The initials ARP are not enough to identify who contacted you. ARP Enforcement Services Ltd (company number 07497185) is recorded at Companies House as dissolved in September 2020. A current letter may instead use ARP or ARPE for a council service or a different sender.
Check the exact name and authority on the document before paying, disputing the balance or agreeing a plan. Confirm a council-tax or parking case directly with the council using contact details from its official website, not a phone number supplied by an unexpected caller.
Quick checks #
- Note the full sender name, address, reference and any company number.
- Identify the creditor or council and the type of debt.
- Look for Notice of Enforcement, a warrant or other enforcement authority.
- Confirm the instruction and balance with the creditor.
- If a visitor claims to be an enforcement agent, ask for identification and verify their certificate.
Collector, council service or enforcement agent? #
A payment request does not by itself prove that the sender has bailiff powers.
- A debt collector can contact you and negotiate, but cannot take control of goods without the necessary enforcement authority.
- A council shared service may administer revenues or enforcement for more than one authority; the named council should still be able to confirm the case.
- An enforcement agent acting under a warrant, writ or other power must comply with the taking-control-of-goods rules.
If the document is unclear, ask the sender to state its legal identity, the creditor, the balance, the legal power being used and the date it received the instruction.
Notice period and 2026 fees #
For a standard non-High Court case received by an enforcement agent on or after 1 May 2026, the usual statutory stages are:
| Stage | Typical trigger | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance | Case enters compliance and notice is issued | £79 |
| Enforcement | First attendance to take control of goods | £247, plus 7.5% of debt above £1,900 |
| Sale or disposal | Goods are removed for sale | £116, plus 7.5% of debt above £1,900 |
Cases received before 1 May 2026 can remain on the former £75, £235 and £110 scale. High Court enforcement uses a different structure.
The normal compliance period for affected cases is at least 14 clear days. A debt adviser can request at least 28 clear days for a qualifying non-business debt if the request is made before the deadline; a court can authorise a shorter period. Act promptly if dates or fees appear wrong.
Entry and visits #
For council tax and most civil debts, an enforcement agent cannot normally force entry on a first visit. You usually do not have to let them in, and they must not push past you.
Keep the door locked and speak through a closed door, window or phone. Do not obstruct an agent or interfere with goods that have already been taken into control. Different powers can apply to certain criminal fines and controlled goods, so get urgent case-specific advice if either is mentioned.
Vehicles and protected goods #
An agent may be able to clamp or remove a vehicle owned by the debtor without entering the home. Finance, lease or third-party ownership can affect the position, and some vehicles or tools may be exempt under statutory rules.
Keep supporting documents available. Do not assume that moving a vehicle makes it protected, and do not hide or dispose of controlled goods. Essential domestic items and certain tools needed personally for work are protected within limits, but the facts matter.
Responding safely #
- Correct and affordable debt: contact the verified creditor or agent before the notice expires, offer only what your budget supports and get any agreement in writing.
- Wrong identity, balance or liability: dispute it in writing with evidence and ask the creditor to review enforcement. A dispute does not automatically stop every deadline.
- Vulnerability: tell both the creditor and agent, explain the effect on you and ask for appropriate adjustments or review.
- Need time for advice: contact a free, regulated debt-advice provider immediately. A formal Breathing Space may pause qualifying action, subject to its rules and exclusions.
- Several unaffordable debts: compare all suitable solutions. An IVA is one option, not an automatic answer to an enforcement notice.
Complaints #
Keep the notice, agent details, dates, payment records and any photographs or video. Complain in writing to the enforcement provider and to the creditor or council that instructed it. Explain what happened, which rule you believe was breached and what outcome you want.
The next route depends on the creditor and complaint. It may involve the council’s complaints process, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, a court or an industry body. Continue dealing with any live notice or court deadline while the complaint is considered.
An approved IVA may affect enforcement for an included qualifying debt, but it does not cover every liability or guarantee reversal of earlier fees or controlled-goods steps. Ask the insolvency practitioner to confirm the debt’s treatment in writing.