Form N293A: request for a UK county court warrant of control

When a debtor ignores a County Court Judgment (CCJ) and refuses to pay, a creditor's next step is often to ask the court for a warrant of control. This allows a court bailiff to seize goods to cover the debt. Form N293A is the document that starts this process.

This guide explains what N293A is, who uses it, what happens after it's filed, what bailiffs can and cannot take, and what options debtors have when faced with it.

The short version

Form N293A is a request form that creditors file with the court to ask for a warrant of control after obtaining a County Court Judgment. A bailiff then has legal authority to visit the debtor's home or business, identify goods belonging to the debtor, and remove them to sell for the debt. The court charges a fee (typically around £83) to issue the warrant. Debtors can challenge the warrant or offer payment, but if they ignore it, the bailiff will enforce it.

At a glance

What form N293A is

Form N293A is a one-page request form that a creditor submits to the county court. It tells the court: "This judgment debtor has not paid. I want you to issue a warrant of control so a bailiff can seize their goods."

The form includes:

• The case number (from the original CCJ)
• The amount still owed
• The interest accrued since judgment
• Confirmation that at least 14 days have passed since the judgment
• The debtor's address

It is not an application to the judge. It is an administrative request to the court office, and the court grants it as long as the creditor has met the legal conditions.

When the creditor can use N293A

The creditor can only file N293A after:

1. A judgment has been obtained: There must be a County Court Judgment against the debtor.
2. At least 14 days have passed since judgment: The debtor has a 14-day window to pay voluntarily. If they do, the creditor cannot apply for a warrant yet.
3. The debt remains unpaid: On the date of filing, the debtor still owes money (after accounting for any part-payments).

If the debtor pays within those 14 days, N293A cannot be used. Once the 14 days end and the debt is unpaid, the creditor's right to use N293A comes into force.

If the debtor has filed an appeal against the judgment and it has not been decided, the warrant cannot be issued until the appeal is resolved.

Court fee

The court charges a fee to issue the warrant of control. As of 2024, this fee is £83. The creditor must pay this fee when submitting Form N293A.

Fees can change, so check the current court fee schedule on the HM Courts and Tribunals Service website. The creditor can ask the court to add the fee to the judgment debt, meaning the debtor ultimately pays it.

Some creditors add the warrant fee to their claim in the bailiff stage. This is permitted, though the specific approach depends on the terms agreed with the court and the bailiff firm.

Filling out the form

Form N293A is straightforward. It asks for:

• Court details: The county court that issued the judgment.
• Case number: From the original CCJ paperwork.
• Claimant's name and address: The creditor seeking to enforce.
• Defendant's name and address: The debtor's current address. If the address is wrong, the bailiff cannot enforce.
• Amount owed: Principal debt plus any interest that has accrued since judgment.
• Confirmation of the 14-day rule: The creditor ticks a box to confirm that at least 14 days have passed since the judgment was made.
• Confirmation that the debt is unpaid: The creditor declares that they have not received payment.

The form is normally typed, printed, and sent to the court along with a copy of the original judgment (CCJ). Some courts now accept electronic filing.

What happens after filing

Once the court receives Form N293A and the fee, the court office checks that the conditions are met. If they are, the court issues a warrant of control, usually within a few days.

The warrant is then sent to a bailiff firm (sometimes called an enforcement officer). The bailiff's job is to locate the debtor, attend their home or business, identify goods, and seize them. The bailiff will then sell those goods and use the money to settle the debt.

The creditor does not enforce the warrant themselves. The bailiff is the court's officer and acts on the court's authority.

What the bailiff can take and cannot take

What bailiffs can seize

Bailiffs can remove and sell:

• Vehicles (cars, vans, motorcycles)
• Furniture (sofas, tables, beds)
• Electronics (televisions, computers)
• Jewellery, watches, and other valuables
• Tools and equipment (if relevant to a business)
• Goods in storage or at a third-party location (with restrictions)

What bailiffs cannot take

Bailiffs are prohibited from taking:

• Clothes and bedding: Reasonable clothing for the debtor and their family; one bed per person.
• Food: Perishable food in the home.
• Medicines and medical equipment: Necessary medications and devices for health.
• Items needed for work: Tools and equipment reasonably necessary for the debtor to earn a living (up to £1,350 in total value, broadly).
• Items of sentimental value: Wedding rings, engagement rings, and similar items.
• Children's clothing and toys: Reasonable items for children living in the home.
• Goods not belonging to the debtor: If the bailiff believes an item belongs to someone else, they cannot take it without a court order.

These rules come from the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2014. The law recognises that the debtor must retain some dignity and ability to survive after the bailiff's visit.

If a bailiff breaches these rules, for example by seizing clothing beyond the "reasonable" amount or taking a wedding ring, the debtor can complain to the court or to the bailiff's regulator.

Fees the bailiff adds

Beyond the court fee, bailiffs are allowed to add enforcement costs to the debt. The Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2014 sets out what the bailiff can charge:

• First attendance fee: Between £75 and £235, depending on the bailiff firm's registered scale.
• Subsequent attendance fees: £55 to £110 per visit if the bailiff has to return.
• Removal and storage: Costs for removing and storing seized goods, usually charged per item or per day of storage.
• Sale preparation and auction: Costs for preparing items for sale.

