What to do if…
you receive notice that a lien is being filed for a debt you do not recognise

What to do now

1. Stabilise and capture the facts (5 minutes).
   Put the notice, envelope, and attachments in one place. Write down: the claimant/creditor name, any reference/case numbers, dates, the address/property mentioned, and the exact wording (for example “charging order”, “restriction”, “notice”, “interim” or “final”).

2. Translate “lien” into what it might mean in the UK (so you check the right thing).
   UK notices are often described as a charging order (linked to a judgment), or a restriction/notice recorded against the property title. Your next steps are to check what (if anything) is actually recorded and whether a court is involved.

3. Check whether anything has actually been recorded against your property.

   • England/Wales: obtain the property’s title register (and, if needed, the title plan) and look for new entries such as charges, restrictions, or notices.
   • Scotland: use Registers of Scotland/ScotLIS to see what’s recorded for the property and obtain the relevant title information.
   • Northern Ireland: use Land & Property Services guidance on searching the Land Registry/related registers.
     If the notice names an address you don’t own, treat it as a possible error or fraud and note that in your dispute.

4. If it’s court-based, verify with the court using independent contact details.
   If the notice includes a court name or claim number, contact the court via official channels (not the letter’s phone number). Ask:

   • what has been issued (and when), and
   • where documents were served.
     If it’s about an interim/final charging order, treat it as time-sensitive: some objections/reconsiderations must be made within short periods after service.

5. Dispute the debt in writing (keep it short and factual).
   Send a letter/email to the creditor/debt collector stating:

   • you do not recognise the debt and dispute liability;
   • you require evidence showing you are the debtor and the legal basis for any registration/court step;
   • you want all communication in writing.
     Include only what’s needed to identify the account they’re claiming (their reference number, your name, your current address).

6. If the collector is FCA-authorised for consumer credit, use the “dispute” leverage correctly.
   If your dispute has valid (or potentially valid) grounds (for example: wrong person, identity fraud, already paid, wrong amount), FCA rules require suspending recovery steps while the firm investigates and provides information. Put that in your written dispute.

7. If you discover a CCJ/judgment you didn’t know about, act to “reset” it.
   If the court confirms a CCJ you didn’t know about (often because papers went to an old address), ask the court about applying to have the judgment set aside (commonly using form N244 in England/Wales). Do this as soon as you can, because delay can make it harder.

8. If fraud is possible, start fraud and credit-file protections in parallel.

   • Report identity fraud through the UK’s fraud reporting service.
   • Check your credit files with the main UK credit reference agencies for accounts you don’t recognise and dispute incorrect entries.
   • Consider adding an extra-check “protective” marker if you believe your identity is being misused.

9. Create a simple evidence trail.
   Keep a single timeline note: dates, who you contacted, what was said, and copies/screenshots of letters and any register/court results. This is what helps if you need to escalate fast.