AN unpaid credit card could soon be all the excuse a bailiff needs to break into your home and seize your possessions, a local charity boss has warned.

Citizens Advice fears that vulnerable people will be at greater risk from bailiffs abusing their powers as a result of proposed measures contained in the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Bill.

If the bill becomes law, it will give bailiffs the power to forcibly enter domestic premises to enforce debts, including consumer credit debts such as credit card bills.

Currently only certain bailiffs have this power, particularly those enforcing magistrates' court fines.

Martin Broad, manager of Bournemouth CAB, said: "We are concerned about these proposals because we already receive complaints from local clients who have been harassed by bailiffs.

"Many private bailiffs already act almost as a law unto themselves with devastating effects on people's lives. Intimidation, harassment and excessive fee charging are commonplace, driving already vulnerable people deeper into poverty and debt."

Mr Broad told the Daily Echo: "These new powers, if they become law, will make the problem of harassment even worse.

"It could be a very scary development and we will be keeping a close eye on the situation. If there is sufficient evidence we will approach bailiffs who are not acting within the law because they could be committing a criminal offence. Normally, they stay just within the law.

"A decision to send in bailiffs is not necessarily the end of the road and we can help people come to some agreement with their creditors."

Citizens Advice is pressing for independent regulation of bailiffs to be included in the bill. It also wants clear safeguards to ensure that forcible entry is only used as a last resort; where it can be shown that the debtor is not a vulnerable person and that non-payment is a result of wilful refusal or culpable neglect.

Research shows that almost two thirds of bailiffs were guilty of harassment or intimidation and 42 per cent charged excessive fees, Citizens Advice Bureau has said.

A spokesman for the Department of Constitutional Affairs said: "It is misleading to suggest the Tribunals, Court and Enforcement Bill will simply extend the power currently available for fine enforcement. Bailiffs will need to apply to a judge for a warrant permitting the use of forced entry.

"The new power will only be available in strictly-controlled circumstances, with prior judicial authority and as a last resort when all other suitable methods of enforcement have been exhausted."