You dont have to pay Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd if you cannot verify the debt is really yours to pay. On the other hand, you’ve got precisely 7 days to settle the debt from the moment you receive a Notice of Enforcement if you really owe them.
Let us walk you through your options to find a reliable solution to deal with them properly.
Table of Contents
MORE
LESS
Being featured on television does not grant Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd any extra rights. There are situations where it’s advisable to settle your dues with DCBL. Conversely, there are also instances where you can take a stand.
With this article, we will elaborate on the question of whether you are obligated to make payments to Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd in this discussion.
Who are Direct Collection Bailiffs?
Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd, often referred to as DCB Ltd, is a renowned UK debt collection agency. Over the years, they have gained fame through their numerous appearances on TV and platforms like Netflix. Plus, they’ve become a significant player in the UK’s debt collection industry.
DCBL Company generates their income mainly in two ways. They are such as,
DCBL carries out its debt collection and enforcement services in two distinct ways. It always depends on the legal powers they possess in each situation.
They will use normal communication methods for debts that have not received a court order. These communication methods include:
In cases involving debts that are subject to a court order, DCBL has the authority to dispatch enforcement agents to your residence in order to collect the outstanding debt.
Next, they will take a warrant or writ of conduct from the court and use enforcement agents to visit your home and seize your belongings. Eventually, those seized items will be sold in an auction to cover the total debt and all bailiffs’ charges.
However, their media exposure doesn’t equate to increased legal powers. Thus, it’s essential to understand their functions and their role in your financial journey.
Who do Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd work for?
Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd provides debt collection services to a wide spectrum of clientele in various industries. From individual consumers to large businesses, their reach is vast. DCBL company got High Court enforcement agents who act on behalf of the High Court to carry out the orders issued by High Court judges.
Every year, they claim to recover roughly £75 million in unpaid debts, showcasing their effectiveness and efficiency. But it’s important to remember that their services aren’t omnipotent, while comprehensive. Your rights remain intact.
Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd Parking Charge
Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd serves numerous private companies that have issued private parking fines, often referred to as Parking Charge Notices. But, It’s important to note that these fines are not the same as council parking fines.
DCBL is responsible for pursuing unpaid parking fines on behalf of private companies and may use the threat of legal action as leverage. They initiate this process by sending a demand letter requesting full payment. Handling PCN enforcement matters can be complex, so don’t hesitate to seek free advice from a debt charity if needed.
Receiving a letter from DCBL without a clear understanding of its purpose is a common occurrence, especially in cases regarding parking fine debt. Therefore, it’s crucial to discern the legitimacy of these charges and your obligations towards them before diving into payment.
To check the legitimacy of accused debts, it is advisable to request verification or substantiation of the debt’s ownership. Additionally, you can subsequently explore the available avenues for repayment. We will elaborate on this procedure in the following section.
Will DCBL Affect My Credit Score?
DCBL’s involvement alone does not directly affect your credit score. They are a third-party debt collection agency, and their actions primarily involve trying to recover the debt on behalf of the creditor.
However, it can have negative consequences for your credit score if you fail to address the debt and it remains unpaid.
Here’s how:
Missing payments or defaulting on your original creditor negatively affects your credit score. When your debt is sold to collectors, it appears as a second collection account on your credit report. Plus, the original entry may be marked as ‘sold.’ Alternatively, the original debt entry may be updated with the debt collection company’s information.
Consequently, they hinder your ability to access credit or certain financial products during this period. This is because creditors use your credit file to assess if you’re a high-risk customer. By seeing your credit history, they might come to the conclusion that you are someone who might struggle to meet financial obligations on time.
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) indicates severe difficulties in repaying debts, as it involves a legal process due to non-payment, further worsening your creditworthiness.
To protect your credit score, it’s essential to address any outstanding debts promptly. Communicate with DCBL or the creditor, explore repayment options, and try to reach an agreement. Once the debt is settled or paid off, your credit score can start to recover over time.
In summary, while DCBL itself doesn’t directly affect your credit score, its involvement can lead to credit score damage if the underlying debt is not managed and resolved effectively.
After a period of six years, negative information like collection accounts and debt solutions will no longer be visible on your credit report. Once this time has elapsed, you should experience an improvement in your ability to obtain credit.
But, It’s important to note that any debt solutions you utilise will also be recorded on your credit file for the same duration, potentially affecting your credit score during that time.
However, your debt solution history will cease to be visible once these six years have passed. Plus, you may find it easier to access credit again.
