Direct Collection Bailiffs LTD – Should You Pay?

Are you worried about Direct Collection Bailiffs LTD knocking at your door? You’re not alone. Each month, over 170,000 people come to our website for advice on their debt problems, as Citizens Advice estimates households have around £18.9 billion in unpaid bills like council tax and utilities¹.

We understand your pain points. Being contacted by a bailiff company can be scary, but we’re here to help. We offer expert advice on:

•  How to check if the debt is yours.
•  What to do if you get a Notice of Enforcement.
•  What happens if Direct Collection Bailiffs LTD claim a parking charge.
•  How to protect your credit score.
•  Possible ways to write off your debt.

Our team has been in your shoes. We’ve faced debt collectors and know how you feel. We’re here to guide you through this difficult time.

In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about Direct Collection Bailiffs LTD. We’ll answer your questions and provide the solutions you need to feel more confident. Remember, you’re not alone in this struggle.

Let’s face your fears together.

Do I have to pay them?

You have to pay Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd if they are chasing a debt that is already subject to a court order, in which case you should have received a Notice of Enforcement. It’s best to pay before they come to your home to avoid further expensive fees. 

You don’t have to pay Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd straight away if they are chasing you for a debt that isn’t subject to a court order, in which case you should have received a Letter Before Action. You might end up having to pay this debt to avoid legal action, but there is something you can do first.

Your legal obligations to debt collectors to pay your debts officially begin once you have received proof that the debt they are chasing is yours. I go through the ‘prove it’ process below.

Our financial expert, Janine Marsh, advises: ‘If a bailiff has proven you owe money and you don’t have cash to hand, you’re within your rights to suggest a payment plan. It’s not a guarantee, but many will accept this as it’s easier than repossession.

Sending a prove the debt letter

When you receive a Letter Before Action, you should reply by asking Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd to prove you owe the debt. They’re obligated to provide you with evidence that you owe the money. This evidence should be a copy of a signed agreement you defaulted on or a signed contract when possible. 

You don’t have to pay until they prove you owe the money, so it’s also a good tactic if you think there has been a mistake. If they don’t prove the debt and you end up being taken to court, you can tell the judge that they failed to provide evidence. 

From my experience, too many people skip the verification of debt in the UK. Not asking for proof might mean that you pay for a debt that you didn’t have to!

Can I ignore it?

You should never ignore a letter from Direct Collection bailiffs Ltd. You might read some advice online telling you it’s okay to ignore their letters, but there is better and less risky action you can take. 

The risks of ignoring debt letters outweigh any possible benefits.

Before I get into it, you need to know the two main types of letters you could receive from Direct Collection Bailiffs ltd…

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Parking charge

Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd works for a lot of private companies that have issued private parking fines, also known as Parking Charge Notices. These shouldn’t be confused with council parking fines. 

They will chase unpaid parking fines on the private company’s behalf and threaten legal action. They do this by sending you a letter demanding full payment. PCN enforcement can be tricky so don’t hesitate to contact a debt charity for some free advice.

Not knowing precisely why you received a letter from DCBL isn’t uncommon, especially if it’s for a parking fine debt. Take a look at this example.

Throwing debt collector letters in the bin in this type of situation is not a good idea, as ignoring them might make your things much worse.

Instead, you should ask for proof or evidence that the debt is yours and then look at your options for paying. I go through this process below.

Can I get a debt solution?

If you are struggling to pay your debts – or know that you wont’ be able to afford to pay much to Direct Collection Bailiffs – you might benefit from a debt solution.

There are several different debt solutions available in the UK, so I recommend speaking to a debt charity as soon as possible. Their advisors will be able to look at your finances in detail, help you work out which debt solution will work best for you, and offer you financial advice for debt.

I have linked a few charities that offer these advisory services for free below.

Debt Management Plan (DMP)

A DMP is an informal debt solution that lets you pay off your debts via a single monthly payment.

Because it is informal, it is not legally binding so you are not tied into a DMP for a minimum number of payments.

Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

An IVA is a formal agreement between you and your creditors. You agree to pay a monthly sum that is distributed amongst your debts, and your creditors agree not to contact you during your IVA.

IVAs typically last for 5 or 6 years, and any outstanding debt is wiped off when it ends.

