Dukes Bailiffs: Check the Debt and Understand Your Rights

Are you being threatened by a bailiff company named Dukes Bailiffs? Or are you worried about your things being taken away? If so, you are in the right place. This article is here to help.

This guide explains how to check the debt, understand the enforcement stage and ask for help.

•  How to make sure the debt is really yours. If it’s not, you don’t need to pay!
•  Ways to keep Dukes Bailiffs from being too pushy.
•  Your choices to set up plans to pay bit by bit or even to wipe out your debt.

Our team members have had to deal with debt collectors like Dukes Bailiffs before, so we know it can be very scary when they chase you. But don’t worry, we have lots of useful tips to share with you.

Here are your options when it comes to stopping Dukes Bailiffs from bothering you today.

Why might they be contacting you?

You may be wondering why Dukes Bailiffs are reaching out to you.

If Dukes Bailiffs are contacting you, then it is likely you have unpaid debts.

Dukes Bailiffs recover debt for both public and private companies, so it could be that you owe a local council money or a private company. 

Dukes Bailiffs have been known to collect:

• Council Tax debts
• Landlord debts
• Unpaid invoices 
• Parking Ticket debts (Penalty Charge Notices)

They also work in High Court Enforcement, helping companies obtain and follow through with County Court Judgments.

Dukes are also involved in tenant evictions and evicting unauthorised trespassers.

Dukes provides both ordinary collection and enforcement services. A council tax liability order or penalty-charge warrant is different from a CCJ; check the capacity in which Dukes is acting and the actual authority. Related guidance: CCJ. Related guidance: rules.

If you do not take it seriously it could result in more costs, more contact from enforcement agents and eventually some of your assets being repossessed. 

Do you really owe the money?

The first thing to find out is whether you owe the debt?

Verifying the debt you owe is your right.

If you are unfamiliar with the debt, you should get some information on where it originated and how much you owe.

The original debt is likely different from the new charge, as various charges and interest may have been added.

It could be substantially more than the value of the loan you took out.

Ask Dukes for the creditor’s name, a breakdown of the debt and fees, and details of the warrant, writ or liability order being enforced. If you dispute the debt or believe they have the wrong person, contact the creditor and obtain free debt advice promptly.

A missing credit agreement does not automatically cancel a debt or stop bailiff action. Many debts Dukes collects, such as council tax and penalty charges, do not arise from a consumer credit agreement. Do not ignore court papers or enforcement deadlines while requesting evidence.

It is their responsibility to provide proof of the debt you owe.

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

What if you don’t want to pay?

Check that the balance is legally due before deciding how to respond. If it is, seek an affordable arrangement or debt advice; do not assume a demand is correct merely because it was sent.

If the debt is yours, the best way to deal with it is to repay the debt if you can afford it. 

However, if you can’t manage to pay it, or if paying the debt would stop you from taking care of other payments.

This includes your mortgage or rent, if so you could make a payment arrangement with Dukes Bailiffs.

A reduced settlement needs the creditor’s agreement and is not available for every debt. Get written confirmation of what any payment settles; partial payment alone does not cancel the rest or suspend enforcement.

That said, there are other options if you can’t pay Dukes Bailiffs Limited. I suggest you seek free advice from one of the debt charities.

Case study

I’ve included a message posted by one concerned person who was contacted by Dukes Bailiffs Limited.

Source: Moneysavingexpert

When can they force entry?

A council tax liability order does not by itself allow Dukes to force their first entry into your home. For council tax, they normally need peaceful entry. Different rules can apply if goods were already taken into control and an agreement is broken.

Entry powers depend on the debt, the enforcement authority and whether the premises are residential or commercial. Limited forced-entry powers exist for some criminal fines, tax debts and business premises. Ask for the legal authority and get advice immediately if force is threatened.

An ordinary County Court or High Court money judgment is not a criminal fine and does not automatically allow forced first entry into a home.

Can you complain?

Filing complaints against bailiffs is possible.

You have the right to complain about bailiffs if they don’t follow the ‘rules’ or they treat you badly.

First, check who the money is owed to and file a complaint with them. Next, send a copy of the complaint to the bailiff.

Escalation depends on the debt, the firm’s memberships and the complaint scheme. Follow the current procedure rather than assuming every trade body handles every case.

It’s worth noting that bailiffs could continue to send you letters and visit you during this process.

Check the firm’s published response period and the eligibility rules of the relevant independent complaints scheme.

There is no single 28-day escalation rule for all bailiff complaints.

Possible routes include:

• For privately employed agents enforcing magistrates’ court fines, complain to their employer and send a copy to the issuing court. Related guidance: Civil Enforcement Association.
• A relevant trade association may consider a member complaint under its own procedure; confirm membership and eligibility first. Related guidance: High Court Enforcement Officers Association.

The creditor’s complaint route and a complaint about the individual agent can be different.

Examples of creditor-specific routes include: Related guidance: bailiffs are recovering debts.

• Council or Transport for London debts: complain to the creditor, then the relevant local government ombudsman where eligible.
• Magistrates’ court fine enforcement: complain to the enforcement firm and issuing court.
• HMRC debts: follow HMRC’s complaints procedure and its escalation stages.
• DWP debts: follow the relevant DWP complaints procedure.
• Energy or communications billing: the relevant sector dispute scheme may cover the bill, but does not automatically review every enforcement act.

A complaint does not automatically stop enforcement or extend a court deadline. Ask separately about a pause or the correct court application.

Take the first step towards tackling your debt

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Natasha

Very helpful and informative thank you

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Dukes Bailiffs Debt Contact Details

References

Schedule 12, Tribunals, Courts and Enforcements Act, 2007

Part 1, Regulation 10, Certification of enforcement agents, 2014.

Gov.uk, CPR – Rules and Directions, 2018.