The debtor must be told of these fees before the bailiff removes any goods. If the debtor pays the full debt amount plus bailiff fees before the goods are sold, the items are returned.

These costs can quickly exceed the original debt, which is why payment or negotiation early in the process is important.

What the debtor can do

Option 1: Pay in full

The simplest option. If the debtor pays the full amount owed plus any court or bailiff fees, the warrant is suspended and the bailiff will not attend. Payment should be made to the creditor or the bailiff firm, depending on who holds the warrant.

Option 2: Apply to suspend the warrant (Form N245)

A debtor can apply to the court to suspend (pause or cancel) the warrant if they have grounds to do so. Grounds include:

• Hardship: The debtor will face severe hardship if the warrant is enforced (e.g., loss of essential goods).
• Error in the judgment or warrant: The judgment was made incorrectly or the warrant was issued in breach of the rules.
• The debtor wants to offer a payment plan: The court may suspend the warrant if the debtor offers reasonable instalments.

The debtor files Form N245 (Application to set aside, vary or stay proceedings) with the court, explaining the grounds. The creditor can oppose it. The judge then decides whether to suspend the warrant.

This must be done quickly, ideally before the bailiff visits.

Option 3: Negotiate a controlled goods agreement

If the bailiff attends and is about to seize goods, the debtor can sometimes negotiate a "controlled goods agreement" with the bailiff. This is a written promise that the debtor will keep the identified goods at the address and will not sell them or move them away. In return, the bailiff does not physically remove the goods (leaving them under the bailiff's control).

This buys the debtor time to scrape together the money without losing their possessions immediately. However, if the debtor breaks the agreement, the bailiff can return and seize the goods with no further warning.

Option 4: Challenge the warrant itself

If the warrant was issued in error (for example, if the 14-day rule was not met or if the judgment was already paid), the debtor can ask the court to cancel it. This is less common but possible.

Time limit on warrant

A warrant of control lasts for 12 months from the date it is issued. If the bailiff has not enforced it within that 12 months, it expires.

However, the creditor can apply for a new warrant to replace the expired one, as long as the debt is still outstanding. This process repeats until the debt is paid or the creditor gives up.

Day to day: a timeline

Here is what typically happens, step by step:

1. Day 0: Judgment is made against the debtor.
2. Day 1 to 14: The debtor has 14 days to pay voluntarily.
3. Day 15+: If unpaid, the creditor can file Form N293A.
4. Day 15 to 20: The court processes the application and issues the warrant (usually within a few days).
5. Day 20 onwards: The bailiff receives the warrant and plans attendance. They usually send a notice of attendance first (though not always required).
6. Day 25 to 60: The bailiff attends the debtor's address, identifies goods, and either seizes them or agrees a controlled goods arrangement.
7. Day 65+: Seized goods are removed, stored, and later sold at auction. Money from the sale goes towards the debt.

The timeline can stretch out if the debtor is not home, if goods are difficult to identify, or if the debtor negotiates. Some warrants never reach the enforcement stage because the debtor pays before the bailiff visits.

Common misconceptions

"The bailiff can come in the evening or at night"

False. Bailiffs have specific rules about when they can attend. They are generally expected to attend during normal business hours (9am to 5pm on weekdays). Attending at night without prior consent is not permitted.

"The bailiff can break down the door"

False, in most cases. A bailiff can only use force to enter if the debtor is breaching a controlled goods agreement or if the bailiff has a specific court order permitting entry by force. In the first visit, the bailiff must ask for consent to enter.

"All of the debtor's goods can be seized"

False. As explained above, bailiffs cannot take essential items like beds, clothes, food, medicines, or items needed for work. They must leave the debtor with the basics to survive.

"The warrant lasts forever"

False. The warrant expires after 12 months. The creditor must apply again if they want to continue enforcement beyond that.

"The court fee covers everything"

False. The £83 court fee is just the fee to issue the warrant. The bailiff will add separate enforcement fees (first attendance, removal, storage, etc.). The total cost to the debtor can be significantly higher.

"Once the bailiff arrives, the debtor has no choice"

False. The debtor can still negotiate, offer payment, or apply to the court to suspend the warrant, even after the bailiff has been contacted. Quick action is crucial, though.

Related concepts

• County Court Judgment (CCJ): what it means and what happens next
• Form N1: making a claim in the county court
• Enforcing a judgment: your options
• Bailiff rules: what they can and cannot do
• Controlled goods agreements: keeping your possessions
• Form N245: applying to suspend or set aside
• Debt recovery in the county court: a guide
• Insolvency and personal insolvency: when you cannot pay
• Dispute resolution before court: mediation and negotiation
• High court enforcement: when the bailiff escalates

Sources

• HM Courts and Tribunals Service: warrant of control
• Citizens Advice: bailiffs
• Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2014

Disclaimer: This page provides information about UK Form N293A and the warrant of control process. It is not legal advice. If you are facing enforcement action or need to enforce a judgment, please speak to a solicitor or contact a free legal advice service like Citizens Advice.

Written by Peter Kolomiets, founder of CaseCalm. UK content reviewed 2026-05-28.