Fined £270 Even Though I Had Car Insurance - Fighting Since June 2009!

Marv02

I'm changing a few things around, and I've shortend it a bit. I would like to know one what word I should use over the other. Should I "Request" for a refund, or should I "Demand" for a refund? I mean, requesting is not demanding, as you know. Any tips?

Marv02

Does anyone know if all CAB's are free?
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice/bureau_detail.htm?serialnumber=100082

Just wondering. If it is, I'll go to Lewisham tommorow and ask them for a bit of advice. I don't want to call them, seen as they have premium rate number, and no point of wasting more money as it is.

olly300

Marv02 wrote: »

I'm changing a few things around, and I've shortend it a bit. I would like to know one what word I should use over the other. Should I "Request" for a refund, or should I "Demand" for a refund? I mean, requesting is not demanding, as you know. Any tips?

You want to request a refund.

Check your PM's.

The only part you need to bold is the part I've highlighted.

You don't need to tell the reader to read thoroughly as that is rude.

olly300

Marv02 wrote: »

Does anyone know if all CAB's are free?
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice/bureau_detail.htm?serialnumber=100082

Just wondering. If it is, I'll go to Lewisham tommorow and ask them for a bit of advice. I don't want to call them, seen as they have premium rate number, and no point of wasting more money as it is.

CABs are free.

dacouch

olly300 wrote: »

CABs are free.

The free ones definitely won't go sarf of the river

KeithP

Marv02 wrote: »

Does anyone know if all CAB's are free?
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice/bureau_detail.htm?serialnumber=100082

Just wondering. If it is, I'll go to Lewisham tommorow and ask them for a bit of advice. I don't want to call them, seen as they have premium rate number, and no point of wasting more money as it is.

You may be wasting your time by just turning up there.

From that website you linked to...

Advice for people who live or work in the Lewisham borough. People are seen by appointments only , arranged through Debtline or via Sydenham/Catford CAB referral.
NO DROP IN SERVICE AT THIS LOCATION

So... looks like you'd be better off going to Sydenham or Catford CAB.

Marv02

olly300 wrote: »

You want to request a refund.

Check your PM's.

The only part you need to bold is the part I've highlighted.

You don't need to tell the reader to read thoroughly as that is rude.

Thanks olly, I've replied to your PM.

Marv02

OK, here is the final draft I have written, I hope this one is good enough to send (thanks olly)

Dear Sir or Madam,

Subject: Formal Complaint About The Conduct of the Metropolitan Police

I am writing to you today to complain and dispute an incident that took place on 24th April 2009.

I was pulled over by Officer XXXX at approximately 19:40 hours on the 24th of April, 2009 with the claim that my vehicle registration number XXXX XXX was not insured for me to drive. I disputed this with the officer and explained to him that I had purchased my insurance over the phone that same morning and fully confirmed with my insurer, Privilege, that my insurance took effect immediately.

He then proceeded to ask me to produce my Certificate of Motor Insurance (CoMI) which I could not produce on the road side, and reminded him that I had purchased my insurance over the phone that same morning, and my insurer, privilege, told me my CoMI could take up to 10 working days to arrive by post.
Finally Officer XXXX decided that my car would have to be impounded and he assured me that if I could prove before 14 days that I was fully insured I would not be made to pay any towing and storage fees.

I received my CoMI in the post, which clearly confirmed I was fully insured from 11:34AM, on the 23rd April 2009. I then proceeded to fill out the yellow fixed penalty notice given to my to drop the 6 point fine on my license, for which had been cleared and all fines where dropped.

When I attended the impound where my vehicle was stored, I informed the staff that I was assured by Officer XXXX and at my local police station that I did NOT have to pay for my vehicle to be released as all charges where dropped against me. They informed me that this was wrong and threatened me that I had to pay otherwise my vehicle would be crushed. They stated that any disputes over fees would have to be resolved by me contacting the officer in question, or by attending the police station where the officer is appointed. The final bill for towing and storage totalled £270. Out of hopelessness and sheer fear for my vehicle being crushed, I forcefully paid the bill of £270, under the impression my money would be reinstated to me at a later date.

I have being trying to obtain a refund for this amount which was almost 1.8 times my weekly income of £154, which affected my financial status greatly due to me being on benefits and couldn’t recover for many months.

In my attempts to obtain the details of the correct department to claim a refund I have:

1) Attended the police station several times to obtain the correct address to send an appeal to. The address given to me on all attempts was incorrect as I received no reply and the original documents I was told to send in with the cover letter were never returned.
2) attended the police station again and was given a second address to write to. Again I never received a reply.
3) After a serious illness in my family, I returned back to carry on pursing my appeal in January 2010. I went back to the police station and was given yet another address to write to. Again I never received a reply.
4) Contacted up to 15 different contact numbers given to me, to no avail.
5) Sent in detailed letters to many departments, which are listed below, to no avail.
6) I have attended the police station a numerous amount of times, over the past 6 months and every attempt made at getting hold of a department address or telephone number, failed.

