About Marston
Marston is the trading name of Marston (Holdings) Limited, company number 04305487, and its enforcement work runs under the name Marston Recovery. Its registered office moved to 77 Shaftesbury Avenue in London on 30 April 2026, and it asks customers to write to PO Box 865, Rochdale, OL16 9UT. It is accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board.
Marston says it works for over 280 local authorities and central government departments and handles about 250,000 liability orders a year. It enforces council tax, unpaid criminal fines, child maintenance, parking and road traffic penalties, DVLA vehicle tax penalties and High Court writs. GOV.UK names Marston Holdings Limited as one of the firms that can employ Approved Enforcement Agents for court fines.
The Marston group also owns Rossendales Limited, and rossendales.com now shows the Marston website. A letter from Marston means a creditor has passed your case to it to enforce. You can write to the firm to pause enforcement if you are vulnerable, offer a payment plan, complain or challenge fees.
What Marston Enforces
- Council tax
- Unpaid criminal fines from the magistrates' courts
- Child maintenance
- Parking and road traffic penalties
- DVLA vehicle excise duty penalties
- High Court writs and commercial rent arrears
What a Letter from Marston Looks Like
- A Notice of Enforcement from Marston or Marston Recovery, naming the creditor and your case reference.
- The fees added to the debt. For notices from 1 May 2026, the compliance fee is £79.
- Phone numbers including 0333 320 1822 for payments or your circumstances, 0333 320 2530 for council tax or child maintenance, and 0333 320 1100 for the 24-hour automated payment line.
- Ways to pay online at payments.marstonholdings.co.uk or through the Marston app.
- The postal address PO Box 865, Rochdale, OL16 9UT. Cheques and postal orders are payable to Marston.
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 Marston. 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 about a magistrates' court fine
Marston enforces unpaid criminal fines. These are treated more strictly than council debts, and forced entry is allowed as a last resort. Contact Marston straight away to pay or agree a plan, and get free debt advice.
You cannot afford to pay in full
Marston has an online income and expenditure tool. Offer an amount you can keep up, in writing, and ask the firm not to visit while you keep to it.
You are vulnerable or struggling
Marston has a Welfare Support Team and a vulnerability self-declaration form. Tell it in writing about your circumstances and ask for enforcement to be paused and your case referred back to the creditor.
Fees you think are wrong
The enforcement fee can only be charged once an agent has visited. Ask in writing for a breakdown of every fee, with the date and stage of each.
You think it is a scam
Check the letter against Marston's own website and phone numbers before you pay, and only use the payment methods shown there. Cheques and postal orders are payable to Marston.
Complaining About Marston
You can complain to Marston online, by email to complaints@marstonholdings.co.uk, by post to PO Box 865, Rochdale, OL16 9UT, or by phone on 0333 320 1822. Marston acknowledges complaints within 2 working days, aims to resolve informal complaints within 5 working days and gives a full response to a formal complaint within 25 working days.
If you are still unhappy, you can go to the Enforcement Conduct Board or the relevant ombudsman, such as the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman for council debts. Complaints about Consumer Credit Act debts go to the Financial Ombudsman Service instead.
If You Are Struggling
Marston has a Welfare Support Team and a Vulnerability and Welfare Self Declaration form on its website. It says it will refer you to free, independent advice when appropriate, and you can upload proof of your income or circumstances through its online tool.
Write to Marston 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.