Disputing Bailiffs Fees: Detailed Assessment

For High Court bailiff fee disputes, see High Court detailed assessment

For non High Court bailiff fee disputes, see Non High Court detailed assessment

You can apply to the court to scrutinise the bailiffs fees and charges.

There is no requirement for you to tell the bailiff company you are making the application.

Bailiffs must follow strict rules when setting their fees and charges. If he makes a mistake, he is liable on an indemnity basis and pays your costs of the proceedings. This is why bailiffs must have indemnity insurance.

For the enforcement of High Court writs, the fees are as follows:


Schedule of fees for the enforcement of High Court writs

  • £75 - Compliance State Fee
  • £190 - 1st Enforcement Stage Fee
  • £495 - 2nd Enforcement Stage Fee
  • If the bailiff has taken control of goods - his expenses for transporting them is recovered from sale
  • VAT is added to these fees if the creditor is not VAT registered. See HMRC Briefing Note VBNB41720

Search online to see if the creditor is VAT registered.


The Law:

Regulation 5 of Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014

6(1)For the purposes of any enforcement power the property in goods of the debtor ceases to be bound in accordance with this paragraph.

2)The property in any goods ceases to be bound—

(a)when the goods are sold;

(b)in the case of money used to pay any of the amount outstanding, when it is used.

(3)The property in all goods ceases to be bound when any of these happens—

(a)the amount outstanding is paid, out of the proceeds of sale or otherwise;

(b)the instrument under which the power is exercisable ceases to have effect;

c)the power ceases to be exercisable for any other reason.

The Law:

Paragraph 6 of Schedule 12 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (the 2007 Act) states:

6(1)For the purposes of any enforcement power the property in goods of the debtor ceases to be bound in accordance with this paragraph.

2)The property in any goods ceases to be bound—

(a)when the goods are sold;

(b)in the case of money used to pay any of the amount outstanding, when it is used.

(3)The property in all goods ceases to be bound when any of these happens—

(a)the amount outstanding is paid, out of the proceeds of sale or otherwise;

(b)the instrument under which the power is exercisable ceases to have effect;

c)the power ceases to be exercisable for any other reason.

Official Guidelines:

The Government published official guidelines called, Taking Control of Goods: National Standards 2014, of which Paragraph 31 states:

Enforcement agents must not seek to enforce the recovery of fees where an enforcement power has ceased to be exercisable.