What it is
A fast route by which a creditor obtains an order for payment, without the case having been examined on its merits and without you having been heard.
That does not make it unfair. It means your opportunity to object comes afterwards, not before.
The deadline to object
A period runs from service within which you can lodge an objection. It is short.
The objection does not require you to prove anything or to explain why. It is enough to state that you dispute the claim. The burden then shifts to the creditor to bring proceedings and prove it.
If you do not object, the order takes effect and enforcement follows. See defence against enforcement.
Silence is the worst answer
People fail to object for three reasons: they do not understand what they received, they believe objecting will make things worse, or they hope that not replying will make it go away.
All three lead to the same place. An objection is the cheapest step in this whole process and it is available to everyone.
If the order reached you late, or not at all
It happens, especially where the address is old or you live abroad. There is a route for raising that, but it too is tied to a period running from when you found out.
So if you learn about an order from a frozen account, call immediately, rather than after working out what happened.
If the claim is old
Limitation gets checked too. Order for payment proceedings on an old debt are standard practice for collection companies. See limitation of old debts.
If you are the creditor
This is also the fastest route to collect an undisputed claim supported by documents. See debt collection.
What I will need
The order and the envelope or receipt, so the date of service is clear. Everything you know about the alleged debt. Any contract and payments made under it.
This page provides general information and does not constitute legal advice on any specific case. Rights and deadlines depend on the facts and the applicable law.