In 2007 the BBC launched a absolutely brilliant program called “Beat the Bailiffs” which goes under the premise of ‘what would it be like to have bailiffs barge into your house and take your “hard earned” possessions. Then they show you actually how much you would relieve your debt by after the bailiffs auction your possessions. It makes for some pretty alarming television which is perfect for those lazy afternoons when you realise you infact have no money and that they might take your cat…
The “debtors” featured in the program are generally not at the stage when real bailiffs come knock, knock, knocking at your door, instead are put through a fairly traumatic ‘experience’ to show them what it would actually be like to have several fairly large, generally bald men knocking at their door. I guess the aim of the program is to buck up their ideas when it comes to spending money when it frankly isn’t theirs.

The bailiffs turn up, make an inventory of anything valuable in the house and then come back with a van to collect it all. Cameras are set up in the house so the debtors can sit in an observation van outside watching strange men rummage through their personal belongings before loading them up and driving off with the lot. It’s like watching burglars ransacking your home and not being able to do anything about it.
Sounds absolutely horrible doesn’t it? When it comes to the types of people involved in the program they tend to be of the opinion that the products that they own, due to the credit cards they have taken out and never paid back; are theirs. Which is obviously not the case. With the majority of debts encountered in the program being in the 5 figure league, its amazing to think that these people have just decided to spend, spend and spend with money, generally on garish sofas and wide screen TVs and even in one case a Cat which is not theirs.
Of course this is mostly due to the ‘want it now’ culture. After speaking to a friend this morning about the program he decided to give me some good advice and that was “If you want something, save your money. Put it away in a savings account until you have enough to outright buy the product. Of course in some situations it would take a long time, but he’s right. There is almost something scornful about “saving” money nowadays. Of course if your looking to buy a first time buyer mortgage you will need to borrow money!
Thanks to the thoroughly rubbish internet I have not been able to find any kind of video so you will just have to take my word for everything I have said and actually go and watch it on the TV. If you don’t have one, I would go and raid your savings.