About Bristow & Sutor
Bristow & Sutor is a firm of enforcement agents, often called bailiffs, based at Bartleet Road in Redditch. It has been registered at Companies House since 1979 under company number 01431688, and it is accredited by the Enforcement Conduct Board.
It collects unpaid council tax, business rates and penalty charge notices for councils, and enforces county court judgments under a High Court writ of control. It also has dedicated lines for Transport for London and National Highways penalties. Wandsworth Council lists it as one of its enforcement agents.
A letter from Bristow & Sutor usually means a council or court 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 the firm to pause enforcement if you are vulnerable, offer a payment plan, complain or challenge fees.
What Bristow & Sutor Enforces
- Council tax
- Business rates (non-domestic rates)
- Penalty charge notices for parking and traffic
- Transport for London and National Highways penalties
- County court judgments enforced under a High Court writ of control
- Commercial rent arrears
What a Letter from Bristow & Sutor Looks Like
- A Notice of Enforcement on Bristow & Sutor paper, naming the creditor, such as your council, and an 11-digit case reference.
- The fees added at each stage. For cases received from 1 May 2026, that is £79 at the compliance stage, then £247 if an agent visits.
- The phone number 0330 390 2010 for council and High Court cases, or the TfL and National Highways lines for those penalties.
- Ways to pay or talk to the firm: online at bristowsutor.co.uk/pay, live chat, WhatsApp or text on 07781 488270.
- If you do not pay or make an arrangement, a visit from an enforcement agent, and letters about a Controlled Goods Agreement.
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 Bristow & Sutor. For notices from 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 the firm not to visit while you keep to it. If it will not agree, ask it to pass your offer to the council.
You are vulnerable or struggling
Bristow & Sutor says it has dedicated welfare and safeguarding teams. Tell it in writing about your circumstances and ask for enforcement to be paused and your case referred back to the creditor.
Fees have been added that 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 paid the council directly
Bristow & Sutor says paying the creditor directly does not stop its fees or recovery action. Tell the firm in writing, with proof of payment, and ask it to confirm the balance.
A writ for a county court judgment
If a judgment has been moved up to the High Court, Bristow & Sutor can enforce it as a High Court enforcement officer. Different fees apply. Contact the firm straight away and get free debt advice.
Complaining About Bristow & Sutor
You can raise a complaint with Bristow & Sutor by phone, email, web form, webchat, post, text or WhatsApp. It says it tries to resolve complaints on the same day or within 3 working days, and puts the case on hold while it investigates. For council tax, business rates, parking, commercial rent and High Court cases, the formal stage lasts 20 working days.
If you are still unhappy, you can go to the Enforcement Conduct Board, to the council that instructed the firm and then the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, or, for a High Court writ, to the High Court Enforcement Officers Association.
If You Are Struggling
Bristow & Sutor says it has dedicated welfare and safeguarding teams, and it works with The Money Adviser Network so you can get a call back from a free debt adviser. Tell the firm as early as you can if you are ill, have a disability, care for young children or are struggling for any other reason.
Write to Bristow & Sutor 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 £2.79, including printing and Royal Mail postage. Nothing to add.