NOT Parking ticket - Wheelie Bin Fine

[Psoleos]

Okay, here is my story, not sure if this is the right forum or not, but couldn't think of where else to post to get some advice.

I am a student living in Nottingham. We put our bins out when they are full (not every week). However, when we do not put our bins out, a man (I am guessing a resident of our road) goes up and down the road putting EVERYONES bins out. When we put our bins out we remember to put them back in however, after the man did it the first time we were given a warning for not bringing our bins in (even though we didn't put them out in the first place!!).

Over the Christmas holidays we left the house, and returned late Saturday evening, there is a bin outside the one next door (no one lives there, abandoned). It's dark, there is no bin outside our house, so not our problem.

Wake up on Sunday morning to a banging on the door, and we are told we are getting a fine for leaving our bin out. The person who puts the bins out when we don't had put our bin outside next doors house (WE WERENT IN AND COULDN'T SEE NUMBER IN DARK). I explain the situation to the officer, and my friend joins me at the door, we BOTH receive an £80 fine each for leaving bins out (other people in house to but thankfully they didn't come to the door). Now, I understand leaving bins out might be a problem for the council, but what is to stop me on a Saturday night going down my whole road putting everyone's bins out, causing everyone to get an £80 fine. It's utterly ridiculous and we have been told by this officer we have no grounds to appeal.

Any advice would be fantastic.

Apologies if this doesn't make much sense and if in wrong section, but quite angry at the moment as we are students and can't really afford an £80 fine each.


Thanks

[Ms Chocaholic]

That's terrible, are you able to lock your bin away or padlock it to something to stop him putting it out in future.

Also can you take the number off the bin

[Psoleos]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21012393

Just as this comes out as well!

Going to speak to him next time we see him doing it and ask him to stop. It's painted on so can't really take the number off.

[dacouch]

Watch this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21012393

[Psoleos]

Originally Posted by dacouch

Watch this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21012393

Yeah, I just saw it! Don't think it really helps me though!

[Stroma]

I suppose it's a fixed penalty notice yes ? The only appeal is to the magistrates court in that case, if you go there and fail this could go up hugely. I would go to whoever issued this and see if it can be sorted informally. Not sure where it stands issuing 2 notices for the same thing though

[ecoelle]

So the man who put your bin out wasn't asked to do it? He just goes up and down the street putting other peoples bins out? It takes all sorts i guess If he's done it to yo maybe he has to other people as well, could you try knocking on a few other people on the street and maybe get together as a group and address a letter to the council asking them to remove the fines? If you've been fined unfairly i wonder if others on the street have also.

[Psoleos]

Originally Posted by ecoelle

So the man who put your bin out wasn't asked to do it? He just goes up and down the street putting other peoples bins out? It takes all sorts i guess If he's done it to yo maybe he has to other people as well, could you try knocking on a few other people on the street and maybe get together as a group and address a letter to the council asking them to remove the fines? If you've been fined unfairly i wonder if others on the street have also.

Will do! He had a stack of fines in his hand, so I am pretty sure will be able to find some people.

[Psoleos]

Originally Posted by Stroma

I suppose it's a fixed penalty notice yes ? The only appeal is to the magistrates court in that case, if you go there and fail this could go up hugely. I would go to whoever issued this and see if it can be sorted informally. Not sure where it stands issuing 2 notices for the same thing though

He said we might be able to get it down to 1 notice if we phone the council, but that is still not good enough in my opinion.

Apparently it's not the putting out, it's the taking in, and as we were in the house before he fined us, it is our fault.

[Stroma]

Originally Posted by Psoleos

He said we might be able to get it down to 1 notice if we phone the council, but that is still not good enough in my opinion.

Apparently it's not the putting out, it's the taking in, and as we were in the house before he fined us, it is our fault.

You need to try and do this with the council, if you want to do a formal appeal its with the magistrates court for fixed penalty notices (it is one yes ? ) if you fail there it could cost hundreds for each one. And your friend would need to do the same. I still don't know about issuing both one though.

[spacey2012]

Why did you give them your name ?

[Psoleos]

Originally Posted by Stroma

You need to try and do this with the council, if you want to do a formal appeal its with the magistrates court for fixed penalty notices (it is one yes ? ) if you fail there it could cost hundreds for each one. And your friend would need to do the same. I still don't know about issuing both one though.

Yes it is a fixed penalty notice.

Will phone them up tomorrow and hopefully they will be reasonable.

Thanks

[Psoleos]

Originally Posted by spacey2012

Why did you give them your name ?

Didn't think would actually be a problem as we didn't put them out.

[spacey2012]

Well thats life, once they have your name, thats it.
Did you sign anything as well ?

[Psoleos]

Originally Posted by spacey2012

Well thats life, once they have your name, thats it.
Did you sign anything as well ?

Na, just names

[spacey2012]

You should have just ignored him and closed the door.
See how long he wants to stand outside.
Ignore anyone else who turned up to bully you for him.
But thats life.

[GillyR-J]

You live in Nottingham which seems to be very eager beaver on any fines they can inflict. My daughter was a student at MADD and when we came down for a few days to decorate her flat ,both my husband and son had their cars towed and it cost a total of £520 to get them out!
We never found the sign that supposedly told us hours we could park but it made no difference. I would try and get it down to one notice get the whole house to chip in and go and speak nicely to your 'helpful' neighbour.

[BASFORDLAD]

Very common thing in Nottingham, bin fines!!

[Ms Chocaholic]

Is there any CCTV footage of the street of your neighbour putting all the bins out? Not sure it would help but it's worth a try if there is any

[The Slithy Tove]

Originally Posted by BASFORDLAD

Very common thing in Nottingham, bin fines!!

Don't know who would want to live in Nottingham, land of wheelie bin fines and work-place parking taxes. I guess it's the people who live there who voted in the nutcases running the council, so only themselves to blame.