Keep in mind that IVAs are not suitable for everyone. You need to owe several thousand pounds to more than one creditor to be eligible. You also need to demonstrate that you have some disposable income every month.

Trust Deed

IVAs are not available in Scotland. Instead, you will need to opt for a Trust Deed.

Trust Deeds work in the same way as an IVA – you pay an agreed sum each month that is shared amongst your creditors, they can’t contact you, and any leftover debt at the end of your Trust Deed term is written off.

Debt Relief Order (DRO)

A DRO is a good option for those facing financial hardship with no assets and little income.

For 12 months, you make no payments, but your creditors freeze your interest and don’t contact you.

If your finances haven’t improved during this year, you may be able to write off your unsecured debts.

Bankruptcy

If you have debts but no realistic possibility of ever paying them off, you may need to declare bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy has an unfair stigma attached to it as it may be your only way of getting a financial fresh start. That said, it is a serious financial situation that should not be taken lightly.

Sequestration

Sequestration is the Scottish version of bankruptcy.

If you have little income and no valuable assets, you may be able to apply for a minimal asset process bankruptcy (MAP). A MAP is a quicker, cheaper, and more straightforward version of sequestration, so worth considering.

How do I complain?

If you think that DCBL has been unreasonable or behaved inappropriately, you can make a complaint. You can also make a complaint if you feel that they have broken any of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) guidelines.

The FCA’s guidelines were put in place to help protect the public from unfair debt collection practices. Reporting DCBL for breaking these rules could help prevent this happening again in the future – protecting you and other people.

Make your first complaint to DCBL so that they have the chance to sort out the issue themselves. You will need to follow the DCBL customer complaints process.

If you feel that they have not taken your complaint seriously enough or have not addressed your issue properly, you can escalate matters.

You can make any secondary complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). They will investigate and, if your complaint is upheld, DCBL may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.

The FCA state that a bailiff must not misrepresent their authority or legal position, and cannot suggest that an action may be taken where it legally can’t². To better understand bailiff rights and have stronger grounds for a complaint, please take a quick look at the table below.

Bailiffs Can	But They Can’t
Call and visit your home multiple times, any day of the week.	Visit your workplace (if you are not self-employed)
Take items from your home. These items have to be considered ‘luxury’.	Take essential items from your home. This includes beds, clothing, and work equipment.
Use ANPR technology and DVLA information to locate your car and take it.	Enter your home without permission unless they have a warrant to force entry for a CCJ.
Peacefully enter your property.	Harass or threaten you.
Issue notices to those who owe a debt.	Take items that belong to someone else. However, they may be able to seize jointly owned property.
Offer to conduct a Virtual Controlled Goods Agreement (rather than in-person). This will typically be offered to vulnerable people.	Sell goods they have seized at auction until seven clear days have passed.

Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd Contact Details

Website:	https://dcbltd.com/
Phone number for complaints:	0203 298 0201
Email address for complaints:	[email protected]
London Regional Office:	Solar House, 915 High Road, North Finchley, London, N12 8QJ T: 0203 613 1604
North West Regional Office:	Direct House, Greenwood Drive, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 1UG T: 01606 361 585
Midlands Regional Office:	Colmore Plaza, 20 Colmore Circus, Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6AT T: 0121 581 0957
Scotland Regional Office:	Barn Cliuth Business Centre, Town Head Street, Hamilton, ML3 7DP T: 0141 326 0228
Wales Regional Office:	Sophia House, 28 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LJ T: 0292 060 7141

The Breathing Space Scheme

You might be worried about further debt letters from DCBL while you try to find a solution. You could benefit from the Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space) from the government. This could be a good option if you would benefit from a bit of financial breathing room.

The Breathing Space scheme gives you a moment to get some advice or even start a debt solution. It started in May 2021 and gives you 60 days of no added fees, added interest, or enforcement action once you have passed the eligibility checks.

There are two types of breathing space that you can apply for:

• A standard breathing space: available for anyone with debt problems. It lasts for 60 days.

A mental health crisis breathing space: available to those who are receiving mental health crisis treatment. It lasts for however long treatment takes, plus 30 days.

References

1. Citizens Advice – Debt Statistics and Bailiff Issues
2. FCA Handbook – CONC 7