The new Human Rights Act, which came into force in October 2000, may see bailiffs being used less frequently.  Part of the Act protects your right to 'peaceful enjoyment of possessions and respect or your privacy, family life and home'.

In practice, this will mean that courts and public authorities should always use less intrusive and distressing ways of getting you to pay the money you owe.  These include:

• benefit deductions;
• attachment of earnings; and
• voluntary payment arrangements.

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last updated 16/08/07