What you’ll learn in this article

– What makes up the total enforcement amount
– How to get a detailed breakdown of the debt
– When are the costs justified and when are they excessive
– When to contact a lawyer
– How to request a partial termination
– A real-life example

1. What is included in the enforcement amount?

Besides the original debt (e.g. CZK 20,000), you typically also pay:

• Late interest – often accruing over several years

• Contractual penalties – if included in the agreement

• Court costs – creditor’s legal fees, court fees

• Enforcement costs – set by regulation, but vary depending on enforcement method

• Administrative and delivery costs

💡 Important: The bailiff can’t invent costs. But even so, the debt can double over time.

2. How can I find out the exact amount I owe?

Send a written request for a debt breakdown – to the bailiff or directly to the creditor. They should provide:

• The original debt

• Amount and date of interest accrual

• Each cost item separately

• The current balance

📩 Always ask in writing and keep the response – you may need it later for your defense.

3. When is the amount inflated or unlawful?

• If interest exceeds the legal maximum

• If a contractual penalty is excessive or invalid

• If costs are claimed for actions that never took place

• If you have multiple enforcement cases and costs are duplicated

👉 In these situations, you may be entitled to request a partial termination of enforcement or exclude unjustified costs.

⚖️ Real-life example

Mr. Zdeněk received an enforcement order for CZK 81,000. He believed he owed only CZK 35,000. A legal analysis showed that interest was being calculated on a contractual penalty that had previously been declared invalid by the court. After filing a motion for partial termination, the total amount was reduced by over CZK 20,000.

⚠️ Most common mistake

“I guess it’s right, I can’t do anything about it.”

But you can. Enforcement isn’t a blank check. Every charge and fee must be justified and documented. Most people don’t know how to verify this – and even fewer react in time.

🧷 Lawyer’s advice

✔ Always request a full breakdown
✔ Don’t pay anything unclear – have it checked first
✔ Use the option to request partial termination
✔ In case of multiple enforcement cases, check for duplicate charges
✔ The sooner you act, the more you can save