County Court Bailiff Fees

Stressed about a bailiff company knocking on your door? You’re not alone. Each month, over 170,000 people seek advice from our website on money matters, and we’re here to guide you through this difficult time.

Understanding County Court Bailiff Fees, updated for 2023, can be a bit tricky. So, we’ve broken it down into easy steps for you in this article:

•  Learn what a County Court Judgement (CCJ) is and how it works.
•  Find out about the role of a bailiff in enforcing a CCJ.
•  Discover how much bailiffs charge in the UK and how their fees are regulated.
•  Explore ways to potentially write off some of your debt.
•  Understand your rights and options if you’re struggling with unaffordable debt.

Our team knows the worry that comes with dealing with bailiff companies. We’ve been there, and we understand your situation. We’re ready to provide the information and support you need to navigate this.

Let’s start this journey together and find the best way forward for you.

How much do bailiffs charge?

County court bailiffs follow a three-step process to enforce the debt, aiming for a resolution as early as possible within that process. 

As bailiffs move to the next stage, the value for their services increase, and therefore so do the fee you have to pay. 

So, what are the rules on bailiff fees? Here is the fee structure for county court enforcement:

1. Notice of Enforcement

£75

When a county court bailiff gets involved, they will write to ask for full payment or to agree on a repayment plan secured against your valuables (Controlled Goods Agreement). 

This initial communication will also provide notice of their intended first visit if you do not make any arrangements. The purpose of this potential visit will be to repossess your items which are then stored and eventually sold at an auction.

As soon as the enforcement agent sends this letter, a fee of £75 is added to your debt.

2. Enforcement

£235 (+7.5% of debt above £1,000)

If you make arrangements within seven working days of their first communication, they will not come out to enforce the debt by trying to take control of goods. But if you ignore them or fail to make a CGA to pay the debt, they will come to your address. 

The costs for bailiffs to come to your address and try to collect the money owed is a fixed fee of £235. If they are trying to collect more than £1,000, you will also be charged 7.5% of the value of the debt above this figure.

For example. If the enforcement agent is pursuing a debt of £2,000 and they have to pay you a visit, you’ll be charged £235 plus 7.5% of £1,000 (= £2,000 debt – £1,000 threshold). Therefore you would be charged an additional £75, taking the total costs in this scenario up to £310 for the enforcement stage only. 

If the enforcement agent has to come back again, you can be charged this fee again. 

You might be able to avoid this fee is you are deemed vulnerable. Contact the enforcement agent to explain why you are vulnerable. Some examples of vulnerable debtors include single parents, disability, mental health issues or recent bereavement. 

3. Sale

£110 (+7.5% of debt above £1,000)

If the county court bailiff manages to take control of your goods, they will then keep them stored before selling them at auction. Preparing the goods for sale and selling them comes with an additional cost of £110, plus 7.5% of the value of the money owed above £1,000. 

The service provided by the bailiff can become very expensive, especially if it goes beyond the first Notice of Enforcement stage. Make contact with the bailiff business early to search for a resolution and avoid these hefty fees. 

Miscellaneous county court bailiff costs

The bailiff may be allowed to charge you for other costs associated depending on your case. If during the process they have to use external services, such as locksmiths or companies to tow your vehicle, these costs may be passed down to you as well. 

If you are dealing with high court enforcement officers with a high court writ, then you may be charged even more of the legal costs paid by your creditor. 

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Do I have to pay bailiff fees?

You have to pay county court bailiffs the fixed fee they add to your debt for their work. You may also have to pay some additional costs during enforcement, also known as ‘disbursement costs’. These expenses can include the cost of:

1. Storing your belongings after they have been seized.
2. A locksmith.
3. Selling your belongings, including advertisement and auctioneer fees.

There are some cases when you can avoid some of the county court bailiffs’ fees. This is when the debtor is classified as vulnerable. 

But, generally, yes, you do need to pay bailiff fees even if you think that they shouldn’t have been added. Take a look at this example.

