in gives you protection and time to act.

Take Action Before Bailiff Do

Ignoring Bailiff can lead to further enforcement action. The sooner you act, the more options you have.
Let's Stop Bailiffs
You will be contacted by Bailiff Helpline which is a trading style of My Debt Plan Ltd.

My Debt Plan Ltd provides insolvency solutions to individuals, specialising in IVA’s. All advice given is following an initial fact find, tailored to your individual circumstances and provided in reasonable contemplation of an insolvency appointment. Our advice on your options is always free and we will notify you if a solution you choose has a fee associated with it. Where you are not suitable for an IVA, we may refer you to one of our trusted partners who specialise in alternative solutions.

Registered address 2nd Floor Blenheim Court, Cheadle, Cheshire, England, SK8 2JY Company Registered in England and Wales Number 10992838 Data Protection ZB284067.

Lucy Novo Deakin of My Debt Plan Ltd and Adam Charles Southard of SLWB Ltd are insolvency practitioners in the UK licensed by the Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA).

*Of 2,381 IVA cases approved between January-December 2023, the average expected write off assuming successful completion is 74%.
A debt write off amount between 25% and 75% is realistic, however, the debt write off amount will differ for each customer upon their individual financial circumstances and is subject to approval of their creditors. Any remaining qualifying unsecured debt in your IVA will be written off, however some unsecured debts will be excluded, such as court fines, child maintenance and student loans, therefore you will need to continue paying these both during and after the IVA.

To find out more about managing your money and getting free advice, visit Money Helper, an independent service set up to help people manage their money.

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Credit Score

Credit Score Pop Up Wording : An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is a formal agreement with creditors to repay a portion of your debts over time, but it does have an impact on your credit score and it will be difficult to obtain further credit whilst on an IVA. Once an IVA is approved, it is recorded on your credit report and will typically remain there for six years from the date it starts.
However, it’s important to note this is the case for most debt solutions and your credit score will likely already have been affected by being in debt in the first place.
Once your IVA is complete you will get a fresh start to begin rebuilding your credit rating.

Fees

IVA costs are charged for the preparation of your proposal and the administration of the arrangement for the full term (usually 5 years) these costs are charged from the monthly contributions you make into the IVA and are not in addition. Costs will only be recovered on approval of your arrangement and once you commence making payments to it. The fees for preparation of the proposal to creditors and calling the meeting for creditors to vote on its approval are called nominees fees, the fees for running the arrangement once approved are called supervisors fees. There are also some expenses incurred in the running of the arrangement such as the registration fee and the statutory insurance that needs to be taken by law, these are called disbursements. For our arrangements, the total of all of these is £3,650 although this may be adjusted by creditors when they vote on whether to accept. No matter what the end total of costs come to, you can be rest assured that these will be taken from the monthly payment we agree with you.