What is a high court enforcement officer?

In England and Wales, a county court judgment (CCJ) can be transferred to the high court if:

• you’ve missed repayments
• your debt is over £600
• your debt isn’t regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974

When this happens, a type of bailiff called a high court enforcement officer may visit your home to try to take possessions they can sell to recover the money you owe.

High court bailiffs can only collect:

• utility arrears, like water, gas and electricity
• business debts
• money you’ve been ordered to pay by a tribunal
• rent arrears from a previous address

They can’t collect debts regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974, such as:

• credit cards
• overdrafts
• payday loans
• personal loans

Creditors may opt for high court bailiffs over county court bailiffs for several reasons:

• They can be harder to stop.
• They can add 8% interest to debt.
• Their fees are higher so people may feel more pressure to pay.
• Some creditors think they’re more effective because their pay is performance-based.

The creditor applies to the high court for a writ of control. This gives a high court enforcement officer the power to visit you and take payment or your possessions. The writ is valid for 12 months and can be renewed if necessary.

A creditor can apply for a writ of control for up to six years after the date a CCJ was issued. If they want to ask for a writ after six years, they’ll need the court’s permission.

If a creditor transfers a CCJ to the high court, a fee will be added to your debt. 

Once they have a writ of control, a high court enforcement officer needs to give you seven days’ notice before coming to your home.

When they come, they will ask you to pay the debt in full. If you can’t do this, they will look to make a list of any items you have that could be sold to pay off your debt – a controlled goods agreement.

They may then offer a repayment plan. If you don’t make the agreed payments, they’ll take your belongings to sell. They’re allowed to force entry to your home to seize those items.

Alternatively, if you own a vehicle, they may take that on their first visit if selling it would clear your debt. Or they can clamp it as insurance in case you don’t stick to a repayment plan.

Like county court bailiffs, high court enforcement officers must follow certain rules, including what they can and can’t take.

There are also extra rules they need to follow if you’re vulnerable.

All bailiffs add fees to your debt, but the amounts charged by high court enforcement officers are set out in law:

• writ of control and sending a notice of enforcement letter - £75
• the first visit - £190 (plus 7.5% of anything you owe over £1,000)
• breaking or refusing to make a payment arrangement - £495
• returning to take your possessions - £525 plus 7.5% of anything you owe over £1,000
• other costs for storage and auctions

Example fees

These are the fees you’ll pay with a £2,000 debt if your possessions are taken and sold:

• £75 for the writ of control and notice of enforcement
• £265 for the first visit – made up of the fixed £190 plus £75 (7.5% of £1,000)
• £495 for not arranging a payment plan
• £600 for collecting your possessions – made up of the fixed £525 fee plus £75 (7.5% of £1,000)

Total fees - £1,435  

If you owe £900 and bailiffs sell your possessions, your fees would be:

• £75 for the writ of control and notice of enforcement
• £190 for the first visit (no further fees as you owe less than £1,000)
• £495 for not arranging a payment plan
• £525 for collection (no further fees as you owe less than £1,000)

Total fees - £1,285  

If you owe £650 and arrange a payment plan with the bailiffs, your fees will be:

• £75 for the writ of control and notice of enforcement
• £190 for the first visit (no further fees as you owe less than £1,000)

Total fees - £265 in fees

If you’re worried about bailiffs coming round, there are steps you can take to stop them. 

Arrange to pay your debt

If you can afford to, pay the debt in full before bailiffs turn up at your home. If you can’t afford to pay the full amount, offer to pay in instalments. Use our free budget planner to work out how much you can afford to pay each month.

If you offer to pay in instalments:

• send your offer in writing to the high court enforcement officer
• send a copy of your payment offer to the creditor alongside a copy of your budget
• start making payments – you should do this even if the high court bailiff doesn’t reply

There’ll be fees on top of your debt, but you’ll keep them to a minimum by paying as soon as you can. 

Stay of execution

If paying isn’t an option, you might be able to hold off bailiffs for 30 days by asking the court for a stay of execution. This is a temporary suspension that, if granted by the court, allows you time to agree a payment plan.

You apply using an N244 form. There’s a £15 fee for this. A stay of execution usually lasts 30 days. 

Breathing space

If 30 days isn’t long enough for you to sort out your finances, you might want to consider breathing space.

This will stop most types of enforcement for 60 days, giving you extra time to find a longer-term solution to your debt problem.