Bailiff Support Team is not affiliated with Whyte & Co and this page is not their official website. It describes the rules that apply to any enforcement agent in England and Wales.
A council has said not to pay the firm
On 18 September 2026 the Royal Borough of Greenwich published a notice saying Whyte & Co “has ceased trading and is no longer collecting payments on behalf of the Council”, and that anyone the firm had contacted about a council debt “must not make further payments to them”. Other councils that used the firm may have made their own arrangements.
What the public record shows
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 18 June 2026 | Whyte & Co Enforcement Services Limited changed its name to Sevenoak Investigations Limited. |
| 23 June 2026 | A petition for compulsory liquidation was presented. |
| 6 August 2026 | A meeting was held to approve a company voluntary arrangement. |
| 18 September 2026 | The Royal Borough of Greenwich announced that the firm had ceased trading. |
| 23 September 2026 | Winding up commenced. The Official Receiver is the liquidator. |
The firm no longer appears on the Enforcement Conduct Board’s register of accredited firms.
What happens to the debt
An enforcement firm collects on behalf of a creditor. The debt is owed to the creditor, which for Whyte & Co was usually a council. When the firm stops trading, the liability order or warrant behind the debt is unaffected and the creditor decides what to do next.
- The council can collect the debt itself.
- It can instruct a different enforcement firm. A new firm would have to give its own Notice of Enforcement.
- It can use another method, such as deductions from earnings or benefits.
If a new firm is instructed, the notice period applies afresh: at least 14 clear days before any visit.
Payments
- Greenwich has told its residents to pay the council directly. For debts owed to other councils, the council’s own website or revenues team can confirm where payments go.
- Standing orders and payment arrangements that were set up with Whyte & Co can be checked with the council, which holds the record of what is owed.
- Receipts and bank statements showing payments already made to the firm are evidence that those payments were made.
Rather talk it through with someone? Request a call
Messages using the firm’s name
A request for payment that uses the Whyte & Co name after it ceased trading can be checked with the council before anything is paid. Fraudsters do pose as enforcement agents, and a well-known name that has stopped trading is an obvious one to borrow. How to check a bailiff is genuine
Complaints about past conduct
A complaint about how the firm acted while it was collecting a debt can still be made to the creditor that instructed it. For council debts in England, the next step after the council is the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. How to complain about a bailiff
Common questions
Is Whyte & Co still trading?
No. The Royal Borough of Greenwich announced on 18 September 2026 that the firm had ceased trading, and Companies House shows that winding up commenced on 23 September 2026.
Does the debt still have to be paid?
The debt is owed to the creditor, not to the enforcement firm, and it remains owed. The creditor decides how it will now be collected.
Who is Sevenoak Investigations Limited?
It is the name Whyte & Co Enforcement Services Limited took on 18 June 2026. The company number, 08930214, is unchanged.
Will the enforcement fees still be charged?
That is for the creditor to confirm. Fees are recoverable for stages of enforcement that actually took place, and a new enforcement firm starts its own process with its own notice.
Want to talk it through with someone?
Tell us where things are up to and one of our team will call to talk it through. A debt adviser then explains the options. There is no obligation to go any further.
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Free debt advice is available
These organisations give free, impartial debt advice and are independent of Bailiff Support Team. Nobody has to use a paid or commercial service to get help with their debts, and using one of the free services does not reduce the options available. Their advisers can also ask an enforcement firm to extend a notice period or apply for Breathing Space where it fits.
- MoneyHelperGovernment-backed. Finds a free debt adviser nearby or online.
- StepChange Debt CharityFree debt advice online and by phone.
- Citizens AdviceDetailed help with bailiffs, online and in person.
- National DebtlineFree advice and sample letters, run by the Money Advice Trust.
Sources
- Companies House: Sevenoak Investigations Limited, formerly Whyte & Co Enforcement Services Limited (08930214)
- Royal Borough of Greenwich: Important notice regarding Whyte & Co (18 September 2026)
- Enforcement Conduct Board: Accredited Firms Register
- Taking Control of Goods Regulations 2013, regulation 6 (minimum period of notice)
- GOV.UK: How to complain about a bailiff