If you or someone else intentionally obstructs someone lawfully acting as an enforcement agent, you or they may be guilty of an offence and be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for up to 51 weeks or a fine up to level 4 (currently £2500) or both.

The regulations were written by government to enable the enforcement agent to collect these debts that are due to our clients. The law is there to guide the enforcement agent as to how they should act, not to stop them acting.

No. From the moment you are sent a Notice of Enforcement from our office your goods are “bound” in law. This means you cannot sell them or dispose of them.

They are instructed to do so where appropriate but the law does not make it mandatory.

The enforcement agent can take control of goods which you own or in which you have a beneficial interest.

Enforcement agents will leave different forms when they carry out certain actions. We are required by law to leave some of these forms, and other letters will be used to provide information to you where there is no set legal form.

An enforcement agent can gain peaceful entry on an initial visit to take payment or complete a controlled goods agreement. If payment is not completed, or a controlled goods agreement is not completed, they can force entry to inspect or remove goods that are subject to a controlled goods agreement. Under a High Court Writ of Control, an enforcement agent may also force entry to a commercial, trading address.

Goods will usually be sold by public auction.

If we are not going to take further enforcement agent action the end creditor has several options.

For Council Tax Yes. Regulation 37 of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992, as amended, allows us to attach your earnings so that your employer has to take a payment from your wages each week or month and send it to us on behalf of the council. Some councils ask us to do this for them.

Yes. The regulations do not require your signature or co-operation for goods to be removed or sold.

Some visits are made by our agents called Credit Security Limited. If you have paperwork from them contact them at: Credit Security Limited The Old Court House High Street Whitchurch Buckinghamshire HP22 4JS Telephone: 0845 122 2975 www.creditsecurity.co.uk

If you do not act straight away and still reside in England or Wales the next stage in the recovery process may also involve the instigation of County Court proceedings. If the Court grants a Judgement against you then there will be significant consequences.

Your credit rating is not directly affected as a result of the action Bristow & Sutor may take against you or the data we hold. However, if you do not pay your debt, this may progress to further action which can affect your credit rating.