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Original poster

Those bailiff programmes....

67 replies

CurlewKate · 23/10/2023 22:27

...who the fuck watches them? I got caught in a TikTok rabbit hole for 30 minutes before I came to my senses-why do people watch distressed poor people being evicted? It's awful!!! I'm actually ashamed of myself for carrying on watching....

OP posts:

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 24/10/2023 19:37

These people will have had a lot of reminders, letters, phone calls and visits.... simply asking them to pay their rent/bills THEY have happily run up

Many have used up housing benefit meant for their landlord

I like the show too. I also love nothing to declare/border force

Comedycook · 24/10/2023 19:40

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 24/10/2023 19:37

These people will have had a lot of reminders, letters, phone calls and visits.... simply asking them to pay their rent/bills THEY have happily run up

Many have used up housing benefit meant for their landlord

I like the show too. I also love nothing to declare/border force

Happily run up?

What about parking fines, driving in an ltn, driving down a school street, having your tyres in a box junction, blah blah

we live in a country that tries to catch you out and fine you for every minor infringement. Bailiffs collect these debts if you don't pay the extortionate fine. It's an absolute racket.

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 24/10/2023 19:41

Have you watched the show?

RudsyFarmer · 24/10/2023 19:44

Hang on. Is this another ‘you should be ashamed’ post??

Comedycook · 24/10/2023 19:45

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 24/10/2023 19:41

Have you watched the show?

I wasn't talking about the show specifically

TheThingIsYeah · 24/10/2023 20:01

GasPanic · 24/10/2023 13:12

I find aussie gold diggers and gold divers pretty interesting though.

So do I, but oh the contrived drama. "Rusty look at this! Rusty come here! Rusty!"

SirenSays · 24/10/2023 20:06

Zebedee55 · 24/10/2023 18:06

Every person on those programmes has to give consent. So, on that basis, they must be happy.

The people in the one I watched had their faces blurred so I'm not sure about that.

Original poster

CurlewKate · 24/10/2023 21:25

Surely there's two completely different discussions here. The issue of people needing to pay what they owe and the tactics used to make them. Obviously people are entitled to get their money back. But the issue for me is whether watching that process, including watching people in serious distress, is legitimate entertainment, and something television companies should be making programmes about.

OP posts:

MargotMoon · 24/10/2023 22:10

CurlewKate · 24/10/2023 18:09

@MargotMoon How do the bailiffs get paid? Are they on commission?

They can add their fees on to the debt in stages. £75 for receiving the debt from the creditor (compliance stage) then additional fees for visiting the property and removal of goods. The fees slightly differ for County Court and High Court, plus interest can be added for High Court debts over £1,000.

Bailiffs take their fees from any money they recover first, and then once they've been paid in full they pass any subsequent payments to the creditor.

OhOurBilly · 25/10/2023 07:40

Worth noting that unless you are completely ruthless, it's very difficult to earn any decent money as an enforcement agent. To get a PIF (payment in full) you have to go to someone who actually has the reserves and the wherewithal to pay.

Businesses are easier (emotionally) than individuals. Some people are in dire straits, some people don't pay attention to their post, some people are just arrogant and don't think they should have to pay their debts.

It's a really, really difficult job and not one I'd recommend to anyone.

floofbag · 25/10/2023 07:52

I have watched them , mostly it's people who don't pay their rent .

Why should they stay in a house rent free ? Or get away with not paying a bill ..

DaisyMaisyFaisy · 25/10/2023 08:03

I like Can’t Pay, but I end up shouting at the TV. People move in somewhere, never pay the rent, then complain when they are turfed out. It’s infuriating

Original poster

CurlewKate · 25/10/2023 08:43

@floofbag "Why should they stay in a house rent free ? Or get away with not paying a bill.."

They shouldn't. The point is whether the process of evicting them should be entertainment.

OP posts:

MargotMoon · 25/10/2023 12:11

Just to add to my previous reply, County Court bailiffs are salaried civil servants.

High Court bailiffs (the type seen on those programmes) are private companies and so more motivated to recover the money as they may get bonuses or be paid a % of what they recover.

SusieSussex · 25/10/2023 12:14

My friend's husband enjoys those. He also likes programmes about hugely overweight people. It's because he takes pleasure in other people's misfortune. Lovely. 🙄

SusieSussex · 25/10/2023 12:18

Watching poor people being thrown out of their homes is definitely not my idea of entertainment. It reflects badly on anyone who does enjoy it.

newnamethanks · 25/10/2023 13:22

I saw one of those 'watch the police arrest your neighbours' programmes some years ago when they were less careful about protecting miscreants identities. Bundle of police turned up to arrest someone, girlfriend let them in. TV was on. "Oh, you can't take him now, he's going to be on Jeremy Kyle in a minute". 'What? You? Why? What you done?' Girlfriend, proudly, "he's a Love Rat" Smirks all round. Everyone took a seat until the love rat appeared and the police joined in with the pointing and shouting tv audience 'Love Rat!'. After which they carted him away with them. I still can hardly credit that was allowed to be shown. Suella Braverman would not approve.

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