Can I Ignore a DCBL Letter?
Disregarding any Letters from Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd might be tempting, but it’s also risky. Primarily, they dispatch two types of letters, and they are namely as follows.
We strongly suggest not to ignore or throw away these two letters as it can cause more trouble in solving your debt issue with legal implications. Therefore, Recognising the importance and urgency of each can make a significant difference in the forthcoming actions.
DCBL Letter Before Action
Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd will dispatch a letter to debtors when pursuing a debt without a court order.
These letters will:
These letters are commonly referred to as Letter Before Action (LBA) because they afford you an opportunity to settle the debt before any further legal measures are taken.
LBAs are a prerequisite by law before initiating legal proceedings. It’s worth noting that the authenticity of the legal threats in these letters can be uncertain. Plus, they can serve as a tactic to incentivise you into paying. That’s a strategy that debt collectors often use and has proven effective.
DCBL Notice of Enforcement
Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd will go again to the court to take a warrant or writ of conduct against you to use enforcement agents (bailiffs) to visit your home and seize your belongings. And eventually, sell them in an auction to recover the total debt and all bailiffs’ charges.
The court will surely grant them this authorisation if they prove you have ignored the initial County Court Judgement (CCJ) issued against you as the debtor.
Then, they will send you this Notice of Enforcement letter to the debtor who possesses a debt that is under the jurisdiction of a court order CCJ and yet if they have chosen not to address it.
The enforcement agents are bound by law to send this notice before physically arriving at your property. It serves as an advance warning of their intention to visit your residence.
This Notice of Enforcement letter grants you a seven-day window to either make a payment or reach an agreement on a potential payment plan if one is offered.
It’s worth noting that the mere act of sending this letter results in adding an extra £75 to your outstanding debt. Furthermore, another additional charge of at least £235 is incurred if the enforcement agents do indeed visit your home.
Do I have to pay Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd?
Your responsibility to pay Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd (DCBL) depends on the nature of the debt and whether it’s already subject to a court order.
Suppose a court order is in place, typically indicated by a Notice of Enforcement. In that case, it’s advisable to settle the debt promptly to prevent incurring additional costly fees when they visit your home.
You are not required by law to settle a debt with Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd if you have not yet received a court order like CCJ that states you to settle the debt or Letter Before Action (LBA) notice.
Conversely, it is better to settle the debt if you really owe DCBL and they have already verified your debt to them. Additionally, settling the debt will help you to stay away from facing further legal action from DCBL.
Your legal obligation to pay a debt to collectors like DCBL commences once you have received verifiable proof confirming the debt’s legitimacy. The process for requesting them to prove the debt is outlined below.
Send a Prove the Debt Letter
Upon receiving a Letter Before Action (LBA) notice, It is advisable to send a request letter titled “Prove the Debt” to Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd asking to send you provable proof that shows you really owe them. They are bound by law to send you proof. And make sure to keep copies of the request letter as well.
This copy of the request letter will come in handy if things escalate to a court issue without replying to you with proof. You can show these copies as proof to the judge to verify your request and their failure to reply with proof.
Their reply should at least include a copy of the initial agreement you had with your creditor.
On the other hand, you are not required by law to settle a debt with DCBL if they do not reply to you with proof that shows you really owe them. This approach also serves as a useful strategy if you suspect an error in the debt claim.
Based on our experience, many individuals in the UK overlook the importance of debt verification. Failing to request proof could potentially lead to unwarranted payments for a debt that may not have been your responsibility in the first place.
Can I Get a Debt Solution?
There are a number of other alternative debt solutions available in the UK. Sometimes, you may find hardship in agreeing to unaffordable payment plans suggested by DCBL. In those situations, it’s better to apply for a debt solution to resolve your debt issue effectively.
But keep in mind you need to fulfil certain unique conditions in each of these debt solutions in order to get acceptance. Choosing the right debt solution will help you in solving your debt issue, while choosing the wrong will make your financial situation worsen.
Therefore, it’s better to take debt advice from a professional debt advisor if you find hardship in selecting a debt solution alone.
Here are some key debt solutions available in the UK:
Feel free to fill out our online form by clicking here if you want personal help from our Money Advisor Team based on your current financial standing.
Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd Contact Details
Below are some of the contact details of Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd.
| Website: | https://dcbltd.com/ |
| Email address for complaints: | complaints@dcbltd.com |
| Phone number for complaints: | 0203 298 0201 |
| 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 |
| Wales Regional Office: | Sophia House, 28 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9LJ T: 0292 060 7141 |
| Scotland Regional Office: | Barn Cliuth Business Centre, Town Head Street, Hamilton, ML3 7DP T: 0141 326 0228 |
How Do I Complain about DCBL?
You have the right to file a complaint if you believe that Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd (DCBL) has acted unreasonably or inappropriately.
Additionally, you can make a complaint if you suspect they have violated the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) guidelines. These FCA guidelines are designed to safeguard the public from unjust debt collection practices.
Registering a complaint can help prevent such issues from recurring and protect both you and others.
Initiate your initial complaint with DCBL. Here, you are providing them an opportunity to address the matter internally. You should follow their customer complaints procedure for this step. You have the option to escalate the issue if you believe your complaint hasn’t been adequately addressed or taken seriously.
For further escalation, you can submit a secondary complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). They will conduct an investigation. The DCBL agents may end up facing large penalties and paying compensations to you if your complaint is validated.
Is Your DCBL Debt Statute Barred?
DCBL may pursue old debts, and it’s essential to be aware of the UK’s Statute-Barred debts. There are 3 main conditions you need to fulfil simultaneously in order to get a Statute-Barred excuse from the court.
They are such as:
Yours becomes statute-barred if the above three conditions are fulfilled at the same time. As a result, your debt becomes legally not enforceable while the debt technically still exists. Simply, it means you can ignore paying the debt.
But just because your debts become legally not enforceable by the court does not mean your credit history will clear your debt as well. Instead, receiving a Statute-Barred excuse for your debt will negatively affect your credit history. As a result, you may face difficulties in getting new loans and credit cards in the future.
However, not all debts become statute-barred. HMRC debts and debts with a County Court Judgment (CCJ) remain enforceable for extended periods.
It’s better to seek debt advice from a debt advisor if you’re unsure about your debt’s status. These advisors can assess your debt, determine its status, and guide you on the appropriate actions to take.
Should You Pay Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd? (Quick Recap)
It’s advisable to take steps to make a payment or establish a payment arrangement if you receive a Notice of Enforcement. You may have to settle the debt if you receive a Letter Before Action (LBA).
Still, you have the right to request verification of the debt before deciding. You dont need to pay a penny till they reply to you with proof that shows you really owe them.
The Debt Breathing Space Scheme
You might be wondering a way to reduce receiving a number of additional debt letters from DCBL while seeking other options for solving your debt issues.
For that, you can find relief in the government’s Debt Respite Scheme, which is commonly known as Breathing Space.
Breathing Space was introduced in May 2021. It offers a respite period during which you can seek advice or initiate debt resolution strategies. Here, you’ll get a 60-day financial breathing space without incurring additional fees, interest, or enforcement actions upon passing eligibility criteria.
There are two types of Breathing Space to consider:
These options offer a temporary reprieve. It allows you to address your financial situation without the pressure of accumulating additional costs or enforcement actions.
Worried about DCBL Enforcement Agents?
It’s advisable to reach out to a UK debt charity if you’re facing DCBL or concerned about their potential involvement.
Organisations like StepChange, National Debtline, Citizens Advice, and Debt Advice Foundation provide free debt counselling and financial advice services. Their expert advisors can guide you through your available options and help you identify the most suitable solution for your situation.
Alternatively, feel free to fill out our online form by clicking here if you want personal help from our Money Advisor Team based on your current financial standing.
KEY POINTS
- Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd (DCBL) stands out as a prominent debt collection agency in the UK. They are renowned for their diverse clientele and industry partnerships, especially in pursuing private parking fines.
- An interesting fact is that numerous UK residents have the legal grounds to write off a portion of their debt.
- Ignoring a letter from Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd might be a mistake you’d regret.
- They primarily send out two kinds of letters: the Letter Before Action (LBA) and the Notice of Enforcement. Each serves a distinct purpose and requires careful attention.
- It’s advisable to settle the debt if DCBL is on your trail for a debt that’s under a court order typified by the Notice of Enforcement.
- You have every right to challenge them to validate the debt if the debt isn’t court-sanctioned (indicated by the LBA).
- Check if your DCBL debt is statute-barred (at least six years old) before taking action. Such debts cannot be legally enforced to collect.
- Seek debt advice from a debt charity or Citizens Advice if you have concerns about DCBL enforcement agents.