Merton Enforcement Agents provide an enforcement collection service for the London Boroughs of Merton and Sutton in respect of unpaid Council Tax, Business Rates, Business Improvement District levies and road traffic offences. They can act outside those borough boundaries.
Each agent is certificated through the County Court, holds a level 3 training certificate, complies with the prescribed legislation, accepted enforcement practice and an internal code of conduct. Enforcement Agents are permitted to work 7 days per week between 6am and 9pm.
They wear uniform which has a Merton logo, carry their council ID, certificate, and letter of authority to act, and use a body worn camera.
Video footage is stored for 90 days before deletion, however in some instances where the information is required for evidential purposes it may be stored for longer.
The fees charged as set out below are in accordance with the legislation and are not removed on cases where the initial debt is reduced or removed. For example if a PCN debt is reduced on appeal the fees applied remain due and payable and subject to enforcement action.
Pay online
Pay an enforcement agent charge online
The law
The processes that they must follow have recently changed due to a major reform in the enforcement industry that came into effect on 6 April 2014.
- The Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007
- The Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013
- The Taking Control of Goods ( Fees ) Regulations 2014
- The Tribunals Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 ( consequential , transitional ,and saving provision ) Order 2014
- The Certification of Enforcement Agents Regulations 2014
Fees Enforcement Agents can charge (Citizens Advice website)
Compliance stage
The process for new cases must start with the issuing of a Notice of Enforcement. This carries a statutory fee of £75 which is added to the balance that the Enforcement Agent Team have been instructed to collect. This is known as the Compliance Fee. At this stage you are encouraged to pay the total sum due in full or if you cannot do that to contact the Enforcement Agent Office on 020 8274 5986 in order to discuss your account.
Enforcement stage
If you do neither by the date and time as shown on your Notice of Enforcement, an Enforcement Agent will be instructed to attend your property in order to "Take Control of your Goods". Whether this action is completed or not you will become liable by virtue of that visit for a statutory Enforcement fee of £235.00. This action will also take place where you have defaulted on an arrangement given at the Compliance stage. If the Enforcement Agent has taken control of your goods he will provide you with paperwork ( Controlled Goods Agreement ) detailing the amounts to pay together with a list of items that he has control of and an agreed term of repayment if applicable. He will leave the goods with you at this stage. Please note that a sole trader's 'tools of the trade' are now subject to a financial limit and any 'tools of the trade' in excess of £1,350 can be seized.
When the Enforcement process relates to a Penalty Charge Notice your vehicle may be immobilised by clamping and will usually remain as such for a statutory 2 hour period prior to removal. Vehicles may also be immobilised on the Public Highway away from the registered keepers address as the Enforcement agents vehicles are fitted with Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras. If payment is received after 1:00pm the clamp may not be removed from the vehicle until the following working day.
Sale or disposal stage
If you do not pay in cases where goods have been taken into control within a property, you will be given prior notice of his intention to re-enter where he will remove goods for the purpose of sale or disposal. For this action you will be charged a statutory sale or disposal fee of £110 (this is applied whether the goods are sold or not) together with any disbursements. These may include locksmith, contractor or storage costs.
Likewise if it is necessary to remove a vehicle the statutory sale or disposal fee of £110 is applied together with any disbursements. In this instance this may include towing costs as well as other disbursements as mentioned above.
Remedies available to the debtor
Related websites
- Bailiffs (Citizens Advice)
- Check what fees bailiffs can charge (Citizens Advice)
- Bailiff powers when they visit your home (GOV.UK)
Contact us
We do not attend to personal visitors at the Civic Centre.
Merton Enforcement Agents
PO Box 63
SM4 5WW
Telephone: 020 8274 5986 - Monday - Friday between 9am and 3pm.
Email: EnforcementAgents@merton.gov.uk