CEA Limited (Leeds): what a letter means and what to do

“Civil enforcement agent” is the general name for a certificated bailiff, so check that your letter is from Civil Enforcement Agents Limited, the Leeds company this page is about. CEA acts as a debt collector before a court judgment and as an enforcement firm after one, and your rights are different in each case. This page covers England and Wales.

Who are CEA Limited?

The company is CIVIL ENFORCEMENT AGENTS LIMITED, company number 10525507. It is an active private limited company, incorporated on 14 December 2016, with its registered office in Leeds. Companies House lists one individual as its person with significant control, holding more than 25% but not more than 50%. Two older companies with the same name were dissolved in 2011 and 2015.

Civil Enforcement Agents (CEA) Limited has been accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB) since October 2023. It is a member of CIVEA, the Civil Enforcement Association. The High Court Enforcement Officers Association’s directory lists it among the companies linked to one of its High Court enforcement officers. CEA says it began as a bailiff company in Yorkshire and is now part of a group of two companies.

Why are CEA contacting you?

CEA’s website describes several services:

• Business-to-business invoice collection. CEA says it adds statutory late payment charges and interest to the debtor’s balance and recovers its costs from the debtor. See our guide to business and self-employed debt.
• Personal debts and County Court Judgments. CEA says it follows the pre-action process before court action. Under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims, an individual has 30 days to reply to a letter of claim.
• Bailiff services using certificated enforcement agents: High Court writs, commercial rent arrears recovery (CRAR), lease forfeiture, and removing travellers and squatters from commercial land.

So there are two situations. If there is no judgment yet, CEA is collecting a debt and has no power to take your goods; you can dispute it, ask for evidence and reply to any letter of claim. If there is a judgment, see what a CCJ is and how enforcement follows.

What can CEA do, and what can they not do?

When CEA’s agents enforce a writ or use CRAR, they follow the same law as every bailiff.

• Notice. You must get a notice of enforcement at least 14 clear days before an agent can take control of goods (28 if a debt adviser asks, though not for some business debts). Cases started before 1 May 2026 keep the old 7-day period.
• Fees. Fees are fixed by law, and under a High Court writ they are £79 at the compliance stage, £200 plus 7.5% of the debt above £1,200 for the first visit, £520 for a second visit and £550 plus 7.5% above £1,200 for sale, with the other scale in our guide to what bailiffs can and cannot do.
• Consumer credit. A judgment on a regulated consumer credit agreement can only be enforced in the County Court, not by a High Court writ.
• Entry. You usually do not have to let an agent into your home, and they cannot force entry to collect an ordinary judgment. Business premises have different rules.

Our guide to High Court enforcement officers explains how to ask the court to pause a writ.

What should you do now?

1. Work out the stage. A letter demanding payment is not a notice of enforcement. Look for a court claim number, judgment or writ.
2. If you dispute the debt, say so in writing and ask for copies of the invoice, contract or judgment.
3. If there is a notice of enforcement, count 14 clear days, leaving out Sundays and bank holidays.
4. Offer what you can afford to CEA and the creditor, and keep a copy of everything.
5. Get free advice from a debt adviser, or Business Debtline if you trade; see where to get free debt advice and the debt solutions comparison.

How do you complain about CEA?

1. Complain to CEA in writing and keep a copy.
2. Complain to the creditor or landlord who instructed it.
3. The ECB investigates complaints about accredited firms. Complain within 3 months of becoming aware of the problem, or within 1 month of the firm’s final response. CIVEA itself does not investigate complaints about its members.
4. For serious misconduct by a certificated agent, you can complain to the court on form EAC2.

Our guide to dealing with debt collectors covers complaints about collection activity.

Is the letter really from CEA?

Check the company name, the creditor and any claim number against your own records, and confirm with the creditor using details you trust. This page does not list CEA’s phone numbers or payment details. Ask any agent for identification and check the certificated enforcement agent register.