Bank executives have warned counter staff to be prepared to tackle bailiffs as angry customers attempt to claw back bank charges.

Managers at Halifax Bank of Scotland told workers debt collectors may confront them after applying to the courts for legal permission to seize "goods and chattels", or property, from the bank.

They said they are concerned customers may be granted permission for bailiffs or sheriff officers to be sent to individual branches and have issued advice to counter staff advising them what they should do if debt collectors arrive at their branch.

The advice comes after one man, Declan Purcell, who was fed up paying massive bank charges called in bailiffs to the Royal Bank of Scotland after it refused to refund £3400. Stunned customers at his branch of RBS watched as debt collectors seized four computers, two fax machines and a till filled with cash.

The branch manager was told the items would be sold unless RBS came up with the money owed to Mr Purcell in London.

Only when the manager gave an undertaking the debt would be paid did the bailiffs leave.

The move is part of a consumer fightback against bank charges, which net an estimated £4.5bn every year. All staff at HBOS have been advised to immediately alert the bank's legal department in Halifax if they are served with a summons.

A memo issued to all HBOS staff stated: "The media is paying increased attention to banks, such as HBOS, being visited by bailiffs in order to collect goods and/or chattels' against bank charge claims.

"All colleagues need to be aware that a court summons can be served at any HBOS premises and that there is a time restriction for responding to a summons. HBOS has an immediate escalation process to ensure all court summonses are handled within the appropriate timescales by the legal team.

"All colleagues should ensure they are familiar with the escalation process. The current attention may result in an increase in the number of summonses received at any HBOS premises."

Yesterday a spokesman for HBOS confirmed e-mails advising staff of good practice were regularly sent out. Jason Clark of HBOS said: "As a result of the on-going publicity surrounding bank charges we are aware of websites that have been set up advising bank customers to take legal action against their banks.

"If a summons is served on a bank it would normally be served to an head office, but we are aware that individuals may occasionally have it served at their local branch. The purpose of such e-mails are simply to remind staff of what they should do. We would never envisage that a legal action would ever get as far as a bailiff arriving to collect goods and chattels."

Every time a current account customer goes overdrawn by as little as £1, most banks charge around £28 even though the administration cost is only about £4.50.

The Office of Fair Trading is investigating whether banks have implemented these charges unlawfully.