Step 3 Choose your debt solution – Common priority debts 3 Magistrates’ court fines Which court? This information covers magistrates’ court fines only. Court action for non-priority debts, such as credit-card debts, is dealt with by the County Court. If you are unsure which type of court you are dealing with, contact us for advice. Why are these a priority? The magistrates’ court can order you to pay a fine, for example, for a driving offence or not having a TV licence. The magistrates’ court can do the following if you don’t pay. • Tell your employer to take money directly from your wages. • Ask for money to be taken directly from certain benefits. • Use bailiffs to try and take your goods. • Include the fine on the Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines. This can affect your ability to get credit. • Make a clamping order, which could lead to your vehicle being sold. • Ask the County Court to collect the debt. • Send you to prison if you refuse to pay, or had the money to pay but did not do so. What can I do? The court will tell you what you must pay and when. If you have missed a payment or are struggling to pay, act quickly. If the court hasn’t started any further action, use the Summary budget for creditors to make an affordable offer and send a copy to the court. Check your letters from the court to see who you should contact. Keep paying what you can afford. Sometimes the court will ask you to attend a hearing so it can look at the payment arrangement. Always go to court hearings. For more information, see our Magistrates’ court fines fact sheet. If the court has already started action to collect the fine or asked you to attend a hearing, contact us for advice. Page 61