About Equita
Equita Limited, company number 03168371, is a firm of enforcement agents. It was owned by Capita until 2023, and it joined ColX Group in May 2024, alongside Jacobs Enforcement and Ross & Roberts. Its registered office moved from Northampton to 6 Europa Boulevard, Birkenhead in December 2024. It is accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board.
Equita says over 200 UK local authorities use it to collect unpaid council tax, business rates, parking fines, commercial rent arrears, former tenant arrears, housing benefit overpayments and sundry debts. It also enforces High Court writs and bus lane, moving traffic and Low Emission Zone penalties, and collects unpaid child maintenance for the Department for Work and Pensions.
Some older council pages still show Equita's Northampton address, which is out of date. A letter from Equita means a creditor has passed your case to it to enforce. You can write to Equita to pause enforcement if you are vulnerable, offer a payment plan, complain or challenge fees.
What Equita Enforces
- Council tax and business rates
- Parking fines and bus lane, moving traffic and Low Emission Zone penalties
- Commercial rent arrears and former tenant arrears
- Housing benefit overpayments and sundry council debts
- Unpaid child maintenance for the Department for Work and Pensions
- High Court writs
What a Letter from Equita Looks Like
- A Notice of Enforcement from Equita, naming the creditor and your case reference.
- A £79 compliance fee, which Equita says is added when the first Notice of Enforcement is issued, then at least £247 at the enforcement stage and a minimum of £116 more at the sale stage.
- The phone number 01604 628 360 for queries and 03300 084 470 for the automated payment line.
- Ways to pay online, by direct debit, bank transfer, standing order, PayPoint or post, and webchat.
- The postal address Equita Ltd, 6 Europa Boulevard, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 4PE.
Your Rights with Bailiffs
Notice before a visit
For notices given from 1 May 2026, you must get at least 14 clear days' notice before goods are taken. If a debt advice provider asks before that period ends, it is extended to at least 28 clear days.
Fixed fees
For most debts, from 1 May 2026 the fees are £79 at the compliance stage, £247 plus 7.5% of the amount over £1,900 once an agent visits, and £116 plus 7.5% over £1,900 at the sale stage. High Court writs have their own scale.
Visiting hours and entry
Bailiffs cannot take control of goods before 6am or after 9pm. For most debts you do not have to let them in, and they cannot force their way in. Forced entry is only allowed in limited cases, such as some unpaid criminal fines.
What they cannot take
Items you need for your work up to £1,350 in total, and household essentials such as a cooker, fridge, washing machine and beds. They also cannot take goods that belong to someone else.
Children and vulnerable people
Bailiffs must not take control of goods if a child under 16 or a vulnerable person is the only person at home.
Common Situations
A Notice of Enforcement for council tax
The council has a liability order and has passed the debt to Equita. For notices from 1 May 2026, you must get at least 14 clear days before goods can be taken. Use that time to pay, offer an affordable plan or get free debt advice.
A letter hand-delivered by an agent
An enforcement agent may hand-deliver a letter to your home. The enforcement fee can only be added once an agent has attended. Contact Equita straight away to pay or agree a plan.
A letter about child maintenance
Equita collects unpaid child maintenance for the Department for Work and Pensions. Contact Equita, and if you think the amount is wrong, also contact the Child Maintenance Service.
You are getting help from a debt adviser
ColX Group, which owns Equita, says that once an advice agency confirms an appointment, it will put the case on hold for at least 14 days. Ask your adviser to contact Equita.
You are vulnerable or struggling
You can tell Equita about a vulnerability online, or contact the ColX Welfare Team on 0345 450 9747. Ask in writing for enforcement to be paused and your case referred back to the creditor.
Fees you think are wrong
Ask in writing for a breakdown of every fee, with the date and stage of each. The enforcement fee only applies once an agent has visited.
Complaining About Equita
You can complain to Equita by email to complaint@colxgroup.com, by post to Equita, 6 Europa Boulevard, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 4PE, or through its online form. Equita says it acknowledges complaints within 2 days and sends a full response within 10 working days, and it shares its response with the creditor.
If you are still unhappy, you can go to the creditor, such as the council, the Enforcement Conduct Board, or, through the council, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
If You Are Struggling
ColX Group, which owns Equita, has a dedicated Welfare Team on 0345 450 9747 and welfare@colxgroup.com, and you can tell Equita about a vulnerability through its website. Its policy covers Breathing Space and says it will put a case on hold for at least 14 days once an advice agency confirms an appointment.
Write to Equita by Post
Our Letter to Bailiffs is written from your answers in the letter builder. You choose what it does: ask for enforcement to be paused because you are vulnerable, offer a payment plan, complain about a visit, challenge the fees, or say that you do not owe the debt. Check the finished letter before you pay, then we print it and post it by Royal Mail.
- Quotes the rules that apply to your request
- Uses the fee scale and notice period in force since 1 May 2026
- Gives the firm 14 days to reply in writing
- Says where you will take your complaint next
Write to the Bailiffs
- Guided step by step in the letter builder
- See the finished letter before you pay
- Printed and posted by Royal Mail
- Tracked delivery available
From £2.79, including printing and Royal Mail postage. Nothing to add.