Bailiffs can’t arrest you! Only the police have the legal authority to detain you and they aren’t going to get involved in a civil case like this.

Can I claim back bailiff charges?

If you believe that you have been overcharged, you may be able to claim back bailiff fees. To do so, you should first complain to your creditor in writing, and ask that they cancel the bailiff fees. If this doesn’t work, you can escalate the complaint by applying for a court judge to decide if the bailiff fees were appropriate.

Are bailiff fees regulated?

As of 6 April 2014, bailiff charges have been standardised. Now that they are the same, ensuring fair bailiff charges is much easier.

This means that they have to follow the pricing structure I have gone through above. If you have also been charged court fees, you can check that this is correct with the Court Service website.

It is rare, but sometimes bailiffs can charge the wrong amount. This is why it is essential that you check your bill and collect receipts for anything that you pay.

Are there alternatives to bailiff action?

If you have noticed that you are struggling to pay your debts, you might be able to use debt solutions to avoid bailiffs.

There are several different debt solutions available in the UK, so I recommend speaking to a debt charity as soon as possible. Their advisors will be able to look at your finances in detail and help you work out which debt solution will work best for you.

I have linked a few charities that offer these advisory services for free below.

Debt Management Plan (DMP)

A DMP is an informal debt solution that lets you pay off your debts via a single monthly payment.

Because it is informal, it is not legally binding so you are not tied into a DMP for a minimum number of payments.

Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

An IVA is a formal agreement between you and your creditors. You agree to pay a monthly sum that is distributed amongst your debts, and your creditors agree not to contact you during your IVA.

IVAs typically last for 5 or 6 years, and any outstanding debt is wiped off when it ends.

Keep in mind that IVAs are not suitable for everyone. You need to owe several thousand pounds to more than one creditor to be eligible. You also need to demonstrate that you have some disposable income every month.

Trust Deed

IVAs are not available in Scotland. Instead, you will need to opt for a Trust Deed.

Trust Deeds work in the same way as an IVA – you pay an agreed sum each month that is shared amongst your creditors, they can’t contact you, and any leftover debt at the end of your Trust Deed term is written off.

Debt Relief Order (DRO)

A DRO is a good option for those facing financial hardship with no assets and little income.

For 12 months, you make no payments, but your creditors freeze your interest and don’t contact you.

If your finances haven’t improved during this year, you may be able to write off your unsecured debts.

Bankruptcy

If you have debts but no realistic possibility of ever paying them off, you may need to declare bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy has an unfair stigma attached to it as it may be your only way of getting a financial fresh start. That said, it is a serious financial situation that should not be taken lightly.

Sequestration

Sequestration is the Scottish version of bankruptcy.

If you have little income and no valuable assets, you may be able to apply for a minimal asset process bankruptcy (MAP). A MAP is a quicker, cheaper, and more straightforward version of sequestration, so worth considering.

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What do I do if the bill is wrong?

If you think that your bill is incorrect, you need to complain to your original creditor.

You can use my free letter template to help you write the letter. I recommend writing rather than phoning because there will be physical evidence for you to rely on if you need to take the dispute further.

You can ask that your creditor gets the bailiffs to cancel some of their fees or to give you a refund if you have already paid too much.

Possible reasons for complaint include:

• The percentage fee charged in Stages 2 or 3 was wrong
• The fixed fee that you were charged at any Stage is wrong
• You have been charged for something that the bailiffs didn’t do
• The bailiffs haven’t given you receipts for their disbursement costs, and you think they’re wrong
• The bailiffs charged you fees when they couldn’t – eg they have lost their license.

If your creditor doesn’t help you, you may need to get an order from a judge.

If you are considering any type of court action, you need to seek legal advice immediately. The debt charities that I have linked below will be able to guide you on your best next steps.

• StepChange
• National Debtline
• Citizens Advice
• Debt Advice Foundation.

How much do bailiffs get paid in the UK?

The bailiff salary in the UK can vary drastically. Some entry-level bailiffs will be paid just above minimum wage, whereas more experienced certificated enforcement agents will earn over £35,000 per year.