blog.cat.money7 min read9/5/2026

Enforcement Office Warning: Pay or File an Objection?

A warning that an enforcement case has been opened is not merely a demand for immediate payment. If the case is based on a check, a promissory note, or a claim for a fixed amount, the debt may be challenged in full or in part, but the key deadline runs from the date the warning is received.

Numbers and facts

•30 days from receipt of the warning—the deadline for an objection
•2 copies of the application are required by the instructions accompanying the form
•Approximately 45 days—the estimated timeframe for issuing a decision
•24 hours—processing of an urgent application during working hours
•After 13:30—processing on the next working day

First, Determine Exactly What Is Being Collected

Check the case number, the identity of the creditor, the basis of the debt, and the breakdown of the amount: principal, interest, and indexation. Obtain copies of the enforcement application, check, promissory note, or claim documents—they are available in the case file. The information can be checked in the Enforcement Office personal account, at the bureau handling the case, or through the information center. Do not limit yourself to a telephone conversation with the creditor: the documents and the official date of service of the warning are crucial for choosing the procedure.

The Thirty Days Are Counted from Receipt, Not from the Opening of the Case

An objection must be filed within 30 days from the date the warning is received, not from the date the enforcement case is opened. Therefore, keep the envelope, proof of service, or another document that establishes the date of receipt. The official pages provide separate procedures for cases in which fewer or more than 30 days have passed. A particularly costly mistake is to postpone checking because of negotiations with the creditor, assuming that they stop the deadline.

What the Objection Must Contain

You may challenge the entire debt or a specific part of it; for a partial objection, the exact disputed amount must be stated. The form must be accompanied by a reasoned application, an affidavit, supporting documents, a copy of the case-opening materials, and identification documents. The facts in the affidavit must explain a specific defense: for example, why the signature, transaction, delivery, calculation, or amount claimed is disputed. The form also requires identification of the court competent to hear the dispute and an explanation of territorial jurisdiction. According to the instructions accompanying the form, the documents must be filed in two copies—at the bureau that opened the case or at a bureau near the competent court.

After Filing, the Dispute Moves to Court

The Enforcement Office does not conduct a full judicial proceeding on the merits of the objection: the application and affidavit are transferred to the court. The Supreme Court decision in Case No. 6861/17 states that an objection to the enforcement of a negotiable instrument is treated as an application for leave to defend. At the first stage, a coherent account of events, an affidavit, and documents are especially important, rather than the phrase “I disagree.” The instructions accompanying the form state that a decision should be issued approximately within 45 days after filing; its status should be checked independently in the personal account or through the information center.

Do Not Leave the Stay of Collection to Chance

A timely objection filed together with an affidavit triggers the mechanism for staying proceedings and transferring the dispute to court; however, the official form links the stay to a decision by the registrar or bureau director. Therefore, after filing, check whether the objection has been registered and whether a stay decision has been issued. A timely objection is classified as an urgent debtor application: such applications are processed within 24 hours, subject to working days and hours, while applications received after 13:30 are processed on the next working day. When filing electronically, a debtor who is not represented by an attorney must simultaneously notify the bureau through the online form, stating the case number and the type of urgent application. If the 30 days have already passed, an application to extend the deadline is required, and there is no automatic stay—it must be requested separately and the grounds must be explained.

FAQ

Must I pay if the debt amount is incorrect?

If the dispute concerns only part of the debt, the official procedure allows a partial objection to be filed, stating the exact disputed amount. Before paying, it is important to verify the principal, interest, indexation, and the documents on which the case is based.

Where should an objection to a check or a claim for a fixed amount be filed?

The form provides a choice: the Enforcement Office bureau where the case was opened or a bureau near the court competent to hear the objection. The application must identify that court and state the grounds for territorial jurisdiction.

What should I do if the warning was not actually received?

First, determine what date and method of service are recorded in the case and obtain the supporting documents. The deadline is tied to receipt of the warning, so the issue of service may directly affect whether the objection is considered late.

Does filing an objection stop a bank account attachment or other measures?

A timely objection is connected with a stay of enforcement and transfer of the dispute to court, but the official form indicates that a decision by the registrar or bureau director is required. Do not assume that merely sending the form is sufficient: check that the application has been registered and that a decision has been issued, and if urgent relief is needed, separately indicate the urgency.

Can an objection be filed after the 30-day period has expired?

Yes, but an application to extend the deadline and an affidavit explaining the delay must be filed together with the objection. There is no automatic stay in such a case, so an application for a stay must be filed separately.

What to do next

Record the date the warning was received, download the case materials, and determine whether you dispute the entire debt or only part of it. If the deadline is approaching, file a reasoned objection with an affidavit and documents, then check its registration and the stay decision; if the deadline has been missed, separate applications for an extension and a stay must be filed.