If you have not made a suitable payment arrangement, then we can under a Liability Order use bailiffs to collect the Business Rates due. This will add more costs to the amount you have to pay.
The bailiffs recover the debt you owe by removing and selling your goods. They can remove goods up to the value of the money you owe the Council and their own costs. The goods will then be sold at public auction. The bailiffs can take almost any goods that you own. The bailiffs must give you a receipt for all the money you give them.
Bailiffs are not allowed to break open a door but may enter your property if a door is open, or if it is closed and can be opened without using force. They can also enter through an open window. When the bailiffs are inside your property, they can force any internal locked doors.
If you pay your debt, including all costs, before any goods are taken or sold, the seizure or sale will be stopped.
You can keep your goods in your property if you have done one of the following:
If the bailiff does return to remove the goods, you do not have to be there. Bailiffs will come to your premises with a removal van and remove any of your goods. They will put them in secure storage before they are sold at auction.
