How bailiff action can be stopped or paused

The routes, and who decides

1. Payment in full

Paying the debt and the fees charged so far ends the matter. Where goods have already been taken into control, the law says that after payment in full “no further step may be taken under the enforcement power”, and removed goods must be made available for collection.

Paying during the notice period keeps the fees to the £79 compliance fee. How the fee stages work

2. A payment arrangement

Enforcement firms can accept payment by instalments. Before a visit this is a repayment arrangement. After goods have been listed it is a controlled goods agreement. A firm does not have to accept an offer.

3. The 28-day notice period

New from 1 May 2026. If a debt advice provider asks before the first 14 clear days are up, the notice period must be extended to at least 28 clear days. How the notice period works

4. Breathing Space

Breathing Space is a government scheme in England and Wales. A debt adviser applies for it, and for up to 60 days creditors and their agents cannot take enforcement action, make contact about the debts or add interest and charges. Court fines are not covered. Breathing Space and bailiffs

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5. The creditor takes the debt back

The enforcement firm acts on the creditor’s instructions, and the creditor can withdraw them. Councils do this, for example, where they learn that someone is vulnerable or that an arrangement directly with the council is workable. Whether to do so is the creditor’s decision.

6. A court order

This route only exists where the debt is a court judgment.

• County court warrant of control. An application on form N245 asks the court to suspend the warrant and set payments the person can afford. A court fee applies unless the applicant qualifies for help with fees.
• High Court writ of control. An application on form N244 asks for a stay of execution. The court fee for an application on notice is £321 from 13 July 2026.
• A judgment that should not have been made, for example because the claim form went to an old address, can be the subject of an application to set it aside.

For parking and traffic penalties there is a separate process through the Traffic Enforcement Centre. Parking fines and bailiffs

7. A formal insolvency solution

A Debt Relief Order, an Individual Voluntary Arrangement and bankruptcy each stop creditors enforcing the debts included in them. Each has eligibility rules, costs and serious consequences, and some debts, court fines among them, cannot be included. These are regulated solutions, and whether one is suitable is a matter for a regulated adviser or an insolvency practitioner.

8. The time limit

An agent “may not take control of goods of the debtor after the expiry of a period of 12 months beginning with the date of notice of enforcement”. The clock restarts if a repayment arrangement is broken, and a court can extend it once. The debt itself does not disappear when the period ends: it goes back to the creditor. Time limits explained

What does not stop enforcement

• Not answering the door. For most debts it prevents entry, but fees are still added and goods outside can be taken.
• A complaint. Enforcement can carry on while a complaint is considered, unless the firm or creditor chooses to hold the case.
• Scripts and “magic words” found online. Enforcement agents act under statutory powers, and no form of words removes them.

Common questions