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Press Releases
Whistleblower knocks on the door of bailiffs
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This Tuesday, 91Èȱ¬ ONE's Whistleblower exposes the criminal world of bailiffs.
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In a nine-month-long investigation, 91Èȱ¬ reporter Jim Wheble went undercover working for two bailiff companies - Drakes and CCS Enforcement Services Limited.
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He saw first-hand how the public are ripped off, conned and lied to by people who are meant to be official court representatives.
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Entrusted to collect unpaid parking tickets, court fines and other debts, Whistleblower reveals why some bailiffs describe themselves as "legal thieves" and how they collect millions of pounds a week.
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The programme shows bailiffs lying about their powers and illegally charging fees for letters they have never sent and visits they have never made, sometimes doubling people's debts.
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The reporter exposes how some unscrupulous debt collectors cheat members of the public out of hundreds of pounds for a single unpaid parking fine.
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It also highlights the plight of people who are tricked into paying debts and fines which are not even theirs.
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During the investigation he also witnessed bailiffs breaking in.
In constant fear for his own safety, Jim filmed bailiffs as they lied about their legal powers, threatened to takeÌýpeople's belongings illegally andÌýclamped cars without authority.
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During his time undercover one fellow bailiff, and ex-policeman, even took Jim under his wing - teaching him how to break into people's homes.
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Jim Wheble comments: "Our investigation reveals how bailiffs are acting outside of the law and fleecing debtors out of millions of pounds. It highlights how this is an issue that couldÌýaffect us all, as any one of us could get a knock on the door from these people.
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"The public should ensure they know their legal rights so they are not strong-armed into overpaying or shelling out for debts which aren't theirs."
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With the use of bailiffs throughout the UK booming due to the rise in debt levels and an increase in the number of unpaid traffic and parking fines, the need to highlight their criminal behaviour has never been greater.
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Previous Whistleblowers have exposed sharp practice by some estate agents, corruption and crime amongst car parking attendants, serious security lapses at UK airports, danger on Britain's railways, and looked into the sales practices in a major finance company.
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Whistleblower is broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ ONE, Tuesday 26 September 2006 at 9.00pm.
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