Learn how to use bailiffs to recover a debt after a County Court Judgment in England and Wales, including enforcement agent types, costs, and key steps.

Using bailiffs to recover debt after a CCJ

Winning a County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a significant milestone in any debt recovery effort — but it is not the end of the road. If the person or business that owes you money (the debtor) refuses to pay voluntarily, you will need to take active steps to enforce your judgment. One of the most common and effective enforcement methods available in England and Wales is instructing bailiffs, now formally known as enforcement agents, to collect the debt on your behalf.

This guide explains how the bailiff enforcement process works after a CCJ, what types of enforcement agents exist, what they can and cannot do, how much it costs, and how to decide whether this approach is right for your situation.

—

Understanding the difference between bailiffs and enforcement agents

The term “bailiff” is still widely used in everyday language, but the law draws an important distinction. Since the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 came into force, the professionals who enforce civil debts are formally called enforcement agents. There are two main types you are likely to encounter after a CCJ:

• County Court bailiffs — these are court-employed officers who work for HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and enforce judgments through the County Court.
• High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs) — these are privately authorised officers who enforce judgments transferred up to the High Court.

Both types have legal powers to visit a debtor’s property, take control of goods, and arrange for those goods to be sold to satisfy the debt. However, there are meaningful differences in speed, cost, and effectiveness, which are explored in the sections below.

—

Applying for a warrant of control through the County Court

The simplest starting point for most creditors is to apply for a warrant of control. This authorises County Court bailiffs to attend the debtor’s address, take a list of goods, and arrange payment or removal of those goods.

To apply, you will need to complete Form N323 and submit it to the court that issued your CCJ, along with the applicable fee (currently £83 for debts up to £5,000 and £110 for debts over £5,000 — always verify current fees on the GOV.UK fees page). You can only apply for a warrant of control if:

• Your CCJ is less than six years old
• The debtor has not made an application to pay by instalments that is still being considered
• At least one month has passed since the judgment was made (unless you have the court’s permission to apply sooner)

County Court bailiffs are generally considered slower and less aggressive in their approach compared to HCEOs. If the debtor is unresponsive or has assets worth pursuing, you may wish to consider transferring your claim to the High Court instead (see the next section).

You can find full guidance on enforcement options on GOV.UK.

—

Transferring to the High Court for faster enforcement

For debts of £600 or more, you have the option of transferring your CCJ to the High Court and instructing a High Court Enforcement Officer. Many creditors find this route faster and more effective, as HCEOs are private professionals with strong commercial incentives to recover the money promptly.

To transfer your judgment, you apply to the County Court using Form N293A, asking the court to issue a writ of control. Once issued, you instruct an HCEO of your choice to act on the writ. You can find a list of authorised HCEOs through the High Court Enforcement Officers Association.

The advantages of using an HCEO include:

• Speed — HCEOs typically act faster than County Court bailiffs
• No upfront cost in most cases — many HCEOs charge on a success-fee basis, meaning their fees are recovered from the debtor rather than paid by you
• Greater resource — HCEOs have teams dedicated to locating debtors and their assets

However, note that if the debtor has no realisable assets, even an HCEO will struggle to recover anything meaningful. Before pursuing this route, it is worth thinking carefully about whether the debtor actually has goods or income that could be seized or redirected.

—

What enforcement agents can and cannot do

Understanding the legal boundaries of what enforcement agents can do will help you manage your expectations and ensure the process runs smoothly.

What they can do

• Visit the debtor’s home or business premises
• Take control of goods — this means either securing items on the premises or removing them for sale
• Accept payment from the debtor during the visit
• Return to remove goods if payment is not made

What they cannot do

• Force entry into a residential property on a first visit (they must have previously been allowed peaceful entry)
• Take goods that belong to a third party, not the debtor
• Take exempt goods, such as basic household items required for everyday living, tools needed for employment (up to £1,350 in value), or a vehicle displaying a valid disabled badge
• Visit between 9pm and 6am
• Use threatening or abusive behaviour

The Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013 set out detailed rules on notices, stages, and timescales that enforcement agents must follow. If you believe an agent has acted unlawfully, you can complain to the court or seek legal advice.

—

Costs and recovering your money

One of the practical concerns for creditors is the cost of enforcement. Here is a broad overview:

• Warrant of control (County Court): The court fee is currently between £83 and £110, depending on the debt amount. If the bailiff successfully recovers the debt, the fee is added to what the debtor owes. If they are unsuccessful, you will have paid the fee with nothing recovered.
• Writ of control (High Court): The court fee is £66 for the transfer. Many HCEOs operate on a no-recovery, no-fee basis for the enforcement stage, but their compliance fee (the initial stage fee) is typically taken from the first money collected.

It is also worth noting that statutory interest may have been accruing on your judgment debt. If you are unsure how much interest has built up, the ClaimsPilot interest calculator can help you work out the total amount now owed, including interest at the post-judgment rate of 8% per annum applicable to most County Court judgments.

—

Before you instruct a bailiff: consider your alternatives

Bailiff enforcement is not always the most appropriate first step. Before proceeding, it is worth pausing to consider whether:

• You sent a letter before action prior to the original claim — if you are still at an early stage and have not yet issued proceedings, a well-drafted letter before action can sometimes prompt payment without the need for court action at all. The ClaimsPilot letter before action tool makes it straightforward to generate a professional, legally-compliant letter.
• The debtor has assets — bailiff enforcement is most effective where the debtor has tangible goods at a known address, or is a business with commercial premises.
• Other enforcement methods may be more suitable — if the debtor is employed, an attachment of earnings order may be more reliable. If they have money in a bank account, a third party debt order can freeze and redirect those funds. If they own property, you could apply for a charging order to secure your debt against that property.

You can read more about the full range of enforcement options on GOV.UK.

—

What to do if the debtor pays or disputes the enforcement

If the debtor pays the full amount owed (including any accrued interest and enforcement costs) at any stage, the enforcement process should be stopped immediately. Contact the enforcement agent or the court as soon as possible to confirm payment has been received.

If the debtor disputes the enforcement — for example, claiming goods belong to a third party or that the debt has already been paid — they may apply to the court to intervene. Keep thorough records of all correspondence, payment attempts, and court documents throughout the process. This will put you in the strongest position to respond to any challenge.

—

Ready to take action?

Recovering a debt after a CCJ requires persistence, but the law gives you real tools to pursue what you are owed. Whether you are at the stage of drafting your initial letter before action or are ready to enforce an existing judgment, ClaimsPilot is designed to help individuals and small businesses navigate the process with confidence.

Start your claim or manage your enforcement steps at ClaimsPilot →
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For complex or high-value matters, consider seeking independent legal guidance.