After a year of trying countless times to find the correct persons to contact to obtain a refund I have been led to nothing but automated answering machines, disconnected numbers or incorrect postal addresses. Before filing for a small claims court, I decided to make one last attempt to find a department that can hear my case, which led me to come across the number for the DPS – Customer Service Team and spoke to a lady staff member “XXXX” who assured me that if I send in a detailed cover letter, explaining my case in full, along with all necessary documents, for them to review, that she would help me clear up this whole mess once and for all and entitle me the refund of the £270 for which I was unfairly forced to pay.

I have enclosed the following documents to help you sort the matter out.

1) Copy of the Certificate of Motor Insurance (CoMI) which clearly proves that I was insured at the time of the traffic stop.
2) A copy of the Barclays bank statement dated May 2009 proving payment to £270 to the Metropolitan Police.
3) A list of all the departments I have contact over the last 6 months.
4) A copy of the original Fixed Penalty Notice that was handed to me on the road side.
5) A copy of one of the detailed cover letters written to the many of the departments explaining my case.


Yours faithfully,

What do you guys think?

olly300

As you have changed it a few times you may as well put your final draft up, the one you are going to post. Remove the names in it though.

GEEGEE8

I'm only good for spelling - sorry!

Quote:
Dear Sir or Madam,

Subject: Formal Complaint About The Conduct of the Metropolitan Police

I am writing to you today to complain and dispute an incident that took place on 24th April 2009.

I was pulled over by Officer XXXX at approximately 19:40 hours on the 24th of April, 2009 with the claim that my vehicle registration number XXXX XXX was not insured for me to drive. I disputed this with the officer and explained to him that I had purchased my insurance over the phone that same morning and fully confirmed with my insurer, Privilege, that my insurance took effect immediately.

He then proceeded to ask me to produce my Certificate of Motor Insurance (CoMI) which I could not produce on the road side, and reminded him that I had purchased my insurance over the phone that same morning, and my insurer, privilege, told me my CoMI could take up to 10 working days to arrive by post.
Finally Officer XXXX decided that my car would have to be impounded and he assured me that if I could prove before 14 days that I was fully insured I would not be made to pay any towing and storage fees.

I received my CoMI in the post, which clearly confirmed I was fully insured from 11:34AM, on the 23rd April 2009. I then proceeded to fill out the yellow fixed penalty notice given to my (me) to drop the 6 point fine on my license, for which had been cleared and all fines where (were) dropped.

When I attended the impound where my vehicle was stored, I informed the staff that I was assured by Officer XXXX and at my local police station that I did NOT have to pay for my vehicle to be released as all charges where (were) dropped against me. They informed me that this was wrong and threatened me that I had to pay otherwise my vehicle would be crushed. They stated that any disputes over fees would have to be resolved by me contacting the officer in question, or by attending the police station where the officer is appointed. The final bill for towing and storage totalled £270. Out of hopelessness and sheer fear for my vehicle being crushed, I forcefully paid the bill of £270, under the impression my money would be reinstated to me at a later date.

I have being trying to obtain a refund for this amount which was almost 1.8 times my weekly income of £154, which affected my financial status greatly due to me being on benefits and couldn’t recover for many months.

In my attempts to obtain the details of the correct department to claim a refund I have:

1) Attended the police station several times to obtain the correct address to send an appeal to. The address given to me on all attempts was incorrect as I received no reply and the original documents I was told to send in with the cover letter were never returned.
2) (A)attended the police station again and was given a second address to write to. Again I never received a reply.
3) After a serious illness in my family, I returned back to carry on pursing (pursuing) my appeal in January 2010. I went back to the police station and was given yet another address to write to. Again I never received a reply.
4) Contacted up to 15 different contact numbers given to me, to no avail.
5) Sent in detailed letters to many departments, which are listed below, to no avail.
6) I have attended the police station a (take 'a' out) numerous amount of times, over the past 6 months and every attempt made at getting hold of a department address or telephone number, (has) failed.

After a year of trying countless times to find the correct persons to contact to obtain a refund I have been led to nothing but automated answering machines, disconnected numbers or incorrect postal addresses. Before filing for a small claims court, I decided to make one last attempt to find a department that can hear my case, which led me to come across the number for the DPS – Customer Service Team and spoke to a lady staff member “XXXX” who assured me that if I send in a detailed cover letter, explaining my case in full, along with all necessary documents, for them to review, that she would help me clear up this whole mess once and for all and entitle me the refund of the £270 for which I was unfairly forced to pay.

I have enclosed the following documents to help you sort the matter out.

1) Copy of the Certificate of Motor Insurance (CoMI) which clearly proves that I was insured at the time of the traffic stop.
2) A copy of the Barclays (B)bank statement dated May 2009 proving payment to(of) £270 to the Metropolitan Police.
3) A list of all the departments I have contact over the last 6 months.
4) A copy of the original Fixed Penalty Notice that was handed to me on the road side.
5) A copy of one of the detailed cover letters written to the many of the departments explaining my case.


Yours faithfully,