FOR most people, a visit from a bailiff means their debt has reached a pretty dire level.

It’s usually only as a last resort that organisation resort to calling in debt collectors.

But with so many people struggling financially, there has been a huge increase in the numbers receiving a visit from a bailiff in recent months, as the Lancashire Telegraph has reported.

Most bailiffs are professional workers with a difficult job to do.

But there have been complaints, backed by the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, of overzealous bailiffs using underhand tactics to get their hands on outstanding cash.

Some people have reported being persistently hounded for debts they claim do not even belong to them.

As a result, new rules came into force yesterday, giving more protection to the people in debt.

Although they have a job to do, it’s not right that bailffs should be able to call during the night or demand money from children if their parents are out.

Nor is it appropriate for them to add excessive, unregulated fees to the amount people in financial trouble are expected to pay.

The job should be carried out professionally, during office hours, and without substantially adding to the stress people are already under.