Court Enforcement Services Limited may contact you when an authorised enforcement officer is acting under a High Court writ or another enforcement power. Check the creditor, judgment, writ, notice, balance, received date and fee stage before deciding what to do.
Companies House lists the company under number 08397825. Verify an unexpected payment request using contact details obtained independently from the court record, creditor or company’s official website.
What to check first #
- the claimant or creditor and original court case;
- the judgment and writ numbers;
- the amount of the judgment, payments and current balance;
- the date the enforcement agent received the case;
- the Notice of Enforcement and address used;
- an itemised fee history; and
- the visiting agent’s identity and authority.
If you did not know about the claim, obtain urgent advice. An application to set aside a judgment does not by itself guarantee a pause; a separate stay of enforcement may need to be considered.
Transfer to the High Court #
Some County Court money judgments for at least £600 may be enforced through a High Court writ. This does not mean every judgment at that balance qualifies.
Judgments arising from agreements regulated by the Consumer Credit Act are excluded from the transfer route. Other restrictions and procedural requirements can apply. Check the judgment type and sealed writ rather than relying on the amount alone.
High Court fees from 1 May 2026 #
For a High Court case received by the enforcement agent on or after 1 May 2026, the statutory table is:
| Stage | Fixed fee | Percentage fee |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance | £79 | None |
| First enforcement | £200 | 7.5% of the amount above £1,200 |
| Second enforcement | £520 | None; only where the amended stage conditions are met |
| Sale or disposal | £550 | 7.5% of the amount above £1,200 |
Permitted disbursements can also apply. Earlier cases can remain on the previous fee table, so use the date the agent received instructions rather than only the latest letter date.
If a second-stage fee appears, ask for the attendance history and facts relied on to trigger it. A non-High-Court case uses a different statutory fee table.
Notice period #
For applicable cases received from 1 May 2026, a Notice of Enforcement normally gives at least 14 clear days before goods are taken into control. A timely request from a debt advice provider can extend the minimum to 28 clear days for a qualifying non-business debt. A court can authorise a shorter period.
Use the notice period to verify the writ, obtain advice and make any sustainable proposal. Do not borrow unaffordably or leave priority bills unpaid to meet it.
Entry and vehicles #
For most ordinary civil enforcement at a home, initial entry is normally through a usual, peaceable route. GOV.UK says you usually do not have to open the door or let an enforcement agent in.
Commercial premises, certain fines or tax powers, a court-authorised exception and lawful re-entry for controlled goods can be different. If an agent claims a power to force entry, ask for the exact authority and get urgent advice.
Refusing home entry does not necessarily protect a vehicle outside. Ownership, finance, lease, disability use, essential work use and location can affect whether a vehicle can be controlled. Keep evidence and challenge a disputed seizure promptly; do not hide or dispose of controlled goods.
Ways to respond #
- Unknown or disputed judgment: ask about setting aside the judgment and whether a separate stay is needed.
- Wrong amount or payment record: send evidence to the creditor and enforcement company and request a full statement.
- Fee dispute: request the received date, notice, attendance history and statutory calculation.
- Affordability: make a realistic proposal without sacrificing priority bills and get any pause in writing.
- Vulnerability: tell both the creditor and enforcement company, explain the impact and request reasonable adjustments. A pause is not automatic.
- Breathing Space: an authorised adviser can start protection for eligible debts; notification, timing, exclusions and prior controlled goods matter.
- Formal insolvency: a DRO, IVA or bankruptcy may affect qualifying enforcement, but case-specific advice on the writ and goods is essential.
Complaints #
Complain in writing to Court Enforcement Services and copy the creditor or claimant. State the writ, agent, dates, disputed act, evidence and remedy wanted. Use the escalation route appropriate to the authority and complaint if the final response does not resolve it.
A complaint does not automatically suspend a writ, visit or court deadline.
If several debts are unaffordable, compare debt-help options before committing all available money to one account. The debt-options calculator is an initial comparison only and cannot confirm a stay, IVA approval or legal outcome.