Bristow & Sutor Group Enforcement Agents
Receiving a letter from a bailiff or enforcement agency will introduce all kinds of worrying thoughts—especially when threatened with a visit from one of their team.
A court-appointed bailiff or enforcement agent has the authority to remove your property and auction it off, putting the money raised towards the balance you owe. Whereas a standard debt collection agency doesn’t have the power to carry out this type of action.
However, taking your belongings is usually a last resort. If you can find a solution that works for everyone involved, your bailiff will be happy to comply.
We’ve created this page to show you:
- What can a bailiff do?
- Will they take my belongings?
- Can I be evicted?
- What alternatives are there?
- What are my rights?
- What are their rights?
For advice specific to your personal situation, talk to our resident debt expert, TAD, to find out more on a range of solutions to get you back in good financial health.
The golden rule when dealing with any bailiff
Never give the bailiff access to your home or your belongings.
In simple terms: DON’T LET THEM IN.
Whatever a bailiff tells you, they aren’t allowed access to your property on their first visit if you don’t let them in. So, keep your doors closed and locked.
Don’t open the door to speak to them, as they will try and enter your home even if you say they can’t.
Talk to them through the letterbox, or a window they can’t climb in through. Join them outside; but whatever you do, don’t give them an opportunity to enter your home.
If they do get in, you’ll find it almost impossible to get them to leave until they get what they came for.
Bristow & Sutor contact details:
Company Name: Bristow & Sutor
Other Names: Bristow & Sutor Enforcement, Bristow & Sutor Bailiffs, Bristow & Sutor Group
Address:
Bartleet Road
Washford
Redditch
Worcestershire
B98 0FL
Main Contact Number(s): 0871 677 0070
Text: 07781 488270
Website: www.bristowsutor.co.uk
Email: www.bristowsutor.co.uk/pay/debtor-contact/
Opening hours:
Monday–Friday: 8:00am–5:00pm
Saturday–Sunday: 8:00am–1:00pm
Who are Bristow & Sutor?
Bristow & Sutor is an enforcement agency that handles over 1.9million cases every year in different locations around the country.
Founded in 1977 and based in Redditch, their agents work throughout England and Wales collecting debt for local authorities. They primarily collect Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates, Penalty Charge Notices and sundry debt through an associated debt collection agency.
The Ministry of Justice regulates all bailiffs and enforcement agencies.
Why would Bristow & Sutor contact you?
The main reason why you would receive contact from Bristow & Sutor is because you have fallen behind in payments to one of the following:
- Council Tax recovery
- Warrants of Control as a result of penalty charge notices
- Business rates recovery
- Overpaid housing benefit or former tenant arrears
- Commercial rent arrears recovery
Bailiffs will do everything within their power to recover the money owed to their clients. They are incredibly persistent and carry rights to perform actions a typical debt collector doesn’t.
Unlike a debt collector, a bailiff is entitled to take your belongings to help towards the cost of what you owe. However, if you’ve received a visit notification, this creates an opportunity to remove or hide any items you don’t want them to take.
Items Bristow & Sutor bailiffs can take from you:
If you’re visited by one of Bristow & Sutor’s agents and it results in them taking your belongings, it’s important to know what they can and cannot take. Items that are able to be taken include:
- Your car
- Joint-owned items
- Electrical goods
- Televisions
- Games consoles
- Money
- Luxury items
- Jewellery
- Antiques
Items Bristow & Sutor bailiffs can’t take from you:
Similarly, items they cannot take include:
- A landline telephone and mobile phone
- White goods, i.e., cooker, fridge, freezer
- Daily essentials such as clothes and food
- Heat and lighting appliances
- Dining tables and chairs
- Work tools and equipment up to £1,350 in value
- Pets or assistance dogs
- Belongings owned by someone else living in your home, i.e., your partner’s computer, children’s toys, etc.
It’s difficult to prove ownership of belongings, however, and in situations where you can’t, your bailiff will take the items they think will be worth selling.
If you need further information about what a bailiff can and can’t take, TAD will be able to explain further and tailor advice to your situation.
What happens to the goods Bristow & Sutor take from you?
Anything a bailiff takes will be sold at auction or other means to help pay towards the money you owe.
In most cases, your bailiff will create a Controlled Goods Agreement. This is a list of the items they will take to sell if you don’t stick to the agreed payment plan. However, they will only take the items as a last resort when all other methods have been used.
Where a bailiff has broken the rules of collection or acceptable behaviour, you can apply to have your property returned.
If you would like more information about holding your goods or having them returned to you, talk to TAD to find out your options.
What happens when Bristow & Sutor bailiffs want to take your car?
A car is one of the most valuable things most of us own. Its sale will often bring in the most money to go towards your debt so your bailiff will, without doubt, want to include it in their list.
However, there are situations where your car cannot be taken, such as:
- The car is still under a hire purchase agreement
- It’s a jointly owned car
- You have a Blue Disabled Badge
- They can’t find your car
- The car is parked where they don’t have permission to access it
If they put a clamp on your car, never tamper or try to remove it. You could be prosecuted and even be sent to prison if you do.
To stop a bailiff removing your vehicle, hide it or park it a neighbour’s driveway or garage.
Bailiff’s fees
Bailiff’s fees are extreme, but avoidable if you act fast enough.
Their fees are charged in 3 stages: Compliance, Enforcement and Sale of Goods. They cover sending notice, requesting payment, home visits, taking goods, selling goods and more.
The best way to avoid additional fees is to find a suitable payment plan as soon as possible—and then stick to it.
We can offer alternate solutions for anyone struggling with payments or treatment. Our expert guidance can help you through this challenging time with the minimum stress.
We work with people struggling to repay debt every day, including those being chased by bailiffs. We know the process inside out and the best ways to get you back into good financial health.
Support from our trusted debt advice partners will help you determine the state of your debt to be certain you do owe the money, or if it has been statute barred.
If they can challenge the debt, they will make sure you don’t have to pay them a penny.
If, however, the debt is live, then they can help you find a debt solution that suits your circumstances to help regain control of your finances.
Your debt solution will allow you to repay what you owe with monthly payments based on what you can realistically afford each month.
For help dealing with your debt, talk to TAD to be connected with one of our trusted debt partners.
