Stop Alex M Adamson Council Tax Debt Recovery in Scotland
Alex M Adamson are sheriff officers who collect council tax debt for Scottish councils.
If they have contacted you, it usually means your council has obtained a summary warrant. Their powers are limited, and there are clear ways to deal with the debt, including stopping or avoiding a wage arrestment.
If Alex M Adamson have written to you or visited about council tax arrears, it is natural to feel worried, but it helps to understand exactly who they are and what they can and cannot do. Alex M Adamson are a long-established, independent Scottish firm of sheriff officers, and they collect council tax debt on behalf of local councils. This page is a complete guide to who they are, the enforcement they can use, the fees they can charge, and, most importantly, how to deal with the debt and stop or avoid a wage arrestment.
How we can help:
- We speak to Alex M Adamson on your behalf
- We ask them to hold action while a plan is put in place
- We negotiate with your council
- We help arrange an affordable payment plan, or a suitable debt solution
- Free, confidential help – with no obligation
Contacted by Alex M Adamson about council tax? We can help you understand your options.
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Watch: how sheriff officer action works and how to stop a council tax wage arrestment.
Please note: The information on this page is general and is intended to help you understand your rights and options. It is not a substitute for regulated financial or legal advice about your specific circumstances. Our service is free to use and there is no obligation, and we can talk you through the options and, where appropriate, contact Alex M Adamson or your council on your behalf, or introduce you to a suitable provider.
On this page
- Who are Alex M Adamson?
- Alex M Adamson offices in Scotland
- How to contact Alex M Adamson
- Why have they contacted me?
- What enforcement can they use?
- Fees and charges they can add
- How to stop Alex M Adamson action
- What to do if they contact you
- How to complain
- Other debts they collect
- Alex M Adamson at a glance
- Frequently asked questions
- Free, impartial information
Who are Alex M Adamson?
Alex M Adamson are a long-established, independent Scottish firm of messengers-at-arms and sheriff officers. The business was founded in 1960 and today trades as Alex M Adamson LLP (company number SO300824), with its head office at 7 Park Street, Falkirk, FK1 1RE. They collect council tax debt on behalf of local councils, alongside work for a range of public and private sector clients.
Unlike some sheriff officer firms that are now part of large national enforcement groups, Alex M Adamson remains an independent firm, owned and run by its partners. Sheriff officers are officers of the court, not private bailiffs (bailiffs operate in England and Wales, not Scotland). The firm operates from six offices across central Scotland, and all its officers are members of the Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers (SMASO).
Alex M Adamson is also a member of the Credit Services Association (CSA), is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for consumer-credit debt collection, and holds quality and information-security accreditations including ISO 9001 and ISO 27001. It has also held Investors in People recognition since 2002.
Alex M Adamson offices in Scotland
Alex M Adamson operate from six offices across central Scotland. Their main offices are:
| Office | Address |
|---|---|
| Falkirk (head office) | 7 Park Street, Falkirk, FK1 1RE |
| Stirling | 77 Port Street, Stirling, FK8 2ER |
| Livingston | Unit 3, Grampian Court, Grampian Square, Livingston, EH54 6QF |
| Greenock | 63 Cathcart Street, Greenock, PA15 1DE |
Alex M Adamson also operate offices in Kirkcaldy and Edinburgh, making six locations across central Scotland. As commissioned sheriff officers, they carry out enforcement under the authority of the sheriff court.
How to contact Alex M Adamson
| Main enquiries | 01324 621293 |
| officers@alex-m-adamson.co.uk | |
| Head office | 7 Park Street, Falkirk, FK1 1RE |
| Website | www.alex-m-adamson.co.uk |
If contacting Alex M Adamson directly feels daunting, we can speak to them on your behalf with your permission.
Why have Alex M Adamson contacted me?
Alex M Adamson become involved once council tax has gone unpaid and your council has obtained a summary warrant from the sheriff court. The usual path is:
- You miss a payment and the council sends a reminder, usually giving you 7 days to catch up.
- If it is not paid, you can lose the right to pay by instalments and the full year’s balance can become due.
- The council applies to the sheriff court for a summary warrant, which adds a statutory 10% to the amount you owe.
- Alex M Adamson serve a charge for payment, a formal 14-day demand.
- If it remains unpaid, they can carry out enforcement (diligence), most commonly a wage arrestment.
You can read the full collection process on our council tax debt advice page. Importantly, you can make an offer of payment at any stage, and doing so early gives you the most options.
What enforcement can Alex M Adamson use?
A summary warrant authorises several forms of diligence. Acting for your council, Alex M Adamson can use the following to recover council tax arrears.
