Britain's bailiffs are *cashing in on the *economic crisis – with some firms TRIPLING their profits. As millions of people struggle with crippling borrowings, new figures obtained by the Sunday Mirror reveal many debt collection companies made record profits last year. They are *making millions as more and more councils call them in to collect unpaid council tax bills and parking fines. Britain’s seven biggest bailiff firms *generated £100million in turnover between them in 2010, making profits of more than £10million. The country’s largest, Equita, made £4.5million.

Hertfordshire-based Newlyn Plc made £1.7million last year – up from £594,000 in 2009. JBW Group, which is run by BBC TV’s Beat the Bailiff star Jamie Waller, made £443,000. And Phillips *Collection *Services, based in *Darlington, Co Durham, made £374,000. But as the industry makes more money, experts have warned that other bailiff firms are levying higher and *higher “visit fees”, the charges they make for simply turning up at a debtor’s home. Consumer groups have had complaints that debt-*collectors are charging twice when they attempt to seize goods. They hit people with one charge to see what they own – and *another to write a list of the items.

Sheila Harding, from *support group Bailiff Advice Online, says complaints have rocketed in the past year. She says one woman had her car clamped for not *paying...Read more here---> Bailiff firms pocket record profits as families struggle with crippling debts