Long post alert.
I used to work alongside some local authority bailiffs 🔺️. They never barged in or knocked daily. If the council tax payments were overdue, you'd get two written reminders before the big red final demand. If no payments made you'd get a letter about it being passed to the recovery team and potential consequences. If still no contact, eventually (and there is no time frame because, BUSY) the bailiff would go round. No aggressive knocks, no barging in. I would honestly say, their primary concern was making sure the council tax payer was OKAY. (Particularly at the beginning of their debt.. a few years later they were less sympathetic).
They didn't go in and document all of the personal possessions. They tried to create a suitable payment plan. Eg
Council tax is usually paid over 10 payments from April - January.
If bailiff arrives in December and no payments have been made, they would be happy to agree the next years min monthly payment (to avoid accruing more debt) plus (ideally) the current years debt / 12.
If that additional payment was too high, they could stretch to 36 months (for the existing DEBT, not the future payments).
If these payments were kept up, no further contact.
If they miss one, recovery reminder.
If they miss two, pops up on bailiff list to revist.
Another plan made.
If refusing to speak to local authority bailiffs then it gets passed to private bailiff firm. They can be known to behave in less desirable ways but even they wouldn't knock every day. Unless you have literally hundreds of debts with hundreds of debt management companies.
My point is, you get plenty of warnings. I understand that people bury their heads and it spirals out of control. But surely once you have come out the other side (which she has???), you'd use it as a learning experience and you'd be armed with the knowledge that it doesn't HAVE to be a scary and traumatic time. If you stay in contact, if you engage, if you show you are trying to pay and clear your debts, there is nothing to be afraid of.
I don't understand why she's still terrified if she's paying her bills on time now.
*I have no knowledge of debts with private companies like Cotswold/John Lewis etc. In fact, aside from Council Tax Debt, my knowledge of debt is very minimal. I have been fortunate enough to have never experienced it. The thought of having a credit card terrifies me. I don't buy anything unless I already have the money for it. I would be an absolute MESS if circumstances changed and we were unable to afford actual bills. But I know enough now (having worked in a debt department) to know not to just ignore companies. So surely she should too (having actually experienced it... or is it that she hasn't experienced it at all......)?