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bailiff
DCHP-2 (Jul 2016)
n. — Finance
a person hired to repossess property.
Type: 3. Semantic Change — In Canada bailiff may refer to someone who repossesses property, a sense that appears to be an extension from a British meaning of bailiff, i.e. "the agent of the lord of a manor, who collects his rents, etc." (OED-3, s.v. "bailiff" [3]). Other meanings of bailiff include "officer" and "magistrate" (see OED 3, s.v "bailiff" [1,2]). The term private bailiff, which is searchable on the internet with reasonable accuracy, is most prevalent in Canada according to internet domain searches (see Chart 1).
See also Gage-5, which lists the term without any labels, COD-2, s.v. "bailiff" (2), which is marked "Cdn".
See also Gage-5, which lists the term without any labels, COD-2, s.v. "bailiff" (2), which is marked "Cdn".
Quotations
1887
It was held a certain time, $27 paid and then an omission to pay took place, and a man acting as an assumed bailiff went with the agent and took the machine away.
1904
The mortgagee on 6th June, 1894, issued a warrant to his bailiff, directing him to seize and take the mortgaged goods, and to sell and dispose of them under the provisions of the chattel mortgage; and the goods were accordingly seized and taken out of the possession of the mortgagers [...].
1914
Another proposed amendment does away with the "private bailiff." Hereafter all seizures of property for debt will be made by sheriffs, who are agents of and answerable to the government.
1928
Came the dawn of the day before Christmas, and bright and early in the frosty mist Banker Skinner and two husky horse-faced bailiffs cranked up their trusty motor-car and started forth, loaded to the door-catch with writs and seizures, for the Halfsection farm.
1968
Private bailiffs have the right, under law, to act for landlords in seizing the property of tenants who have not paid their rent, but Vernon Singer (L. Downsview) charged that they often act illegally and Mr. Rowntree agreed that there were abuses of the position.
1978
However, Claude Mercure, the trustee assigned to take over the assets by the Royal Bank and Trust General, said he was being besieged by"all the claimants for 30-day bills. "There was a continuous parade of bailiffs and creditors since the 45-day period was first announced."
1989
The number of foreclosures has tripled in the past five years (the fat years nearly everywhere else) and farmers have been banding together to try to prevent the bailiffs from taking over their neighbors' property.
1994
Bill 49 Civil Enforcement Act -- Requires creditors who win court judgments to hire their own bailiffs to collect bad debts, instead of collecting through the provincially run sheriff's office.
2013
The first complaint he investigated came from the owner of a Lamborghini that had been repossessed by Napier Bailiffs.
One of the bailiffs at Napier was Amormino's partner in a business called Cashflow Solutions Inc. Advertising "No Credit? Or Bad Credit? No Problem! You're Approved!," Cashflow provided loans against vehicle title.
The adjudicator said the bailiff would direct people whose vehicles he was seizing to Amormino.
2015
"You drive up with a tow truck and if you're fast and efficient and well-organized, you can have a car hooked up in under a minute," Greber said, adding that a private bailiff can be asked to leave a property.
"There is always a time when we will get it. It may not be today, but we'll get you tomorrow," he said. "It's better to be polite, courteous with the bailiff. You signed a deal. Just honour it. Be a mensch."
References
- COD-2
- OED-3
- Gage-5
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