Minimum notice period from 1 May 2026
The general minimum period increased from 7 clear days to 14 clear days. Where a debt advice provider submits a qualifying request before the notice period expires, the minimum period must be extended to at least 28 clear days. The extension does not apply to a non-eligible business debt. A court may authorise a shorter period in defined circumstances.
Check the notice
- Confirm your name and address and whether the debt is yours.
- Identify the creditor, debt type, amount, reference and enforcement company.
- Check the date and how the notice was delivered. “Clear days” and service can matter.
- Compare the balance with judgments, liability orders, penalties, payments and earlier correspondence.
- Contact an authorised debt adviser promptly if a 28-day extension or Breathing Space may be relevant.
- Do not assume that a complaint, information request or payment offer automatically extends the notice or stops attendance.
What may happen next
If the amount is not paid and no arrangement or other effective intervention is in place, an enforcement agent may attend and an enforcement-stage fee may be added. The applicable stages differ between enforcement under a High Court writ and other Schedule 12 enforcement.
Sources
Review status
Legal content reviewed against the sources identified on this page on 27 July 2026. The next review is due on 27 July 2028.