1st Class Bailiffs Articles

DERBY BAILIFF CLAMPS A DEFENDANTS VEHICLE

National Enforcement Services, the first franchised bailiff operation in the UK, has extended its operation to Derby where Andy Gillott will take forward the company’s second franchise venture.

Father of one Andy has joined forces with his mentor and owner of Darlington-based NES Andy Coates to provide services across the Derby and Nottingham areas such as, surveillance, debt collection, process serving, trespasser evictions, commercial rent arrears collection, repossessions, and tracing.

Andy, a former car production worker, met Andy Coates when he left the manufacturing industry in 2003 to pursue a career as a private investigator. He shadowed the NES boss, who recognised Andy’s potential as not only an investigator but as a bailiff, and began training for the recognised bailiff industry qualification.

After six years of being a sub-contracted enforcer, Andy jumped at the chance at not only being his own boss, but at helping his mentor and friend expand his business.

He is already seeing the benefits of joining NES; he has access to their web-based computer system, their client workload, the use of the most up-to-date technology, and can now offer additional services to his clientele.

Currently employing one full-time staff member, Andy has seen business boom and hopes to fulfil his ambition of creating five jobs in the coming years.

Andy, 41, said: “I never thought I would have my own franchise, I’m not academically gifted but I have the drive and determination to succeed.

“I really enjoy working for myself, it’s definitely a world away from the hard factory slog; I can choose my times of work and have no-one to answer to as long as I do my job to the best standard possible and within the law.

“It takes certain qualities for someone to be a bailiff, you need to be firm but fair and know when people are telling lies because they can tell you every story under the sun.

“When Andy approached me about the franchise opportunity, I said yes straight away, I trust him and when he says he is going to do something, he does it. I am so pleased with the way the business has developed so far, it was the best decision I ever made joining the NES team.”

Andy Coates, National Enforcement Services managing director, said: “Franchising is definitely the way forward for us and I am pleased that Andy is recognising the benefits of coming on board with NES, so close to signing our first franchisee in the North-East only three months ago.

“I have known Andy for a number of years and it is a great feeling to know that someone I mentored is now helping us to expand and provide our services across the Derby area.”

Shocked bailiffs from National Enforcement Services, the UK’s first franchised bailiff operation, are urging landlords to add a resolution with a difference to their New Year’s list.

Property owners are being warned to check how their buildings are being used in 2010 after bailiffs found a lot more than they bargained for in properties around the country.

Brothels, credit card scams, and even drugs houses have been uncovered by unsuspecting NES bailiffs who, instead of finding a non-paying tenant, have found themselves contacting police from a crime scene.

Andy Coates, Director of North-East based NES, has had to break the news to unwary landlords who presumed their property was being used as an office or home, sending in the qualified bailiffs to take possession of the property due to longstanding arrears.

Andy, who has been a bailiff and private investigator for the last twenty years, has seen some strange things during his career but even he admits to being shocked when he got the call to say his field officers had come across a brothel.

He said: “I couldn’t believe it when the team rang to say that they had found a brothel, I was shocked, and it definitely got a few raised eyebrows in the office.

“What’s worse is that landlords aren’t checking what their properties are being used for, which can have major implications on them if they are being used for criminal means.

“I would urge landlords to make it their New Year’s resolution to check and double check that their buildings are being used for the correct means. It shouldn’t be down to our qualified bailiffs to call a landlord and make them aware of what is going on.”

National Enforcement Services is flying the flag for the North-East and defying the recession by continuing to expand its bailiff franchise operation throughout the UK.

NES has signed three bailiff franchisees covering Newcastle, Derby and Nottingham, and Preston since it launched the UK’s first ever bailiff franchise operation in October last year from its base in Darlington, Durham.

Local entrepreneur Andy Coates, who has over twenty years experience in the bailiff and private investigation industries, has been inundated with calls and visits from people across the country wanting to start their own franchise.

The launch into a niche market only three months ago has been extremely successful for the firm, which is bucking the economic trend at a time when many businesses in the region are scaling down.

The firm is well on its way to reaching its target of ninety franchises in five years with franchise operations currently in the pipeline for Hampshire and Northumberland, proving that any sound business model can be franchised.

Director Andy Coates said: “I am proud to be based in the North East and putting the area on the business map in the bailiff industry.

“I took a bold step in franchising the business, planning for two years prior to the expansion and am I delighted with the success so far. I think this is the year for the North East to pull itself out of the recession, and hope that, as a business, we can help in that plight.”