Winning a county court judgment (CCJ) for an unpaid commercial invoice is not the same as being paid. HM Courts & Tribunals Service is clear: the court will not enforce the judgment unless you ask it to. If the debtor still ignores the order, you choose an enforcement route, pay a further court fee, and accept that recovery is never guaranteed.
Debt Collection UK (a trading style of PASECOM GROUP LTD) introduces B2B files to independent partner agencies. We are not solicitors, we are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, we do not collect consumer credit, and we do not act as High Court Enforcement Officers. This guide explains the main options after a CCJ on a business debt so you can decide what to do next — or when to instruct a specialist partner.
What does a CCJ actually give you?
A CCJ is a court order that the debtor must pay the sum the court decided. It does not move money from their account into yours. GOV.UK’s guide What to do if you have a judgment but the defendant has not paid (EX321) sets out the core point: you must apply for enforcement, and the court cannot guarantee you will recover either the debt or the fees you spend trying.
Usually you wait until the payment date on the judgment has passed (often 14 days from the order) before enforcing. Keep the claim number, the sealed judgment, and a clear record of what has (and has not) been paid. See also our county court claim money page.
What should you check before you spend on enforcement?
EX321 asks you to think about whether the debtor is worth chasing. Before you pay another court fee, ask:
- Does the business still trade, or is it already insolvent?
- Are there other judgments or fines against the same name on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines?
- Are there goods, a bank balance, wages (for an individual debtor), or property that an order could reach?
- Is the debt genuinely disputed, or simply ignored?
If you know little about the debtor’s finances, GOV.UK also explains an order to obtain information (EX324, linked from EX321). That is not enforcement — it helps you learn income, assets and spending so you pick a method that might work. A warrant against empty premises, or a third-party debt order against an overdrawn account, just adds cost.
Main ways to enforce a CCJ on an unpaid invoice
GOV.UK: Enforce a judgment lists the routes most commercial creditors consider. Each targets a different asset:
- Warrant of control — goods that can be taken and sold
- Attachment of earnings — wages of an employed individual debtor
- Third-party debt order — money in a bank or building society account (or money someone else owes the debtor)
- Charging order — a charge on land, property or certain investments
Pick the route that matches what the debtor actually has. Attachment of earnings is useless against a limited company or a self-employed sole trader with no PAYE wages. A charging order may secure the debt against property but often pays only when that property is sold.
Warrant of control (and High Court writ of control)
A warrant of control authorises certified enforcement agents to demand payment or take control of goods to sell at auction. In the county court you generally cannot ask for a warrant for more than £5,000 (Consumer Credit Act regulated agreements are a separate rule and are not the B2B path this site covers).
GOV.UK states that if you are owed between £600 and £5,000 you may apply in the county court (form N323) or transfer for High Court enforcement (form N293A for a writ of control). Above £5,000 on a non–Consumer Credit judgment, High Court transfer is how you enforce the full amount by writ of control. Court staff will not say which forum is more likely to succeed; High Court procedure differs and can cost more, so get advice first.
Always check the live GOV.UK fee list before you pay. Agents cannot take essential household items, tools of trade, hire-purchase goods, or assets that are not the debtor’s. For a limited company, the registered office may hold nothing of value — give a trading address where goods actually sit. We do not pretend to be High Court Enforcement Officers; if a partner later recommends High Court enforcement, that is their process with you as creditor, not a badge on this site.
Third-party debt orders and charging orders
A third-party debt order is typically used to freeze money in a bank or building society account so that, if the court makes a final order, funds can be paid toward the judgment. EX321 warns that if the account is overdrawn on the day the bank receives the interim order, you cannot be paid from it — and the debtor will know about the freeze.
A charging order puts a charge on the debtor’s land or property (and in some cases investments). It can stop a clean sale without your debt being addressed, but it is often slow money. EX321 notes you may later ask the court for an order for sale in some circumstances; those applications are technical and you should take advice.
Both routes can be complicated. GOV.UK recommends solicitor or Citizens Advice input before you start.
Attachment of earnings — when it helps B2B files
Attachment of earnings only works where the judgment debtor is an employed individual. The court orders the employer to deduct from wages. It cannot be made against someone unemployed or self-employed with no employer. Many unpaid company invoices need goods, bank balances, or insolvency advice instead — not attachment of earnings against the company itself.
Insolvency is separate from ordinary CCJ enforcement
EX321 notes that larger debts may also open bankruptcy (individuals) or other insolvency routes for companies. Those steps are expensive, high-stakes, and not “simple” judgment enforcement. This site does not run them for you, and they do not guarantee payment. For the claim stage, see how to make a county court claim for an unpaid commercial invoice and how to enforce a CCJ against a limited company.
Where does a debt collection agency fit after a CCJ?
Some creditors instruct collection before court; others only after judgment. A partner cannot magic money from a dead company, but they can chase under the judgment and coordinate steps you authorise. On files introduced here, partners usually work on a fixed percentage / commission of what they recover (often no-collection, no-fee), agreed in writing before they act. This guide is free; recovery is not free and is not guaranteed. We introduce the B2B file; we do not collect it ourselves. See debt collection agency and unpaid invoices.
Frequently asked questions
Does a CCJ mean the court will collect my unpaid invoice?
No. EX321 is explicit: the court enforces only if you apply, and it cannot guarantee payment.
What is the most common way to enforce a CCJ for a commercial invoice?
Many creditors start with a warrant of control (or High Court writ of control where the rules allow) if the debtor has goods worth taking. The right choice depends on assets, not habit.
Can I enforce a CCJ over £5,000 in the county court?
For most non–Consumer Credit judgments, county court warrants of control are capped at £5,000. Above that, GOV.UK points you to High Court writ of control for the full amount.
Will a third-party debt order always empty the debtor’s bank account?
No. If the account is overdrawn when the bank receives the order, there may be nothing to take. Debtors can also stop paying into that account once they know.
Are you High Court Enforcement Officers?
No. Debt Collection UK introduces B2B claims to partner agencies. We are not HCEOs, not solicitors, and not FCA-authorised for consumer credit.
Is recovery free after I get a CCJ?
No. Court enforcement attracts further fees. Partner recovery on this site is usually a fixed percentage / commission of recovered sums (often no-collection, no-fee), agreed before they start. The guide is free; recovery is not.
This guide is free. Instructing a partner to recover an overdue commercial invoice is not: fees are usually a fixed percentage of what they recover (often no-collection, no-fee), agreed before they start. When chasing or judgment enforcement has stalled, pass the file via unpaid invoices or debt collection agency.