Welcome to the QB from SE Michigan. I have the Brother 1500se, an older model similar with what you have. All the suggestions mentioned above should be helpful. Brothers does have tech support for the USA. I have traveled their site many times over the years. Your best bet above are dust and a bent needle. I know trying to get dust out or even trying to put in a new needle on the 1500 series can be a challenge. I will cheer you on because I is most likely this problem. If it is something else I would take it in for a tune up and repair. For something like this it should be included in the tune up.
Again welcome to the QB and I hope to see a lot of you here for some more quilty times.