Do not assume the debt is what it says it is
A significant share of enforcement cases run on old debts sold on to collection companies. There, one of the following is common:
The debt is time-barred. The interest and fees added are out of proportion to the principal. Enforcement is for a claim you were never properly notified of. The assignment was never communicated to you.
So the first job is not payment but checking exactly what is being enforced and on what basis. See limitation of old debts.
Some assets are exempt
Not everything can be collected. There are limits on the portion of wages and pensions that can be withheld, and certain household items and the home are protected in defined circumstances.
If your entire salary has been attached, or an account through which you receive protected payments, that is challenged.
What can be appealed
Not every act of a bailiff is unchallengeable. Certain acts can be appealed, and the deadlines are short, running from notification.
If you have received anything from a bailiff, bring exactly that document. It usually states what follows.
If you did not know about the case
This happens often: notices went to an old address and you find out from the frozen account. That is a separate question with its own route.
The invitation to pay voluntarily
It is not a judgment and it is not the end. It is the start of a period in which you can react. That period is also your window to check.
If you live abroad
This is exactly where it happens, because the notices never reach you. It is handled through a power of attorney, and the essential thing is to act as soon as you find out.
What I will need
Everything received from the bailiff, with the dates. The enforcement file number. What you know about where the debt came from and from which year. Statements showing what has already been withheld.
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.