High Court Writ - looks completely fake, is it?

sptravis99

Hi there - I have received an email from a company called HCE Recovery with the subject 'High Court Writ of Control'

It is demanding full and final payment otherwise their High Court Enforcers will be visiting for full payment.

The debt is genuine - but I have a payment plan with them, so not sure why they've sent this.

But surely a high court writ comes from a court? And would have documentation, or a signed writ? There is nothing attached - the email in full is below, but any advice would be much appreciated!

———

High Court Writ of Control – Final and Immediate Payment Demand

Reference Number: 293A274O42
Claimant: Lantern

Total Outstanding Balance: £1,435.00 

This letter constitutes a formal, final, and non-negotiable notice issued on behalf of the High Court Enforcement Group, acting under the authority of a valid High Court Writ of Control obtained by the Claimant named above.

You are hereby placed on formal notice that immediate payment in full is now required. Failure to comply will result in direct and unavoidable enforcement action.

URGENT – ENFORCEMENT ACTION IMMINENT

Following the County Court Judgment lawfully entered against you, and its subsequent transfer to the High Court for enforcement, the outstanding balance of £1,435.00    remains unpaid despite previous written notifications and sufficient opportunity being provided to resolve this matter.

Due to your continued non-compliance, this office has now been formally instructed to proceed with enforcement recovery without further delay or discretion.

You are granted a final and absolute period of 7 working days from the date of this notice to settle the full outstanding balance.
No extensions, payment arrangements, or further warnings will be issued.

DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF AMOUNT DUE

• Judgment Debt: £1,435.00   
• Interest (as applied under judgment): £98.00
• Court Fees and High Court Transfer Costs: £95.00
• Compliance Stage Fee (HCEO): £75.00

Total Payable Immediately: £886.00 (excluding further enforcement fees if action proceeds)

LEGAL BASIS AND POWERS OF ENFORCEMENT

This enforcement action is executed under a High Court Writ of Control, pursuant to Part 83 of the Civil Procedure Rules and governed by the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013.

As Certified High Court Enforcement Officers, we are legally empowered to:

• Attend your premises without any further notice
• Enter your property peacefully and lawfully
• Take control of goods found at the address
• Remove goods for immediate sale at public auction
• Apply statutory enforcement, removal, storage, and sale fees
• Continue enforcement until the full balance is recovered

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF PAYMENT IS NOT RECEIVED

If full payment is not received within the 7-day compliance period, a High Court Enforcement Officer will attend your residential and/or commercial address to take control of goods belonging to you.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Motor vehicles (including those parked on public roads or driveways)
• High-value household items (televisions, computers, appliances, furniture)
• Business equipment, tools, or stock
• Any non-essential goods eligible for lawful seizure

Once enforcement attendance occurs, additional statutory enforcement fees will be immediately added, substantially increasing the total amount owed. These fees are mandatory and non-reversible.

CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE

Failure to comply with this notice will result in:

• Enforcement attendance without further correspondence
• Seizure and removal of goods
• Sale of goods at public auction
• Significant increase in debt due to enforcement and sale costs
• Ongoing enforcement action until the debt is satisfied in full

You will remain fully liable for all costs incurred at every stage of enforcement, regardless of the outcome of any sale.

FINAL AND LAST OPPORTUNITY

This notice represents your final opportunity to resolve this matter at the compliance stage.
You are now legally required to make full payment within 7 working days.

Failure to do so will result in immediate escalation to physical enforcement, with no further warnings, delays, or negotiation.

--

High Court Enforcement Group
Authorised High Court Enforcement Officers under High Court Writs
Regulated by the Ministry of Justice | Enforcement Conduct Board Registered

Company Reg. No: 05127004 |
Authorised by the Lord Chancellor under the Courts Act 2003

MyRealNameToo

There is no company with a registration number 05127004 so that probably tells you everything. There is a High Court Enforcement Group but they're company number 04527630

ManyWays

What sort of debt was this?

sptravis99

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81906288#Comment_81906288

A pay day loan, which is now less than that amount anyway as it's being paid off

sourcrates

It came in an email you say…………legal documents usually come in a letter, not an email.

I`ve never heard of a debt purchasing company escalating to the high court before either, have you asked them if this is genuine?.

Silly question, but do they have a CCJ granted against you?

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81906311#Comment_81906311

Have you checked your paperwork to see if the loan was regulated by the consumer credit act? It most likely is and CCA regulated debt cannot go to high court enforcement

sptravis99

They are regulated by CCA, it was originally a company called Drafty, and I've checked online and they are CCA regulated. So guessing that means no high court writ can happen

And no, no CCJ, just been paying monthly payments but hasn't gone to CCJ level. So can't imagine this is genuine at all, as it's just a standard text email, company number is incorrect, the email address as a website isn't valid and no documents were attached

I'll check with Lantern if it is real - if it isn't, how has someone got details for this?

saajan_12

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81906359#Comment_81906359

And no, no CCJ, just been paying monthly payments but hasn't gone to CCJ level. 

IMO this is the most telling, escalation to high court comes after small claims court. If you're sure it hasn't gone there and a judge hasn't ruled on you owing the money (ie a CCJ) then afaik it wouldn't go to the high court.

So then just speculating but it could be leaked details which a scammer is using to get you to pay them instead, or the creditor scaring you into paying faster. Either way, I'd triple check there's no CCJ and if not, ask the creditor whats going on. Don't pay what the 'writ' tells you to.

sptravis99

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81906473#Comment_81906473

I think so too. I have contacted Lantern to see their response, but nothing about it looks right

Thanks everyone for your help 😁

sourcrates

Its bogus, high court writs cannot be sent by email, they must be sent in a letter, and without the official court stamp it is not compliant with the law, so this is fake, quite convincing, but fake all the same.

ManyWays

This is a scam, and unlikely to be from Lantern

Article 8(1A) of the High Court and County Courts Jurisdiction Order 1991 (SI 1991/724) says:

“A judgment or order of a county court for the payment of a sum of money in proceedings arising out of an agreement regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974 shall be enforced only in a county court.”

So a payday loan debt CANNOT be transferred to the High Court.