Enforcement, Collection & Debt Arrangements
A frozen account.What to do in the first days.Lifting or reducing a lien on a bank account
A lien on a bank account freezes the money in it. Salaries, payments and standing orders get stuck. But not all money can be seized, and there are ways to act quickly.
I review the file, the debt and the money in the account, and file the right application.
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First: where the lien comes from
A lien on an account usually comes from an enforcement file, but it can also come from the Tax Authority, a local authority, or as a temporary attachment in a civil claim. How to act depends on who imposed it. The first step is to find out which file it is and for how much.
What is protected from seizure
Some money is protected by law. Certain National Insurance allowances, for example, cannot be seized, and part of a salary is protected to leave enough to live on. When such money is caught by a lien, you can ask for it to be released.
Ways to act
- An application to reduce the lien or release protected funds, with documents showing where the money came from.
- An application to cancel the lien, where there is an error in the file, the debt or the procedure.
- A payment arrangement with the creditor, under which the lien is lifted.
- An application for a payment order according to your means. A debtor who pays under the order can ask to stay collection measures.
When there are several files
When the lien is part of a wider picture of several files and debts, consider consolidating the files or insolvency proceedings, which stay all collection measures.
What changed recently
Amendment 77 to the Enforcement Law narrowed seizures in a debtor's home and capped fees in small debts. The details are in the article on Amendment 77.
Questions
01How long does it take to lift a lien?
It depends on the route. A settlement with the creditor can be quick. An application to the enforcement registrar is decided after the creditor has a chance to respond. So act right away.
02My salary was frozen in my account. What now?
Ask to release the protected part, with payslips and bank statements showing where the money came from.
03Can a lien be prevented?
In most cases, yes. Responding to a warning on time, proposing a settlement or asking for a payment order lowers the chance of liens. See [what to do in the first week after a warning](/letters/enforcement-warning-first-week).
Representation that understands you.
It can start with a conversation.
A short first call to understand where you stand and what your options are. Confidential, with no obligation.
A 15-minute call, by phone or video, directly with me. Booked in an online calendar, no account needed.