Ultimate Guide to Bristow and Sutor Debt Collectors

Have you been contacted by Bristow & Sutor debt collectors? Wondering who they are, why they’re contacting you and what you should do next? Our ultimate guide to Bristow & Sutor has all the information you’re looking for.

We know how stressful it is to be behind on any payment – that’s why our guide is packed with important legal and financial advice to help get you through this tough period.

Speaking to one of our debt advisors, it’s as simple as filling out this form and you could write off up to 80% of your debts.

If you’ve received a letter regarding debt, it can come out of the blue and take you by surprise. Knowing who you’re dealing with and the position you’re in is the best approach to stand yourself in good stead to deal with the situation. Read ahead to find all the Bristow and Sutor payment plan information, help and advice you need!

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Table of Content

1 Who are Bristow and Sutor?
2 How do debt collection agencies operate?
3 Why is a debt collection agency contacting you?
4 What if I can’t afford to pay back a debt?
5 Can pay but won’t pay?
6 How to deal with debt collectors:
- 6.1 Seek debt help:
- 6.2 Check if you really owe a debt collection company money:
7 Before you pay seek IVA debt advice!
8 Popular Questions
9 Up to 80% of your debt could be written off!
10 List of Debt Collection Agencies UK

Who are Bristow and Sutor?

Bristow and Sutor have provided their debt collection services for 42 years. Their services focus on the collection of Council Tax, Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) and Non-domestic rate debts for the public sector and local authorities.

If they’re in contact with you, it’s likely you have council tax debt, unpaid tax non-domestic rates, a penalty charge or sundry debt which is required to be paid off. Local authorities contact Bristow & Sutor bailiffs to recover such debt for them.

Don’t Pay Bristow and Sutor Until You Get Help

It’s important that you seek help for your debt worries before you think about paying Bristow and Sutor debt collectors. Watch the video below to learn more about your rights and the help you can get.

Before arranging a Bristow & Sutor payment plan you should speak to a specialist debt advisor to check your debt options on unsecured debts.

Where are they based?

Bristow and Sutor are based in Redditch, Worcestershire. Their enforcement agents work across England and Wales to help with local authority debt recovery.

Are they a legitimate debt recovery company authorised and regulated in the UK?

Yes. Bristow and Sutor have worked with local councils and authorities for over 40 years. They are registered in England with the registration number: 01431688, and their address is Bartleet Road, Washford, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0FL

Working for local authorities, the powers they have are different compared to those of other debt collection agencies.

What legal powers do they have over me?

As Bristow and Sutor work for the local authorities, their bailiffs have the right to:

Enter your home peacefully, with one day notice
Enter your home through an open door or open window
Remove goods from your property
Clamp vehicles on your property
Issue CCJ’s to your credit file

Further, Regulation 37 of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992, allows them to take payments from your wages on behalf of the council to cover unpaid council tax.

Unlike other debt collection agencies, Bristow and Sutor are not regulated to require a signature or co-operation for goods to be removed from your property and sold.

They will offer a controlled goods agreement if you cannot afford to pay the debt all in one. Their enforcement agent will leave the goods with you whilst you pay back your debt in instalments.

If you don’t agree to the controlled goods agreement, Bristow & Sutor bailiffs are free to take the goods from your property straight away to make up for the money you owe.

This doesn’t mean that they can treat you poorly or bully you into doing anything. They have regulations in the company themselves and should abide by a professional, helpful manner of working.

If you do have a complaint to make regarding the conduct of bailiffs that are sent to your home, then you can contact Bristow & Sutor bailiffs to explain the situation.

This allows them the opportunity to deal with their conduct internally.

If nothing is done, however, and your complaints are not listened to then you can get in contact with the Financial Ombudsman.

They will investigate further and make a decision as to whether you are entitled to compensation.

Why is a third party debt collection agency contacting me?

If a third party debt collection agency such as Bristow & Sutor has sent you a notice of enforcement, this means that they’ve taken over the management of your debt.

The debt Bristow and Sutor are contacting you about will be to your local jurisdictions.

Due to this, the enforcement action they can take, as well as the rules and regulations they have to follow are different compared to other debt collection companies.

The money you owe will have to be paid off one way or another. This can be through a repayment plan or bailiff action where your property can be taken and sold to someone else to pay off your debt.

There’s no need to panic, however. There are ways to reduce the debt you owe or make it manageable for your specific financial circumstances.

How do I get in contact?

You can send a letter to their registered office address at Bartleet Road, Washford, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0FL.

You can call them between 8 am – 8 pm Monday to Friday, or 8 am to 1 pm on Saturday and Sunday at 0871 677 0070 or 18001 + 0871 677 0070 – Calls will cost 9p per minute.

You can send a WhatsApp message to 07860 078 251, or you can send a text message to them at 07781 488270.

How do debt collection agencies operate?

Normal debt collection agencies are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and have guidelines they’re required to follow.

