How Long Do I Wait To Get The Bailiffs In ?

[CW1]

Hi,

After months of sending [unanswered] letters & a claim issued via MCOL (also unanswered), I've now had a judgement served on a tradesman who owes me money. At the moment the debt is less than £600 so the next step would be to involve bailiffs, but how long do I need to wait before I can do that ?

I know now bailiffs will likely be ineffective (the impunity of this guy beggars belief !), but their fees would take it over £600. Could I then take it to the High Court with a view to getting HCEOs involved (who have extra powers ?) ?

I've rung the court helpline a couple of times but, after waiting an eternity for them to answer, all they ever say is "read the online notes". I can't find anything in those about timescales once a judgement's been issued.

Thanks

[THECORBYLOON]

As I read the guidance, it is the amount in the judgement that determines who does what. That means any additional fees for enforcing the Order are not added to the debt to bring it over the £600 figure.

[CW1]

Oh, ok. I thought that as the original fee for filing the claim was added to the debt & any further fees would be added too (as well as interest), it would take the debt to over £600 & could be passed to the High Court & attempted to be recovered by HCEOs :(

[Peter Pedant]

O god read the guidance
over 600 yay
under then No

you dont need us
you need the court

[Peter Pedant]

ring the court
I thought 590 was under 600
but now I think it isnt !
ring the court

[CW1]

I wanted to try avoid calling the court again, Peter - so far they'd been *useless*. I asked here 1st as someone may have been in a similar situation & known the answer to my questions. That's generally what I use this site for …

With no other options I have called them again.

Seems I can issue a warrant straightaway, & the bailiff's fee *is* added to the debt taking it over £600 so High Court will be an option when the bailiffs fail. Just adding that in case someone else has a similar question sometime ...