»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp

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County court proceedings (CCP) may be described simply as the use of a legal process to secure payment of an outstanding debt. Compared with other means of enforcement - distraint and summary proceedings - CCP cases can take longer to clear and involve more time and work. But it can be a very effective enforcement method, particularly when used against large businesses and 'professional' taxpayers who would not welcome a county court judgment against them.

You will often find CCP described as an action or actions. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp rules for conduct of actions brought before the civil courts are contained in the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 (CPR).

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappre are two ways to bring an action in the county court

• for recovery of a fixed amount of money under Part 7 of the Civil Procedure Rules
• for any other form of redress (including unqualified damages, orders for eviction and so on) under Part 8 of the Civil Procedure Rules.

Debt technical offices will always start an action under Part 7 of the Civil Procedure Rules.

See also DMBM665100 ‘Parties to the action�.

You should only commence an action in the county court where the defendant lives in England and Wales.

»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp county court process

It may be helpful to consider actions as being in three parts:

• starting proceedings - issuing the claim and serving it on the defendant
• entry of judgment - obtaining the court’s decision in your favour
• enforcement of judgment - using the court’s powers to enforce payment in line with the court’s order.