Priority Debt: Court Fines
If you have unpaid court fines, they are considered priority debts, meaning they should be paid before non-priority debts like credit cards or unsecured loans. Failure to pay can lead to aggressive enforcement measures.
Enforcement Powers
The court has several methods to recover debt if you do not pay your fine or miss an instalment:
Bailiff Action: The court can issue a "warrant of control," allowing bailiffs (enforcement agents) to visit your home to collect payment or seize goods to be sold at auction.
Bailiffs can charge significant fees for letters and visits, which are added to your debt.
They may force entry only as a last resort for criminal fines.
Wage or Benefit Deductions: Money can be taken directly from your salary via an Attachment of Earnings Order or from your DWP benefits.
Asset Freezing: A Third-Party Debt Order can freeze money in your bank account to cover the debt.
Charging Orders: If you own property, the court can place a charge against it, ensuring the debt is paid when the property is sold.
Prison: In extreme cases, if the court believes you are deliberately refusing to pay, you could face a prison sentence.
What to Do if You Can't Pay
Do not ignore a court fine; the situation will worsen as fees and interest are added.
Contact the Court: If your financial circumstances have changed, you can apply for a remission of the fine (writing it off in full or part) or ask to pay in smaller instalments.
Check Your Balance: You can contact the collection or revenue unit of the court where you were convicted to check your outstanding balance.
Seek Free Advice: contact our debt adviser
Get help
If you need advice about your situation, we can help for free.
- Email: info@youthlegal.org.uk
- Phone: 020 3195 1906 (Mon to Fri, 10am to 6pm)
- Contact form: youthlegal.org.uk/contact-us
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