About Dukes Bailiffs
Dukes Bailiffs Limited is a firm of enforcement agents based at Dukes Court, 7 Newcastle Street, Stone, Staffordshire. It has been registered at Companies House since 2002 under company number 04418615, and it is accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board. It describes itself as an independent, family-run enforcement agency.
Dukes says the debts it collects commonly include council tax, road traffic penalties, commercial rent arrears, commercial lease forfeiture and business rates. It also lists housing benefit overpayments, former tenant arrears, BID levies, unpaid invoices and High Court enforcement.
A letter from Dukes usually means a council or another creditor has passed your case to it to enforce. Bailiffs must follow strict rules on notice, fees, visiting times and what they can take. You can write to Dukes to pause enforcement if you are vulnerable, offer a payment plan, complain or challenge fees.
What Dukes Bailiffs Enforces
- Council tax
- Business rates (non-domestic rates) and BID levies
- Parking and road traffic penalty charge notices
- Commercial rent arrears and commercial lease forfeiture
- Housing benefit overpayments and former tenant arrears
- High Court enforcement and unpaid invoices
What a Letter from Dukes Bailiffs Looks Like
- A Notice of Enforcement from Dukes Bailiffs Limited, naming the creditor, such as your council.
- Your Dukes reference number or case ID and the client reference. You need both to log in to its online account.
- The fees added to the debt. For debts Dukes received on or after 1 May 2026, the compliance fee is £79.
- The customer line 01785 825 500, open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 2pm on Saturday, and 24-hour live chat.
- Ways to pay online at pay.dukeslimited.co.uk. Dukes says you must pay it directly, not the creditor, to avoid further costs.
Your Rights with Bailiffs
Notice before a visit
For notices given from 1 May 2026, you must get at least 14 clear days' notice before goods are taken. If a debt advice provider asks before that period ends, it is extended to at least 28 clear days.
Fixed fees
For most debts, from 1 May 2026 the fees are £79 at the compliance stage, £247 plus 7.5% of the amount over £1,900 once an agent visits, and £116 plus 7.5% over £1,900 at the sale stage. High Court writs have their own scale.
Visiting hours and entry
Bailiffs cannot take control of goods before 6am or after 9pm. For most debts you do not have to let them in, and they cannot force their way in. Forced entry is only allowed in limited cases, such as some unpaid criminal fines.
What they cannot take
Items you need for your work up to £1,350 in total, and household essentials such as a cooker, fridge, washing machine and beds. They also cannot take goods that belong to someone else.
Children and vulnerable people
Bailiffs must not take control of goods if a child under 16 or a vulnerable person is the only person at home.
Common Situations
A Notice of Enforcement for council tax
This means the council has a liability order and has passed the debt to Dukes. For enforcement started on or after 1 May 2026, you must get at least 14 clear days before goods can be taken. Use that time to pay, offer an affordable plan or get free debt advice.
You cannot afford to pay in full
Offer an amount you can keep up, in writing, and ask Dukes not to visit while you keep to it. Dukes says a debt charity can set up a payment arrangement for you if you give it permission.
You are getting debt advice
Dukes asks you to tell it if you are getting advice from Citizens Advice or a debt charity, so it can note your account and prevent unnecessary visits. If the adviser asks before the notice period ends, it is extended to at least 28 clear days.
You are in Breathing Space
Dukes says it is the creditor's job to tell the enforcement agent about Breathing Space, not yours. If an agent still contacts you, tell your debt adviser and write to Dukes.
Fees you think are wrong
The enforcement fee can only be charged once an agent has visited. Ask in writing for a breakdown of every fee, with the date and stage of each.
You have an older letter from Stoke-on-Trent
Before September 2023, Dukes' registered office was at Stone Road Business Park in Stoke-on-Trent. It now uses Dukes Court, 7 Newcastle Street, Stone, ST15 8JT for post.
Complaining About Dukes Bailiffs
Dukes asks you to call customer service first on 01785 825 500. If that does not sort it out, it emails you a complaints form to return to solutions@dukeslimited.co.uk or post to Dukes Court, 7 Newcastle Street, Stone, ST15 8JT. It acknowledges complaints within 48 hours, aims to resolve informal complaints within 5 working days and aims to give a full formal response within 10 working days.
If you are still unhappy after both stages, you can go to the Enforcement Conduct Board. For council debts, GOV.UK says you can also complain to the council and then the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
If You Are Struggling
Dukes has a welfare hub you can reach through an online form, by phone on 01785 825 500 or by live chat. Tell it as early as you can if you are ill, have a disability, care for young children or are struggling for any other reason, and ask for enforcement to be paused while you get advice.
Write to Dukes Bailiffs by Post
Our Letter to Bailiffs is written from your answers in the letter builder. You choose what it does: ask for enforcement to be paused because you are vulnerable, offer a payment plan, complain about a visit, challenge the fees, or say that you do not owe the debt. Check the finished letter before you pay, then we print it and post it by Royal Mail.
- Quotes the rules that apply to your request
- Uses the fee scale and notice period in force since 1 May 2026
- Gives the firm 14 days to reply in writing
- Says where you will take your complaint next
Write to the Bailiffs
- Guided step by step in the letter builder
- See the finished letter before you pay
- Printed and posted by Royal Mail
- Tracked delivery available
From £2.49 including printing and postage