County Court Bailiffs vs. High Court Enforcement Officers: Which Should You Use?

So, you’ve done everything right. You sent the invoices, chased the emails, followed the Pre-Action Protocol, and finally took the debtor to court. You now have a County Court Judgment (CCJ) in your hand—a piece of paper that legally says you are owed money.

But here is the frustrating reality that many SMEs face: a CCJ does not automatically put money in your bank account.

If your debtor ignores the judgment (which happens more often than you’d think), you have to take action to enforce it. This leaves you with a critical choice: do you stick with the County Court Bailiffs, or do you “transfer up” to High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs)?

Choosing the wrong one can mean months of delay. Choosing the right one could get you paid in days.

The "Transfer Up" Threshold: The Golden Rule

Before you decide, check the value of your CCJ. This is the deciding factor.

• Under £600: You must use County Court Bailiffs.
• Between £600 and £5,000: You have a choice (and we strongly recommend the High Court option).
• Over £5,000: You must use High Court Enforcement Officers.

County Court Bailiffs vs. High Court Enforcement

They might sound similar, but in practice, they operate very differently.

1) County Court Bailiffs

These are salaried civil servants employed by the government.

• Pros: Lower upfront cost (Warrant of Control fee is approx. £83–£94).
• Cons: Because they are salaried, they get paid the same whether they recover your money or not. They are often managing huge caseloads, which can lead to significant delays.
• Powers: They generally have fewer powers to force entry into commercial premises compared to HCEOs.

2) High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs)

These are private companies authorised by the Ministry of Justice to enforce judgments.

• Pros: They are paid on results. If they don’t recover your debt, they don’t earn their commission from the debtor. This creates a powerful incentive to act fast.
• Speed: HCEOs often visit the debtor within days of receiving the Writ.
• Powers: They enforce under a "Writ of Control," which gives them significant power to enter commercial premises and seize goods to cover the debt.

Comparison: Which is right for you?

Feature	County Court Bailiff	High Court (HCEO)
Best for	Debts under £600	Debts over £600
Speed	Slow (Weeks/Months)	Fast (Days)
Incentive	Salaried (No incentive)	Results-based (High incentive)
Cost Risk	Low fixed fee	Low compliance fee if fails

How to "Transfer Up" (It’s easier than you think)

Many businesses avoid the High Court because it sounds expensive or complicated. In reality, the process is streamlined.

If your debt is over £600, you can instruct a High Court Enforcement company to handle the transfer for you.

• Step 1: Form N293A. This is the form used to transfer the CCJ to the High Court.
• Step 2: The Writ. You pay a court fee (currently around £78) to "seal" the Writ of Control.
• Step 3: Enforcement. The HCEO takes over. They will send a "Notice of Enforcement" giving the debtor 7 days to pay. If they don't, the HCEO visits the premises to seize assets.

What about the costs?

This is the most common concern for SMEs.

• If successful: The debtor pays the HCEO’s fees, interest, and your original debt. You get your money back, including the court transfer fee.
• If unsuccessful: You usually only pay a "Compliance Fee" (typically around £75 + VAT) to the HCEO.

Compared to the risk of writing off a £3,000 invoice, a small compliance fee is often a risk worth taking for the superior speed and pressure HCEOs provide.

Summary

If you are sitting on an unpaid CCJ, don't let it gather dust. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to collect assets. Check your CCJ amount today. If it’s over £600, transferring up to the High Court is often the most powerful tool in your arsenal to turn a court judgment into actual cash.