Earnings arrestment (wage arrestment)
An earnings arrestment, or wage arrestment, is where your employer takes money directly from your wages until the debt is paid. The amount is set by law, and you can see how much in our wage arrestment calculator. Before an earnings arrestment can start, you must have been sent a Debt Advice and Information Package within the previous 12 weeks. This is the most common action Alex M Adamson take for council tax, and it is exactly what can be stopped, removed or avoided.
Bank arrestment
A bank arrestment freezes money in your bank or building society account, including joint accounts. A protected minimum balance is kept safe, and funds above that can be applied to the debt. If a bank arrestment would leave you unable to meet essential costs, get advice quickly.
Attachment of goods
An ordinary attachment only allows sheriff officers to attach goods kept outside your home, such as items in a driveway, yard, garage or business premises, not the contents of your home. It also requires a charge for payment to have been served and the 14-day period to have passed. Certain items are exempt, including tools and equipment needed for your work (up to £1,000) and a vehicle you reasonably need (up to £3,000). A mobile home that is your only or main residence is also protected.
Exceptional attachment order
To enter your home and remove goods, Alex M Adamson would need an exceptional attachment order from the sheriff court. This is rarely granted and only in specific circumstances. Even then, they can only take non-essential items, they can only attend between 8am and 8pm, and they cannot enter if the only people present are under 16 or do not understand what is happening. Essentials such as beds, bedding, basic furniture, cookers, fridges and clothing are always protected.
Other diligence
A summary warrant can also authorise a money attachment (of cash on non-residential premises) and, for larger or longer-standing debts, the council could consider an inhibition against property or sequestration (bankruptcy). For business rates, bankruptcy can be considered where arrears are more than £3,000 and other methods have failed. For ordinary council tax arrears, a wage arrestment is by far the most common step.
Worried about a wage arrestment or bank arrestment from Alex M Adamson? We can help.
What fees and charges can Alex M Adamson add?
There are two separate things to understand: the statutory surcharge added to your council tax, and the sheriff officer fees for the enforcement work.
First, when your council obtains a summary warrant, a statutory surcharge of 10% of the outstanding council tax is added to what you owe (Local Government Finance Act 1992, Schedule 8). This is separate from, and on top of, the sheriff officer fees below.
Second, Alex M Adamson’s sheriff officers can charge fees for the diligence they carry out. These fees are set by law, not by the firm, under the Act of Sederunt (Fees of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers), and they are the same for every sheriff officer firm in Scotland. The figures below are the current statutory fees, in force from 22 March 2024. Many fees have two rates: a lower rate where the officer has a shorter distance to travel, and a higher rate for a longer distance.
Serving documents and arrestments (including a charge for payment, an earnings arrestment or a bank arrestment):
| Action | Nearer distance | Further distance |
|---|---|---|
| Serving on each person (at a different address) | £61.70 | £96.27 |
| Each additional person at the same address | £13.45 | £21.72 |
| Postal service | £18.86 | £31.95 |
| Postal diligence | £29.27 | £48.02 |
Attachment of goods:
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Serving the notice of attachment | £8.83 (nearer) / £13.63 (further) |
| Arranging an attachment but unable to carry it out | £69.67 (nearer) / £101.99 (further) |
| Carrying out an attachment, goods valued £708 or under | £119.33 |
| Goods valued over £708 up to £2,845 | £184.98 |
| Goods valued over £2,845 up to £28,648 | 10% of the appraised value |
| Goods valued over £28,648 up to £143,231 | 10% of the first £28,648, then 5% |
| Goods valued over £143,231 | 10% of the first £28,648, 5% up to £143,231, then 1% |
| Reporting the attachment | £11.31 |
Attachment of vehicles and heavy machinery:
| Appraised value | Fee |
|---|---|
| £708 or under | £119.33 |
| Over £708 up to £3,147 | £184.98 |
| Over £3,147 up to £143,231 | 5% of the appraised value |
| Over £143,231 | 5% of the first £143,231, then 1% |
| Reporting the attachment | £11.31 |
Auction, removal and possession of goods:
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Arranging an auction and advertising it | £29.51 |
| Attending an auction that does not go ahead | £64.92 (nearer) / £97.42 (further) |
| Attending and carrying out an auction | £179.87 |
| Arranging to take possession of goods | £64.92 (nearer) / £97.42 (further) |
| Taking possession of goods | £133.32 (nearer) / £179.87 (further) |
Other charges:
| Action | Fee |
|---|---|
| Making a report or application | £22.63 |
| Granting a receipt | £11.31 |
| Time engaged with a witness (per unit) | £36.26 |
| Photocopies | £2.55 first page, £1.40 each after |
| Arranging a locksmith | £7.24 |
These are the maximum statutory fees a sheriff officer may charge, set by the Act of Sederunt (Fees of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers) and in force from 22 March 2024. They are reviewed periodically, so it is worth checking the current figures. Dealing with the debt promptly is the best way to keep these charges to a minimum.
