If bailiffs say they'll sell your belongings

Summary

You’ll get a ‘notice of sale’ if the bailiffs decide to sell your belongings. This tells you when and where the auction will happen. To get your things back before the auction, you'll need to either: * pay off your entire debt and the bailiffs’ fees * negotiate a payment agreement with your creditor - they might let you pay off your debt gradually Tell the bailiffs if you want to pay off your debt but need more time. They might agree to delay the auction - they’d rather get the money directly from you than by selling your things. There are some things bailiffs aren’t allowed to sell, so it’s worth checking what bailiffs can take. The bailiffs have to give you the notice of sale at least 7 days before the auction. These 7 days don’t include: So if you get the notice of sale on Monday 1 September, the bailiffs can’t sell your things until Wednesday 10 September. You could get less time if the bailiffs are selling something that might lose its value - for example food that might go off. If the bailiffs tell you about the sale less than 7 days before, they no longer have the right to sell your things. Contact the bailiffs and tell them they haven’t given you enough notice of the sale.

Key information

• pay off your entire debt and the bailiffs’ fees
• negotiate a payment agreement with your creditor - they might let you pay off your debt gradually
• the day you get the notice of sale
• You’ll get a ‘notice of sale’ if the bailiffs decide to sell your belongings. This tells you when and where the auction will happen.
• To get your things back before the auction, you'll need to either:
• negotiate a payment agreement with your creditor - they might let you pay off your debt gradually
• Tell the bailiffs if you want to pay off your debt but need more time. They might agree to delay the auction - they’d rather get the money directly from you than by selling your things.
• There are some things bailiffs aren’t allowed to sell, so it’s worth checking what bailiffs can take.
• The bailiffs have to give you the notice of sale at least 7 days before the auction. These 7 days don’t include:
• So if you get the notice of sale on Monday 1 September, the bailiffs can’t sell your things until Wednesday 10 September.
• You could get less time if the bailiffs are selling something that might lose its value - for example food that might go off.
• If the bailiffs tell you about the sale less than 7 days before, they no longer have the right to sell your things.

Practical guidance

• Source: If bailiffs say they'll sell your belongings

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• Cold called by a debt management plan provider