Opinions

A court action taken by a person who is owed money (the creditor) against a third party. The third party holds money belonging to the person who owes the money (the debtor). The third party can't [..]

AFO - an order made by the court which freezes money in your bank account until SCS instructs the bank to release it to pay your fine.

Amount of financial penalty that is overdue.

The seizure by law, of money held by a third party (for example, a bank or building society), or of a person's wages.

The use of a legal process against a debtor (for example, arresting your wages or your bank account). For the purpose of this glossary, the term debtor includes a fine payer.

The English and Welsh equivalent to an Enforcement Order.

An offer of a fixed penalty made by the Procurator Fiscal, or the police, to an alleged offender as an alternative to prosecution.

DBO - an order made by the court which allows the DWP (see below) to deduct money from your benefits and pay it directly to the court. The court then pays the money towards your fine.

Failure to pay a fine by the agreed payment terms.