BBC wrote:The backlog of unresolved immigration cases has grown to more than 500,000, a group of influential MPs has said.

The Home Affairs Committee said that at present rates it could take 37 years to clear.

JerryChicken wrote:I also have an ear on the inside which tells me that the in-house court bailiffs are now charging their services at rates far, far higher than private companies with the obvious consequence that anyone who wins a judgement will no longer automatically pass it to the court bailiff for collection - the surprising element to this is that the fees were arbitrarily increased recently from being competitive to a rate at which clients first reaction is "Eh? How much ?", those on the inside are in no doubt that their whole office will soon no longer exist within the civil service and that the arbitrary increase will be "proof" that the private sector can do the job "better". `

cod'ead wrote:Have you ever had a "private" bailiff, as opposed to "an officer of the court" call on you?

It could be the subject of a whole new reality TV game

JerryChicken wrote:Oh I've met my fair share

That is, bailiffs working for private company's rather then one employed within the civil service, both of whom are certified by the court.

There is concern within the civil service that the private companies are often willing to "bend the rules" when calling on debtors mainly because no-one really knows what they are permitted to do or not do and they are far more likely to be paid on results, or not paid if they return with no resolution.