If you’ve received a letter from the court about unpaid debt, it’s natural to feel worried or unsure what to do next. But ignoring it can make matters worse – and quickly. Whether you’ve misplaced the letter, delayed opening it, or decided to put it off, understanding what happens if you ignore court letters is the first step to taking back control.
In this guide, we’ll explain what happens if you ignore debt and court letters in the UK, the types of enforcement action you could face, and the steps you can still take even if you’ve already missed the deadline to respond.
Why court letters matter
Court letters are formal legal documents that usually mean a creditor has started legal proceedings to recover a debt. In many cases, this is a County Court Claim for an unpaid bill, loan, or other unsecured debt. The letter might be a Claim Form, Judgment or Notice of Enforcement, and each requires urgent action.
If you’re asking ‘what happens if I don’t respond to court letters’, the short answer is that the court will usually make a decision without hearing your side, often granting the creditor a County Court Judgment (CCJ) by default. This can have serious consequences for your credit rating, your income, and even your possessions.
What happens if I don’t respond to court letters?
When a court claim is issued, you normally have 14 days to respond. If you do nothing within that time – or within 28 days if you acknowledge the claim – the court will almost always enter a default judgment.
A default judgment means the court accepts the creditor’s claim in full. You won’t have had a chance to dispute the amount, ask for more time, or propose a payment plan. Once a CCJ is made, it will be added to your credit record for six years, making it harder to get credit, rent a home, or sometimes even secure certain jobs.
After the CCJ is issued, if you don’t pay as ordered, the creditor can ask the court to take further enforcement action. This might include:
- Sending enforcement agents (bailiffs) to recover goods
- Taking money directly from your wages (attachment of earnings)
- Applying for a charging order on your property.
How fast things can escalate
The process can move quickly. Within weeks of a CCJ being granted, the creditor could be applying for enforcement measures. In some cases, you might go from receiving your first letter to a bailiff visit in a matter of months.
Once bailiffs are involved, costs can rise steeply. Their fees are added to your debt, making it even harder to repay. Some enforcement actions, like an attachment of earnings order, can also affect your privacy and employment.
What to do if you’ve already missed the deadline
If you’ve let the response deadline pass, there are still steps you can take.
First, check whether the CCJ has been issued. You can find out by contacting the court named in your letter or checking the public register of judgments.
If the CCJ is already in place and you believe it was made in error, such as if you never received the original claim, you may be able to apply to have it “set aside”. This will usually involve a fee and may require attending a hearing, but it can stop enforcement action while the case is reconsidered.
If you agree you owe the debt but can’t afford the payments set by the court, you can apply to vary the judgment. This means asking the court to accept lower monthly payments based on what you can afford. You’ll need to provide a full breakdown of your income and expenses to support your request.
If you’ve received an enforcement notice
A Notice of Enforcement is a warning that bailiffs plan to visit your home. It usually gives at least seven days’ notice. If you receive one, contact the enforcement company or the creditor immediately to discuss payment options.
Bailiffs can take non-essential goods to sell, but they must follow strict rules and cannot take essential household items or tools needed for work. You don’t have to let them into your home unless they have a specific type of warrant, but ignoring them will not make the debt go away.
If you’re unsure of your rights or need urgent help, contact a debt adviser as soon as possible. Acting quickly may help you avoid goods being taken or additional fees being added.
Avoiding enforcement action
The best way to avoid enforcement action is to respond to court letters as soon as they arrive. Even if you can’t pay in full, you might be able to agree on a repayment plan with the creditor or the court.
If your debts are unaffordable, a debt solution could help you deal with your non-court debts, freeing up money to pay off court debts. Options like a Debt Management Plan or an Individual Voluntary Arrangement can make other repayments more manageable, so you’re in a better position to keep up with court-ordered payments and avoid further legal action.
You can learn more about which bills and debts to prioritise in our priority and non-priority debts guide.
What if you can’t afford anything right now?
If your financial situation is severe – for example, you have no income or very low income – you might still have options. You can apply to the court to suspend enforcement action or request a token payment arrangement until your circumstances improve.
Some debts, such as council tax arrears or benefit overpayments, can sometimes be included in certain debt solutions. For example, an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) or Debt Relief Order (DRO), or bankruptcy can usually cover these types of debts if you meet the criteria for the solution. With a DRO, you must have a relatively low level of debt, little spare income, and few assets. An IVA is more suitable if you have regular income and higher debts.
Why getting advice early makes a difference
Many people delay opening or responding to court letters because they feel overwhelmed. But the earlier you act, the more options you’ll have – and the less likely you are to face high enforcement costs or the loss of possessions.
At MoneyPlus, we’ve been helping people deal with court claims and enforcement for over 25 years. We understand how quickly things can escalate when court letters are ignored and how to step in before they do.
You can get free, impartial advice from MoneyHelper, or speak to a MoneyPlus adviser who can review your case and outline the best next steps for your circumstances.
