What happens after a final costs certificate?

[samanthamplified]

Hello,

I will soon have a final costs certificate issued against me from the SCCO/High Court

I understand I have 14 days to pay, but I can't pay so what can I do to prevent enforcement actions?

Do I use the N245 form to request an installment plan? Or is there another way?

Can they use bailiffs?

Thanks

Anyone?

Please help with this

I have very low income, no savings, a small child, and I'm lodging.

What do I do?

I suspect the reason you haven’t had a reply is that none of the regular professional posters here are costs specialists.

I know there are two times you can ask for time to pay. The first is when the costs order is made and the second is any time thereafter on your application. I couldn’t say whether the form you suggest using is the correct one. Court staff are usually helpful over these things.

Is bankruptcy or a debt relief order a possibility? CAB can help there.

How much is the costs order for?

They can't send bailiffs round just like that. They will need to wait for you not to pay the order, then go back to court to enforce it and get a warrant which is what allows the bailiffs come round and take goods. That takes at least a couple of weeks and you will know it is happening.

Not sure about N245. If you can write the the court before they make the order and ask for more time to pay, with evidence of what you can pay etc, they might take that into account. 14 days to pay is standard but court can and does specify differnt payment terms if justified to do so.

Bear in mind that interest runs on judgment debts at 8% if you pay late.

Best would be to draw up a payment agreeement with the other side. Along the lines of you will pay x per week and in return they won't take steps to enforce the judgment