High Court Enforcement Group: what to do about an HCE Group writ

HCE Group describes itself as the largest independent High Court enforcement company in England and Wales. It’s accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board. Most people hear from it because a creditor has won a court judgment and passed it to the High Court for enforcement. A letter from HCE Group is serious, but you still have time and options.

Who HCE Group are

HCE Group works through authorised High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs) and the certificated enforcement agents who act for them. Its work includes:

• enforcing money judgments, including county court judgments transferred to the High Court and employment tribunal awards
• writs of possession, which are used to evict people from land or property
• commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR) for business landlords

It also owns Excel Civil Enforcement, which collects council tax and parking debts on the ordinary fee scale. If your letter is from Excel, read our Excel Civil Enforcement guide instead.

How your judgment reached HCE Group

1. A creditor got a county court judgment (CCJ) against you. Read what is a CCJ?
2. The judgment wasn’t paid as ordered.
3. Because it was £600 or more, the creditor transferred it to the High Court. Judgments of £5,000 or more must usually be enforced there.
4. The High Court issued a writ of control, and it was passed to one of HCE Group’s officers.
5. You were sent a Notice of Enforcement. For writs from 1 May 2026, an agent must then wait at least 14 clear days before visiting.

Debts regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974, such as most credit cards and personal loans, can’t be enforced this way. They must stay in the county court. If you didn’t know about the original claim, you may be able to apply to set aside the CCJ.

The fee stages, and how to keep them down

As an example, on a £3,000 judgment passed to HCE Group in June 2026, the first enforcement fee would be £335: £200 plus 7.5% of £1,800.

Two rules from the 2026 changes help you here. The second enforcement fee can’t be charged if you pay in full or agree an arrangement during or after the first contact at your address. And if nobody was home at the first visit, the officer must give you another chance to pay or agree terms before moving on. VAT may be added to some fees. Check the figures with our bailiff fees calculator.

Your rights when an HCE Group agent visits

• They can’t force entry to your home for a normal civil judgment debt.
• They can only take control of goods between 6am and 9pm.
• They can’t take essential household items, work tools worth up to £1,350 or other people’s belongings.
• Business premises can have different rules.

If an agent lists your goods, you may be asked to sign a controlled goods agreement, which lets you keep the goods while you pay. Breaking one can allow the agent to come back in, so only agree payments you can keep. Read controlled goods agreements explained.

How to stop or pause the writ

1. Contact HCE Group early and offer an affordable arrangement in writing, with a budget.
2. Apply to the High Court for a stay of execution if HCE Group won’t accept what you can afford. You’ll normally use form N244, explain your income and spending, and propose instalments. There’s a court fee, and you may qualify for Help with Fees.
3. Apply to set aside the judgment if you never received the claim or have a real defence.
4. Check the debt type. A consumer credit debt shouldn’t be enforced in the High Court at all.
5. Get advice about the bigger picture. Breathing Space can pause enforcement for 60 days, and debt solutions compared sets out longer-term options.

Our High Court Enforcement Officer letter guide covers the stay process in more detail.

If the writ is for possession

A writ of possession is about getting you out of a property, not collecting money. If HCE Group has written about an eviction, get housing advice the same day. Some possession orders can still be challenged or delayed, but the time to act is short.

Complaining about HCE Group

1. Complain to HCE Group in writing, and ask it to pause enforcement while it investigates.
2. Send a copy to the creditor.
3. HCE Group says its authorised officers are all full members of the High Court Enforcement Officers Association, so you can complain to the association about an officer’s conduct.
4. HCE Group is accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board, which can look at unresolved complaints.

See how to complain about a bailiff.

Frequently asked questions

Is HCE Group the same as a High Court Enforcement Officer?

Not quite. An HCEO is an individual officer authorised by the Lord Chancellor. HCE Group is the company its officers work through.

Can HCE Group force entry to my home?

Not for a normal civil judgment debt. Its agents can only enter your home peacefully.

Can HCE Group enforce a credit card CCJ?

Not if the card agreement is regulated by the Consumer Credit Act, which most are. Those judgments must be enforced in the county court.

Can I pay the creditor directly instead?

Once a writ is with HCE Group, payments usually go through the company so that its fees are dealt with. You can still contact the creditor to negotiate.

Sources

• High Court Enforcement Group, About HCE Group
• High Court Enforcement Group, Associations and accreditations
• Enforcement Conduct Board, High Court Enforcement Group Limited
• legislation.gov.uk, The Taking Control of Goods (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026
• legislation.gov.uk, The High Court and County Courts Jurisdiction Order 1991