Due in court for no tax. Appreciate some information.

code-a-holic

Hello,
I have just found out my mother is due in court on monday for having a break in tax on her car.
She went 2 months with no tax. She has recently been very depressed and has ignored all post for the best part of a year. I only found out recently and went through all of her post and sorted out the debts and we then realised the car had no tax and she bought another disk
But now - she faces a fine or the car crushed. The car is worth less than the £1000 fine. I dont think she could face being in court. Any advice on what oute we could take to make this as straightforward as possible for her to handle.
Thank you

blue_haddock

well i would suggest she gets a letter from her GP to confirm her depression and then plead mitigating circumstances with the judge but i wouldn't hold out too much hope.

code-a-holic

Thanks blue-haddock,
I had thought of that, her paperwork for court is already late it seems so might be a bit late for letters from GP. I think its best all round if she gets the car crushed as a fine. She has had her own transport since a motorbike at 16 so it terrifies her to be without as has always lived very rurally. Now she has lived and worked in town for 2 years im sure she could manage without it, and save a fortune!
Anyway - rambling!

pompeyrich

Highly unlikely that the fine will be £1,000, that is the maximum. More likely to be around the fixed penalty amount, £60-£80, costs and a victim surcharge and the missing tax on top so probably around £100-£150.

As blue haddock suggests, get a letter from her G.P. show confirmation that the tax has now been paid be apologetic and she should be relatively ok.

vaio

pompeyrich wrote: »

Highly unlikely that the fine will be £1,000, that is the maximum. More likely to be around the fixed penalty amount, £60-£80, costs and a victim surcharge and the missing tax on top so probably around £100-£150.

As blue haddock suggests, get a letter from her G.P. show confirmation that the tax has now been paid be apologetic and she should be relatively ok.

Pretty much spot on I'd have said.

Also, it don't think letting them crush the car gets you out of paying the fine/back tax