congestion charge fine now £700!!!!

monkeychops

In September 2004 my husband forgot to pay the congestion charge. He totally in all honesty forgot all about it until we received notification in March 2005. We had moved house in that time and although we had post redirected we had not received any communication about it. He went to the local Court and swore a Statutory Declaration stating that he had never received any correspondence or forms, Penalty Charge Notice etc. We had an acknowledgement but never heard any more.

Last week, nearly 2 years after the original offence he received a letter from CCS Enforcement Services Limited stating that he owed :-

Penalty charge and costs - £155
Bailiff fee - £599 totalling £754!

I wrote and explained the situation and said we had never heard anything more. Today they have sent a letter saying he is liable for the debt and if the sum is not paid with 14 days bailiffs will attend. What should we do now? There is no way we can pay this money and as I am home all day I do not want bailiffs coming up and harassing me. Do we really have to pay the full amount and, if so, will they accept it in instalments?

black-saturn

Is there a deposit slip or an account number to quote for when you make the payment? I think if it were me after a huge panic and a cry I would ring them and explain the situation and offer to pay it in instalments. Emphasise that you want to pay it (even if you don't) but are going to find it hard as your financial circumstances are not good at the moment. Write the same in a letter and then keep a copy of the letter. Pay as much as you can off the debt now (even if it's only £20.00) and keep the receipt for payment. If the bailiffs come show them the copy of the letter you sent and the receipt to say that you have started to try and pay it off. They might be a little more lenient with you.