Debt enforcement solicitors

For low-value debts (under £600, or under £25,000 if regulated under the Consumer Credit Act), a County Court Bailiff can remove goods from the debtor’s home or business to recover the debt. In many cases, the threat of removal alone is enough to secure repayment.

This approach can be effective, but it has limits. Because bailiffs are employed by the Court and not paid by results, they have less incentive to recover debts and often restrict their activities to office hours.

For larger debts (over £600, unless regulated by the Consumer Credit Act), enforcement can be transferred to the High Court. A High Court Enforcement Officer (HCEO) can recover the debt by taking control of the debtor’s property.

Unlike bailiffs, HCEOs are privately employed, incentivised by results, and have wider powers, including forcing entry to premises where debtor property is believed to be. We manage this process for you, liaising directly with enforcement officers to ensure the right approach is used while safeguarding your money and business relationships.

This requires the debtor to attend Court and answer questions about their financial situation. The details provided can then be used to identify the most effective way of securing repayment.
While an Information Order does not compel immediate payment, the debtor may suggest repayment methods. It can be a useful way to maintain client relationships, though the time involved should be considered. Where a debtor is in financial difficulty, speed is often crucial.

A Charging Order secures your debt against any property the debtor owns, including their home or commercial premises. There are two stage to this process: an Interim Charging Order, which stops your debtor from selling their property without your knowledge; and a Final Charging Order, which means the debtor must pay you back from the proceeds of sale of the property. A Final Charging Order is a serious restriction on your debtor’s actions, but it does not guarantee repayment – the property does not have to be sold. To force the sale of the property, you would need to apply to Court for an Order for Sale.

An Attachment of Earnings allows you to deduct payments directly from the salary of your debtor. This option is only available to you if your debtor is employed (not self-employed), and it cannot be used to deduct pension income.

A Third Party Debt Order enforces your judgment by claiming payment from a third party which owes your debtor money. The debtor will not be aware of your application until after you have served the third party with the order, and their bank account, or the funds owed to them, will be frozen by the time they are notified.

As funds are frozen on the day the order is received by the third party, it is important to ensure that the money is in place, as the order will be worthless if no funds are available at that time.