-- Interest: every High Court judgment carries interest (Judgments Act 1838 s 17).

Interest generally runs on a county court judgment if it is for £5,000 or more -- County Court (Interest on Judgments Debts) Order 1991.

Enforcing a county court judgment in the High Court means it may attract interest which would not be available in the county court.

That can be done provided the judgment is for at least £1,000.-- Charging order: a method of securing the judgment to the extent that there is equity in the property charged.

But the creditor may have to wait for payment and incur additional costs of the order for sale of the property.

The county court can make a charging order for any amount so long as the debtor is in default of payment obligations (Mercantile Credit Company Ltd v Ellis [1987] CLY 2917 and s 86(1) County Courts Act 1984).

An application can only be made to the High Court where the original judgment was for more than £5,000.

In the High Court there is no absolute requirement that the debtor is in default although this will be relevant to the exercise of the court's discretion whether to grant the order.

The High Court, unlike the county court, has no jurisdiction to stay an order on payment by instalments.-- Garnishee order: an effective method where the creditor is confident that there is 'any debt due or accruing due from Garnishee to Judgment debtor'.

It will not generally be granted if its effect would be to prefer one creditor over another.

Deposite taking institutions may deduct £30 for administrative expenses when complying with an order.-- Attachment of earnings: generally more successful where the debtor is in full-time regular employment with at least a reasonable income and not self-employed.

The High Court can only make an order to secure payment of a High Court maintenance order.

The county court may make an order to secure payment under a High Court or county court maintenance order or judgment debt.

Application is usually made to the debtor's home court (CCR ord 27, r 3(1): if necessary, request a transfer (ord 25, r 2(1)).-- Execution of goods: a more risky method of enforcement unless the creditor is sure that the debtor owns some goods on which to levy but it can be effective where a reluctant debtor has monies available.

Judgments for £1,000 or more may be enforced through the High Court.

Judgments for £5,000 or more must be enforced through the High Court.

If between £1,000 and £5,000, execution may be attempted in the High Court or county court.

If execution in the High Court is stayed before sale, the creditor is still liable to pay the sheriff his fees unless the order for stay provided otherwise.

The procedure for enforcement of a county court judgment in the High Court has been streamlined as from Monday 31 August with a new combined certificate of judgment and request for writ of fi fa (N293A).

This does not involve the action being transferred up so that other forms of enforcement may still be pursued in the county court.

A substitute QBD senior master's practice direction no 32 dated 31 August 1998 has been issued (see [1998] Gazette, 26 August, 35).-- Statutory demand: a judgment is unnecessary.

Non-payment following service provides a ground for a bankruptcy petition.

It is unavailable for an unliquidated claim unless damages have been assessed leading to a judgment.

This can be an effective and speedy method of recovery, best suited where the creditor is unconcerned about interest and is confident the debtor has the ability to pay.

The debtor has 18 days from service to apply to set aside with supporting affidavit.

Is there a genuine triable issue?-- Application to set aside: the knee jerk reaction of many debtors to an enforcement attempt is an application to set judgment aside.

If the judgment was regular, the debtor will need to show a defence with a realistic prospect of success.

In the county court, the application should only be transferred to the defendant's home court if the claim is liquidated.

What if the debtor fails to attend the application? Invite the court to strike out and add 'no further applications to set aside without leave' or 'any further applications to be listed before circuit judge'.