Greenwich Council has told residents to stop paying Whyte & Co, the firm it appointed to chase council tax, business rates, former tenant rent arrears and housing benefit overpayments. The company has ceased trading and is no longer collecting on the council's behalf. Anyone contacted about money owed — which on this side of the heath means the Standard, Westcombe Park and Kidbrooke — should make no further payments to the agency and pay the council directly instead, using the payment methods on its website or the number given in the notice.
The notice went out on Friday 18 September. It leaves an obvious question hanging: what happens to money already paid to a firm that has stopped trading, and whether those sums are credited against the debt. That is the answer Greenwich owes anyone who kept up payments in good faith.
- Greenwich Council appointed Whyte & Co to collect debts owed to the council, including council tax, business rates, former tenant rent arrears and housing benefit overpayments.
- Whyte & Co has ceased trading and is no longer collecting payments for the council; residents contacted by the firm must not make further payments to it.
- Payments can instead be made directly to the council, and there is a telephone number for questions.
- The notice was published on Friday 18 September 2026.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 23 September 2026.
Claim by claim (4 facts, 2 editorial judgements)
- Greenwich Council appointed Whyte & Co to collect debts owed to the council, including council tax, business rates, former tenant rent arrears and housing benefit overpayments. — official_notice, 2026-09-18“The Royal Borough of Greenwich appointed Whyte & Co to collect debt owed to the council. These include Council Tax, Business Rates, former tenant rent arrears, Housing Benefit overpayments and other c”
- Whyte & Co has ceased trading and is no longer collecting payments for the council; residents contacted by the firm must not make further payments to it. — official_notice, 2026-09-18“Whyte & Co has ceased trading and is no longer collecting payments on behalf of the Council. If Whyte & Co has contacted you about money you owe the council, you must not make further payments to them”
- Payments can instead be made directly to the council, and there is a telephone number for questions. — official_notice, 2026-09-18“Payments can be made directly to the Royal Borough of Greenwich by a variety of methods described on the link below: Make a Payment ... please call 020 8921 4147.”
- The notice was published on Friday 18 September 2026. — official_notice, 2026-09-18“Friday 18 September 2026”
- Judgement: The notice does not say what happens to payments already made to the firm, or whether they will be credited against the debt.
- Judgement: Greenwich owes an answer to residents who kept up payments in good faith.