Attachment of Earning

An Attachment of Earnings Order is a payment order predefined by a judge at the County Court. It can only be issued in case you are employed and owe more than £50 to your creditors. The Attachment of Earnings Order lasts until the debt is satisfied in full by the concerned debtor.

An Attachment of Earnings Order is offered to a creditor when the previous payment agreements have failed. It is presented to your employer and they are bound to subtract the payment from your wages then send the money to the court.

The N56 form is a basic form in which you will be required to provide your name, address, your in-comings and outgoings, employment details, how many dependents you have and any other creditor obligations you have. The form enables you to offer a figure you can afford and as you complete this, make sure to include details of any other creditors and their payments you may have.

The court may agree to issue a Suspended Attachment of Earnings Order if they feel that your employment prospects will be weakened if your employer becomes aware of the original Earnings Order. In this case you will be indebted to make the payments yourself directly to the court. If you were to miss any payments the original order would then be acted on and your payments would then be taken right at the source.

If you oppose the order you should write to the court, keeping a copy of your posted letter, and explain the reasons for objection on your part. A judge will then set a date for you to be present at the court and present your case. You should attend the proceedings taking all documents relevant to your case, including verification of how you have worked out your budget.