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Fined £270 Even Though I Had Car Insurance - Fighting Since June 2009!
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Hi,
I've been a long time leecher on the forums, but I've never really seen the need to sign up as most of my problems had already been asked and answered. But I have a really strange and awkward situation I'm stuck in, that even the police themselves can't solve and I'm here for some serious advice.
- In June 2009, I was pulled over by officer C at around 19:30 in the claim that I had no insurance (for which I did - purchased over the phone the same morning.) After debating back and forth, it was settled that he would get the car impounded and if I can show evidence that it was insured, the fee's wound be refunded to me.
It took well over a week for the Certificate of Motor Insurance (CoMI) to come through by mail, which was the only form the police or impound lot accepted as proof. By this time, including the impound costs, the fee had risen to £270 for which I had to pay to release the car as they were threatening to crush it. I was told by the impound to go to my local police station to claim a refund.
I have visited the police station countless times since last June, in the hopes to resolve this issue, but all that is being done is sending me on a wild goose chases, and information that leads to dead ends. Every time I visit, I spend a good 45 minutes at the local station trying to explain the situation and even after the police attempting to find some sort of a department to get me through to, and countless numbers they try even themselves, which evidently... are all dead lines and dead ends. Every attempt at going, I am always given a different address to send a letter to, for which I never get a reply. The even worse part of it is, the first address, back in June I sent the original CoMI and the receipt of payment to an address given to me, who never replied to me, nor returned the CoMI and the original receipt. (Note: I am no longer with the insurer I was with, so I'm not sure if it's possible to have another one sent out.)
£270 was a lot of money then, and it still is now. I have now concluded the fact that this system was set up in a fashion so it would make people just give up and not try, but I refuse. I was about to go back to the police station today, but to be honest, I am sick of it, of having to explain myself over, and over, and over again. Please, for the love of god, someone help me.
I am even prepared to reward the person that can point me in the right direction to solve the issue, £20. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's all I can afford at the moment.
Regards.
Hi,
I've been a long time leecher on the forums, but I've never really seen the need to sign up as most of my problems had already been asked and answered. But I have a really strange and awkward situation I'm stuck in, that even the police themselves can't solve and I'm here for some serious advice.
- In June 2009, I was pulled over by officer C at around 19:30 in the claim that I had no insurance (for which I did - purchased over the phone the same morning.) After debating back and forth, it was settled that he would get the car impounded and if I can show evidence that it was insured, the fee's wound be refunded to me.
It took well over a week for the Certificate of Motor Insurance (CoMI) to come through by mail, which was the only form the police or impound lot accepted as proof. By this time, including the impound costs, the fee had risen to £270 for which I had to pay to release the car as they were threatening to crush it. I was told by the impound to go to my local police station to claim a refund.
I have visited the police station countless times since last June, in the hopes to resolve this issue, but all that is being done is sending me on a wild goose chases, and information that leads to dead ends. Every time I visit, I spend a good 45 minutes at the local station trying to explain the situation and even after the police attempting to find some sort of a department to get me through to, and countless numbers they try even themselves, which evidently... are all dead lines and dead ends. Every attempt at going, I am always given a different address to send a letter to, for which I never get a reply. The even worse part of it is, the first address, back in June I sent the original CoMI and the receipt of payment to an address given to me, who never replied to me, nor returned the CoMI and the original receipt. (Note: I am no longer with the insurer I was with, so I'm not sure if it's possible to have another one sent out.)
£270 was a lot of money then, and it still is now. I have now concluded the fact that this system was set up in a fashion so it would make people just give up and not try, but I refuse. I was about to go back to the police station today, but to be honest, I am sick of it, of having to explain myself over, and over, and over again. Please, for the love of god, someone help me.
I am even prepared to reward the person that can point me in the right direction to solve the issue, £20. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it's all I can afford at the moment.
Regards.
0
Comments
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Sorry to hear your frustration. I'm not sure what I can advise but If I was you I would sent the relevant claim to perhaps the police complaints dept and give them 14 days notice to issue you the payment or you will take legal action.
You can request a copy of your old insurance letter for a small fee, perhaps £10, add this to your claim for expenses. Hopefully they will pay up, if they dont reply then take out an online court claim via https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome . I should add, photocopy the insurance letter and send them the copy so you still have the original.0 -
write to your local papers and local mps0
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Complain to the IPCC;
http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/htmac_form.pdf.pdf (Police complaints management)
They may be able to resolve the issue for you without costing you any money.Best Regards
zppp
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hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »write to your local papers and local mps
Erm, wow, thats a bit of a far stretch is it not?0 -
It took well over a week for the Certificate of Motor Insurance (CoMI) to come through by mail....
Isn't this the issue - your car was impounded till you were able to prove you were insured. The "fine" was the towing/storage charges, not a fine.
It took you "well over a week" to come up with the certificate, hence the costs escalated. Not really the police's fault!0 -
Erm, wow, thats a bit of a far stretch is it not?
No, if you have an issue with the police that you cannot get resolved then yes, I'd go to your MP and they will sort it for you. That is what they are there for.
Do you know who your local MP is? They will have 'open surgeries' where you can turn up with your paperwork, explain to them and they follow it up for you and they can often get a resolution where you could not.
Failing that I'd send a letter to the people you paid and tell them you want the money back within 14 days else you'll go to small claims court (google moneyclaimsonline, it costs £30 to file a claim, and you get this back when you win)
Call the insurance company, explain to them that you need a copy of the cover note because the other went missing in the post.
And for the future, never, ever send an original without photocopying it first!!0 -
The MP's and papers etc are pointless anyway.
Why on earth did the OP allow the car to be impounded and why did they not get it back sooner?
They are liable for the impound costs and no action would suceed in getting them refunded.
The police were a car isnt on the MID will phone insurers if necessary for confirmation; Why did this not happen and save this? Why didnt the OP get proof quicker and sit and waited for it in the post knowing of impound charges? Something really doesnt add up. Thinking Troll in all honesty.0 -
Isn't this the issue - your car was impounded till you were able to prove you were insured. The "fine" was the towing/storage charges, not a fine.
It took you "well over a week" to come up with the certificate, hence the costs escalated. Not really the police's fault!
It should be for our justice system to prove guilt, and not for the public to demonstrate their innocence.0 -
Isn't this the issue - your car was impounded till you were able to prove you were insured. The "fine" was the towing/storage charges, not a fine.
It took you "well over a week" to come up with the certificate, hence the costs escalated. Not really the police's fault!
So who's fault is it?
The OP had valid insurance that just wasn't showing on MID & I know from my own experience that updating MID can take some insurance co's days! Not the OP's fault!
The Police would only accept an original, posted certificate & this takes time! If they had accepted an emailed version it could have been sorted in hours. The Police know the delays with MID & should have phoned the OP's insurer to confirm. Again, not the OP's fault.
When it was proved that no offence had been committed why weren't the tow/storage charges dropped?
Having to pay £270 due to the inadequate systems in place just doesn't gel with me.Always try to be at least half the person your dog thinks you are!0
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