You don't pay the court fine, what next?

If bailiffs contacted you and cannot recover the money or take control of goods, the bailiff returns the case back to the court after 90 days.^[1]

The bailiff may hold the case for up to 180 days if the debtor may pay the fine.^[1]

The enforcement power ceases to be exercisable after 12 months from the date of issue on the Notice of Enforcement.^[2]

If a bailiff returns a warrant unpaid, the fines officer may issue a warrant of committal.^[3] The cost of committal negates the commercial interest in the court fine and is rarely exercised.

If the bailiff cannot contact the debtor, or the debtor has moved and cannot be traced, HM Court Service transfers the unpaid fine to the Historic Debts Team and will try to enforcement fine again later.^[4]

If the bailiff cannot recover the unpaid fine, the enforcement fees are a nullity.^[5][6]

^{[1] The Enforcement Services Contract issued to enforcement agencies by the Ministry of Justice
[2] Regulation 9 of the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
[3] Section 76(2) of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980
[4] HM Courts and Tribunals Service Historic Debts Team
[5] Regulation 3 of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014
[6] Regulation 17(1) of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014}