A court judgment confirms the debt. It doesn't make the debtor pay. Many businesses win at court and then hear nothing. We take enforcement-only instructions on judgments you already hold, including ones you obtained yourself or through another firm.
Who this is for
- Businesses holding a County Court or High Court judgment in England and Wales
- Businesses holding a Scottish decree
- Judgments obtained by default, by admission or after a hearing
- Debts owed to your business; not consumer debts
Northern Ireland judgments: ask us. Enforcement there runs through a separate system, and we work with our legal partner in Northern Ireland.
What happens when you send it to us
- Free assessment. We check the judgment, what has been paid since, and whether the debtor still exists, is trading and is not insolvent.
- Our recommendation. We tell you the enforcement method most likely to produce payment, what it costs and our honest view of the chances, or that it isn't worth pursuing.
- Your approval. Nothing is spent without your written approval.
- Enforcement. We instruct the enforcement step and deal with the debtor, including negotiating payment in full or a formal plan.
- You get paid. Money comes through our client account to you, with a statement.
Enforcement options
- Writ or warrant of control: enforcement agents take control of goods to sell towards the debt.
- High Court enforcement: County Court judgments of £600 or more can usually be transferred to the High Court for faster enforcement by High Court Enforcement Officers.
- Third-party debt order: freezes money in the debtor's bank account or money owed to them.
- Charging order: secures the debt against property the debtor owns.
- Attachment of earnings: deductions from an individual's wages (not for companies).
- Order to obtain information: the debtor must answer questions about their finances in court.
- Statutory demand or winding-up petition: for undisputed debts owed by companies, used carefully and only with your approval.
- Scotland: decrees are enforced by diligence, such as a charge for payment, bank arrestment or earnings arrestment. See Debt Recovery in Scotland.
More on each method
What we need from you
- A copy of the judgment or decree
- The amount still owed and anything paid since
- What you know about the debtor: address, bank, assets, employer, other creditors
- Any correspondence since the judgment
Costs
Our fee is a percentage of what we recover, agreed with you in writing before we start. No recovery, no recovery fee. Court and enforcement costs are separate: we quote them in writing first and only incur them with your approval. Some of these costs can be added to what the debtor owes.
Frequently asked questions
My judgment is several years old. Can it still be enforced?
Often, yes. If the judgment is six years old or more, the court's permission is needed before a writ or warrant of control can be issued. We check this first.
The debtor has paid part of it. Can you recover the rest?
Yes. Tell us what has been paid and we will work from the balance.
The debtor company has gone into liquidation. What now?
Enforcement usually has to stop. We will tell you what options remain.
I don't know what the debtor owns.
We can trace the debtor and look at their assets first, or ask the court to order the debtor to disclose their finances.
Do you need to start the case again?
No. We enforce the judgment you already have.
Recovia Ltd is not a firm of solicitors. Court steps are taken through our legal partner, an established firm of solicitors.