Bailiff firm Rossendales has said claims of malpractice at the firm which are due to be exposed in a television documentary are unsubstantiated and misrepresented.
Credit Today understands that the firm is among several enforcement firms featured in ITV’s Exposure programme, after a reporter from the channel joined the Lancashire-based firm under the pretence of training to become a bailiff.
It is rumoured that the reporter will show examples of misconduct during his time at the firm, but Rossendales has claimed that many of the allegations are against one bailiff, whose contract has now been terminated, and are unsubstantiated or misrepresented.
Julie Green-Jones, chairman of Rossendales, has released a statement ahead of the programme, explaining the firm’s position.
The statement said: “As a leading business in the enforcement industry, recovering £92 million for its clients in the last financial year, Rossendales has been at the forefront of shaping an industry which is in need of tighter regulation and legislation.
“The programme seeks to allege serious malpractice throughout the industry. In Rossendales’ case an undercover reporter spent time in the field with a first call bailiff. Subsequently an internal investigation led to the termination of that bailiff’s contract for breaching company guidelines and policies, however many of the allegations against him are unsubstantiated or misrepresented.
“Viewers of the ITV Exposure programme, which is due to be aired at the end of October, will see me call for the coalition government to take legislation forward so companies like ours can help rid the industry of operators that don’t subscribe to the values of professionalism and integrity. Rossendales will be launching its ‘Campaign for Change’ and looks to fellow professionals in the industry to provide their support.”
ITV says the purpose of the programme is to “investigate the behaviour of the bailiffs instructed to chase millions of householders and car owners each year”. It claims to ask “whether the voluntary guidelines that bailiffs are meant to follow are enough to protect the public”.
The Association of Civil Enforcement Agencies – a bailiff trade body – has also issued an email to its members alerting them to the programme, and says it is working with communications company Bellenden with a view to doing an interview in response to the programme.
The programme is set to be aired on October 31st at 10.35pm.
Earlier this year Rossendales was announced as one of 10 debt recovery agencies appointed by HM Revenue and Customs to recover outstanding tax debt.