The Ultimate Guide to DCBL

Are you receiving a letter from DCBL bailiffs informing you that they will be coming to your home? Do you require guidance and assistance in dealing with DCBL Enforcement? Are they pursuing you for back taxes, business rates, or overpayments of benefits?

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Don’t worry. You can find all you need to know about dealing with DCBL bailiffs, including what to do if a DCBL bailiff shows up at your door and how to prevent a bailiff from stealing your automobile. Read on to get our free impartial debt advice.

Who are DCBL

Direct Collection Bailiffs Limited (DCBL) is a multi-award-winning debt collection firm in the United Kingdom that provides services at all phases of debt recovery. DCBL is a well-established enforcement agency (DCBL bailiffs). They collect Council Tax arrears for local councils, debts for private enterprises, and rent arrears in communities across England and Wales.

DCBL Enforcement Agents (formerly known as bailiffs) are authorised to carry out enforcement actions by a certificate issued by a judge in the county court. The Ministry of Justice is in charge of regulating them. For 203 local councils in England and Wales, DCBL provides enforcement and debt collection services. Council taxes, business rates, parking penalty charges and notices, and commercial rent arrears are all collected by them.

Their high court enforcement officers are well-known since they appear on the popular Netflix and Channel 4 show “Can’t Pay? We’ll get rid of it!” The firm has one of the industry’s most significant recovery rates – estimated to be over 98% – as well as a strong client retention rate.

They can use Letter Before Action communications to collect debt in the early phases of the DCBL debt recovery. They can also implement county court orders by contacting debtors at home and repossessing property to be sold at auction to pay off the debt.

How do I get in contact with DCBL?

DCBL Bailiffs can be reached using their website’s contact form. In addition, they have three call centres in England (London, Midlands, and North West) and one in Scotland and Wales. You can find the phone numbers for these offices on each website’s top banner. They have five regional offices in total. These are the following:

  • London – Solar House, 915 High Road, North Finchley, London, N12 8QJ
  • North West – Direct House, Greenwood Drive, Manor Park, Runcorn, Cheshire, WA7 1UG
  • Midlands – Colmore Plaza, 20 Colmore Circus, Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6AT
  • Scotland – Barn Cliuth Business Centre, Town Head Street, Hamilton, ML3 7DP
  • Wales – Sophia House, 28 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LJ

A map of each registered office is available on their website, which can be helpful.

Are they a legitimate company?

Yes, DCBL is a reputable debt collection agency governed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). They have the legal authority to take your belongings and sell them to settle a debt you owe. Bailiffs are usually called in after your creditor has brought you to court.

If you receive a letter from DCBL, it is a genuine letter, and an attempt to collect payment has been made. You can rely on DCBL to deliver a comprehensive service if you are a client pursuing an overdue debt. If you are on the receiving end of the payment collection, the certificated enforcement agent can give you free debt advice or financial advice.

DCBL members are debt enforcement agents who may execute County Court Judgements (CCJ) for debtors to pay their obligations, unlike other debt collection companies who only chase debt in the early stages. If the TV show is any indication, these officers have a wealth of expertise and are well-versed in the law.

Why is DCBL Contacting Me?

Since you owe money to one of DCBL’s clients, a high court enforcement officer will contact you. For a set charge, they pursue debt on behalf of their customers. They may contact you at various points during the debt collecting process. They may, for example, contact you to give debt advice and request payment, or they may come to your home with reasonable force demanding payment.

What Are My Next Steps?

Debt collection agencies might sometimes make mistakes or contact the wrong individual. You should double-check if you truly owe the bill. To do so, send DCBL a proof-of-debt letter requesting proof that you owe the money.

This is a brief letter requesting documentation that you owe their client money, such as a utility bill agreement or missed council tax payments. Even if you know you owe them money, you should send this letter if no documentation is included in the original communication. Sending a letter can buy you some time to think, and there is no duty to pay if they don’t produce proof of the debt. Keep copies of any letters you’ve sent and received in case the case goes to court.

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Do I Qualify?

If DCBL cannot show the debt, you are not required to pay unless their client obtains a court order compelling you to do so. If the debt is proven, you should pay it to prevent legal action. If you can’t afford to pay, contact the DCBL team to work out a payment plan that isn’t too demanding.

Debt charity can assist you in determining what you can afford to pay and other options accessible to you. A DCBL repayment plan isn’t the only approach to get out of debt cost-effectively. If you ignore them and they obtain a CCJ for the debt, they may be able to seize your personal property. These would then be sold to repay the debt.

What Can DCBL Do?

DCBL can:

  • If you let a bailiff into your home, they can remove valuables such as a television or video game console, shared property, money, jewellery, and antiquities.
  • They primarily work in debt recovery, high court enforcement, and commercial rent recovery on behalf of large landlords. If you do not pay your bills within seven days, the court or your landlord will usually hire DCBL as debt collectors and bailiffs to collect money from you.
  • They will visit you at your home or place of business to discuss payment options. They can seize your property in some cases, which is not ideal.
  • DCBL has the authority to carry out High Court Writs and County Court Judgements. This service is available for County Court Judgements worth more than £600.
  • After receiving a valid Possession Order, DCBL Bailiffs can remove occupants from a landlord’s or landowner’s property. This encompasses the eviction of squatters as well as the eviction of tenants.
  • If the employer fails to make a payment, you can collect it using Direct Collection High Court Enforcement Agents. This applies to employees whose employer has awarded compensation before an Employment Tribunal.
  • Most commercial properties have a clause called “Forfeiture of Lease” that allows the landlord to re-enter the property. This involves the collection of commercial rent arrears. This allows Direct Collection Bailiffs to enter the property in peace.
  • Direct Collection Bailiffs Limited guarantees that travellers will be removed from your property within 24 hours.

DCBL Cannot:

DCBL is unable to accept:

  • stuff you’ll need to live, such as clothes, a stove, and a refrigerator
  • work tools and equipment with a combined value of less than £1,350
  • belongings of someone else, such as your partner’s computer

DCBL Ltd and other debt recovery companies must also follow strict criteria set forth by the Office for Fair Trading. These are the following:

  • To reclaim the money, never employ dishonest, aggressive, or coercive methods.
  • Do not use jargon to intentionally perplex the debtor.
  • Be sensitive to others’ situations and adaptable to their needs.
  • When deciding on a debt solution, take into account the conditions.

If you believe DCBL has broken any of these guidelines, you can file a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). They will treat your complaint seriously, and debt collection licenses may be revoked.

List of Debt Collection Agencies UK

Here is a list of all the debt collectors in the UK.