Killean & Co: what a letter means and what to do

Killean & Co does not publish a website, so this page sets out what the public records show and what a sheriff officer letter usually means for someone in and around Dundee. The document itself will tell you what stage you are at and the deadline. This page covers Scotland only.

Who are Killean & Co?

Killean & Co is a member firm of the Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers (SMASO). SMASO lists one office, in Dundee, and two officers: Alistair Moulds, a messenger-at-arms and sheriff officer, and Alan Moulds, a sheriff officer. SMASO gives no website for the firm. Every sheriff officer in Scotland must be a SMASO member.

Dundee is in the sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife. SMASO does not publish which sheriffdoms each officer is commissioned for.

We found no entry for the firm on Companies House. Ordinary partnerships and sole practices do not have to register there, so this is not unusual.

Why are Killean & Co contacting you?

The firm does not publish its clients or services. Sheriff officers are instructed by creditors, councils, landlords and solicitors, so your letter will usually be one of these:

• Court papers, such as a summons or simple procedure claim. This starts a case and is not enforcement. Respond by the date on the form.
• A charge for payment after a decree or a summary warrant. It gives you 14 days to pay if you are in the UK. A summary warrant is most often for council tax, granted without a hearing, with a 10% surcharge.
• An arrestment of your wages or bank account, once a charge has expired unpaid.

The paperwork should name the creditor. Contact them as well as the firm.

What can Killean & Co do, and what can they not do?

Sheriff officers need a decree, summary warrant or similar warrant before they can enforce a debt. Our guide to what sheriff officers can do in Scotland explains each step. In short:

• An earnings arrestment takes amounts set by statutory tables from your wages.
• The first £1,000 in a bank account is protected, and arrested money goes to the creditor after 14 weeks unless something stops it.
• A vehicle you reasonably need worth up to £1,000 is protected from attachment, and goods inside your home need an exceptional attachment order from the sheriff.
• Fees are set by the Court of Session, with a new fee scale for work done from 25 September 2026.

What should you do now?

1. Identify the document and note its date.
2. Check the debt is yours and the amount is right. Ask the creditor for a breakdown.
3. Contact Killean & Co or the creditor, using the details on your paperwork, with an offer you can afford.
4. If you have been charged, act within 14 days. For most debts under £25,000 you can ask the sheriff court for a time to pay order.
5. Get free money advice from MoneyHelper, StepChange, Citizens Advice Scotland or National Debtline: see where to get free debt advice. An adviser can apply for a 6-month moratorium on diligence.
6. If you have several debts, compare debt solutions in Scotland, including the Debt Arrangement Scheme.

How do you complain about Killean & Co?

1. Complain to the firm first, in writing.
2. Complain to the creditor that instructed it. For a council, the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman is the final stage.
3. Complain in writing to SMASO, which has no disciplinary powers but can refer a serious complaint to the judge responsible.
4. Complain to the sheriff principal through your local sheriff court.

For your rights with debt collectors more generally, see dealing with debt collectors.

Is the letter really from Killean & Co?

Check the firm and the officer’s name in the SMASO member directory. Because the firm has no website, use the contact details on your paperwork or ask the creditor to confirm it has instructed Killean & Co. Do not use a number from a search result or an unexpected message. This page does not list the firm’s contact details.