How to dispute enforcement-agent fees

In brief

Start with an itemised statement showing the debt, enforcement type, instruction date, stages, payments and disbursements.

Jurisdiction: England and Wales. Explore the Bailiff fees, charges and assessment topic hub.

Start with an itemised statement showing the debt, enforcement type, instruction date, stages, payments and disbursements.

Identify the exact item and regulation. High Court and non-High Court scales differ, and transitional rules may apply after 1 May 2026.

CPR 84.16 may permit assessment. Complaints, debt challenges, third-party claims and EAC2 complaints address different issues and do not automatically stop enforcement.

Bailiffs And Credit Or Debit Card FeesThe Schedule to the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 explicitly defines the fees bailiffs are permitted to charge.The Council Charged You More Than £3 For The Liability OrderParagraph 5.1 of Schedule 1 to the Magistrates’ Courts Fees Order 2008 specifies that the application fee for a Liability Order is £3.The £79 Compliance Stage Fee And £247 Enforcement Stage FeeBailiff's fees are regulated by the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014, which outline the following fee structure:Council tax paid before or during bailiff enforcementPayment of council-tax arrears does not always remove statutory enforcement fees.Challenging High Court enforcement feesRequest the writ, statement, compliance and attendance records, stage, payments, disbursements and sale evidence.Challenging non-High Court enforcement feesStatutory fees can be recovered through an enforcement company where the regulations permit.

Sources and scope

This site concerns England and Wales. Principal sources include Schedule 12 to the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007, the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014, CPR Part 84 and the GOV.UK bailiff guide.

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