How to stop Alex M Adamson action
The best way to deal with Alex M Adamson is to tackle the council tax debt behind their involvement. Depending on your situation, the main routes in Scotland are:
Free help to understand where you stand and the options available to you.
An affordable instalment plan agreed directly with your council to prevent enforcement.
A statutory scheme that can stop an existing wage arrestment and freeze interest.
A formal insolvency solution for larger debts that can remove an arrestment.
Not sure which is right for you? See our wage arrestment solutions overview, or get in touch and we will talk it through.
What to do if Alex M Adamson contact you
- Do not panic, and do not ignore it. Alex M Adamson have limited powers, but the debt will not disappear on its own.
- Ask for identification. A genuine sheriff officer carries a red ID booklet signed by the sheriff clerk, and you are entitled to see it.
- Note the details. Take down how much they say you owe and which council the debt is for, so you can check it is correct.
- Do not agree to anything you cannot afford. A defaulted arrangement often leads straight to a wage arrestment.
- Get advice and put a plan in place. A payment arrangement, Debt Arrangement Scheme or trust deed is what makes the action stop.
How to complain about Alex M Adamson
If you are unhappy with how Alex M Adamson have treated you, complain to the firm first, in writing, at their head office (7 Park Street, Falkirk, FK1 1RE) or by email to officers@alex-m-adamson.co.uk. If your complaint is not resolved, you can escalate it to the Sheriff Principal at your local sheriff court, or to the Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers (SMASO), which represents sheriff officers in Scotland.
Other debts Alex M Adamson collect
As well as council tax, Alex M Adamson collect other debts using similar enforcement powers, including business rates (non-domestic rates), benefit overpayments, housing and rent arrears, utility debts, and a range of commercial and consumer debts for private-sector clients. Whatever the debt, the same principle applies: understanding your rights and dealing with it early gives you the most options.
Alex M Adamson at a glance
| What they are | An independent Scottish firm of sheriff officers and messengers-at-arms, acting for local councils. |
| Established | Founded in 1960; trades as Alex M Adamson LLP (company no. SO300824). |
| Ownership | Independent, owned and run by its partners (not part of a national enforcement group). |
| Head office | 7 Park Street, Falkirk, FK1 1RE |
| Coverage | Six offices across central Scotland. |
| For council tax, they act under | A summary warrant obtained from the sheriff court. |
| Most common action | A wage (earnings) arrestment or a bank arrestment. |
| Can they enter your home? | Not for council tax goods, without a rare exceptional attachment order. |
| Can it be stopped? | Yes. A payment arrangement, Debt Arrangement Scheme or trust deed can stop or avoid enforcement. |
| Complaints | To Alex M Adamson first, then the Sheriff Principal or SMASO. |
Frequently asked questions
Are Alex M Adamson bailiffs?
No. Bailiffs operate in England and Wales. In Scotland, debts like council tax are enforced by sheriff officers, which is what Alex M Adamson are. They are officers of the court, employed by a private firm, and all their officers are members of the Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers.
Can Alex M Adamson take money from my wages?
Yes, through an earnings arrestment, but only after your council has a summary warrant and you have been sent a Debt Advice and Information Package. The amount is set by law, and a wage arrestment can be stopped or avoided with the right arrangement or solution.
Can Alex M Adamson force entry to my home for council tax?
Generally no. They would need a rare exceptional attachment order from the court, and even then they can only take non-essential items and must follow strict rules. For council tax, the far more likely action is a wage arrestment.
How much can Alex M Adamson charge in fees?
Their fees are set by law, not by the firm, under the Act of Sederunt in force from 22 March 2024, and they are the same for every sheriff officer firm in Scotland (see the fee tables above). On top of that, a summary warrant adds a statutory 10% surcharge to the council tax you owe.
What should I do if Alex M Adamson have contacted me?
Do not ignore it, ask for identification, note the details, avoid agreeing to anything you cannot afford, and get advice so you can put a workable plan in place. We can help, free and with no obligation.
Where to find free, impartial information
As well as speaking to us, you can check your rights with these independent, official sources:
- mygov.scot – Sheriff officer powers and your rights (Scottish Government)
- Citizens Advice Scotland – Powers of sheriff officers
- National Debtline – Council tax arrears (Scotland)
- Sheriff officer fees – Act of Sederunt (current figures, 2024)
- MoneyHelper – Dealing with debt (government-backed)
Dealing with a different firm? See our guides to Scott & Co, Walker Love and Stirling Park sheriff officers, or browse all our sheriff officer guides.
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