Because Bristow and Sutor bailiffs work for local authorities and councils, their enforcement agents have separate regulations and comparatively more power than other agencies.

If you have unpaid council tax, non-domestic rates, a penalty charge or sundry debt which is required to be paid off then you will be sent a notice of enforcement.

Bristow and Sutor enforcement agents may visit your property in the next 24 hours.

Once at your property, under the Taking Control of Goods Regulations, they are free to enter peacefully or force entry in order to write up an inventory of goods to take.

The enforcement agent or agents will ask whether you can pay the debt in full or not.

If not, they should offer a controlled goods agreement, where you keep the items on your property but agree to a monthly fee to pay back your debt.

If you reject the agreement and can’t pay upfront, the items will be taken away and sold on to pay for your debt.

Under the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, Bristow and Sutor bailiffs can legally come to your property and enter peacefully or force entry to write up an inventory of goods they can take to settle unpaid council tax, PCNs and Non-domestic rate debts.

The goods on the inventory list are subject to a controlled goods agreement.

These regulations guide Bristow & Sutor enforcement agents in how to act when collecting the debts that are due to councils.

If you or someone else on your property purposefully obstruct any enforcement agents from acting lawfully then you or they may be found guilty of an offence.

This can lead to imprisonment for up to 51 weeks, a fine of up to £2500 or both.

Why is a debt collection agency contacting you?

Bristow and Sutor are contacting you because you owe money in council tax debt, unpaid non-domestic rates or penalty charge notices which are required to be paid off as soon as possible.

If you can afford to pay the debt off, it’s a good idea to make a payment before bailiff enforcement takes place and make note of the items in your house they’ll be taking.

If you’re in need of money advice, legal advice or debt advice, debt advisors can offer free of charge help to assist you in getting out of the situation you find yourself in.

What if I can’t afford to pay back a debt?

If you can’t afford to pay back the enforcement agency then goods in your property will be noted for inventory and can be taken away for sale or disposal.

If you cannot come to a payment arrangement in a controlled goods agreement with the enforcement agents, then your goods will be taken away by the Bristow & Sutor bailiffs.

If you pay off your debt once the goods have been taken off your property, you may be able to go through a recovery process to get some things back. This will involve the County Court and can be a lengthy process, however.

Can pay but won’t pay?

If you outright refuse to pay Bristow and Sutor enforcement, either upfront or through a controlled goods agreement, then goods from your property will be seized under the Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013.

If the debt is not collected by Bristow and Sutor enforcement, then the council can apply to the Magistrates Court for a prison sentence to a debtor who owes council tax or non-domestic rates and is over the age of 18.

How to deal with debt collectors:

To stop them from bothering you, you have to figure out a method to repay your debt.

With Bristow and Sutor you can negotiate a controlled goods agreement to keep property that they may take so long as you pay monthly towards your debt.

Talking to a debt advisor will allow you to get the best advice on a plan of action to take.

Alternatively, you may be able to write off some of the debt owed to a creditor if you can come to an IVA arrangement.

Seek debt help:

Get in contact with a debt advisor or money advice service, such as us. We can offer you free debt advice and money advice to help you through this difficult time.

Getting in contact can help you to take control of the situation you find yourself in. It can be a hard time, so why not reduce this stress on both you and your family by getting the expert advice of one of our experienced debt advisors?

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Check if you really owe a debt collection company money:

If you’ve received a compliance notice or a notice of enforcement from Bristow & Sutor, then it’s likely you owe a debt to the local council or other authorities.

You can get in contact with the council themselves to dispute debt relating to Council Tax and non-domestic rates.

For Penalty Charge Notices you can contact Bristow & Sutor by telephone or by sending a letter to explain.

Before you pay seek IVA debt advice!

Council tax debt can be applied to an Individual Voluntary Arrangement. This means that you could save up to 80% on the debt you owe.

These are the factors that have to be ticked off in order for an IVA to be possible:

Your council has to be on a list of approved councils. Even then, some councils only allow you to pay back a smaller percentage of debt where others will allow the full amount.
Your debt has to exceed £5000 to 2+ creditors

An IVA agreement lasts up to five years (sometimes six at a push) and once this period of time is over, whatever is not paid towards the debt is waived.

There is no other alternative to write off council tax debts and the only way to stop a bailiff from coming to your property is with an Individual Voluntary Arrangement.

Up to 80% of your debt could be written off!

You can get free IVA advice, just get in contact with a debt advisor.

If you can write off up to 80% of your debt and come to a payment arrangement – it’s a win-win.

Take control of your situation and make it a lot less stressful for both you and your family.

You’ll finally have a plan in place to pay off your debt and as a bonus, you won’t have to pay it all off.

Find Out The Best Debt Solution Bespoke To Your Financial Situation

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List of Debt Collection Agencies UK

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

The Ultimate Guide to Bristow and Sutor Debt Collectors