New commercial debt recovery enforcement platform launches

A pioneering new service has launched with the ambition to reshape the commercial debt recovery and enforcement landscape across England & Wales. Remote Court Users (RCU) introduces a streamlined, scalable model that places creditors, legal professionals, enforcement agencies, and the court system in closer alignment, delivering efficiency, transparency, and societal benefit.

RCU positions itself as a national clearing house for Writs of Control, facilitating the transfer of County Court Judgments (CCJs) to the High Court for execution. Sitting at the intersection of SMEs, lawyers, High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs), and HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), RCU offers a centralised, accessible route to enforcement that aims to reduce friction and increase throughput.

The company’s ambition is clear: to become the sole provider of Transfer Up Services in England & Wales, offering a consistent and compliant pathway for commercial creditors to recover funds.

RCU’s offering is particularly tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), though it is open to all sectors. The service is designed to:

• Eliminate Abortive Fees: Creditors and their legal representatives will not be charged for unsuccessful enforcement attempts.
• Preserve Existing Relationships: Where a creditor or legal team has a preferred HCEO, RCU will facilitate direct instruction.
• Ensure Fair Allocation: In the absence of a preferred agency, RCU will allocate cases on a cab-rank basis to registered HCEOs—free to join the RCU partnership register.
• Provide End-to-End Case Management: From instruction to resolution, RCU manages the process while keeping stakeholders informed throughout.

The current High Court Enforcement market processes approximately 154,000 Writs annually. RCU projects that its model could unlock an additional 650,000 Writs in its initial phase, potentially increasing HMCTS revenue from £10 million to £64 million per annum. This growth would not only ease the burden on County Court Bailiffs but also provide the financial foundation for digitising the enforcement process nationwide.

RCU Founder Amir Ali OBE said “Remote Court Users is not trying to do everything; we want to be the best in the world at one thing and do it for the benefit of all in society.”

“The Legal Aid Foundation will follow in phase two of the project, offering legal advice to those in society who have no means.”

The service is available for unregulated monetary judgments of £600 or more, and is designed to offer a compliant, cost-effective route to enforcement.