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Bus fine

redkev76
redkev76 Posts: 120 Forumite
Hi

Looking for help please. Going back to July 08, I was given a ticket for not having validated my oyster on a bendy bus in London. In my defence, I had got on bus, tried to swipe Oyster, found I had no money on it and decided to get off next stop. Before I could get off, I got a ticket from inspector. Wife was 2 weeks from giving birth at the time and had a million things on my mind resulting in me forgetting to top up Oyster. Anyway, I got sent the letter and was told I could appeal. I got a print out from my Oyster card to show that for the previous 3 months or however long it was, I had always swiped Oyster both ways and sent them this along with a letter. I called TFL to confirm receipt and was told that if the appeal was unsuccessful I would be contacted within 30 days to confirm I would have to pay. This was August 08. We moved house in February 09 and I had never heard anything further from TFL. I got a court letter on Saturday saying I owe £290 as I have failed to respond to their previous letters requesting payment.

When I called them, they said they wrote to me at my old address in May 09 telling me I had to pay or they were taking me to court. My question is, if they never sent me a letter saying the appeal was unsuccessful, how can they subsequently, 9 months later contact me to say i'm being taken to court and then leave it 2 years before sending anything to my new address?

I have been told by the court I can go and sign a statutory declaration but I don't have any of the paperwork because it was so long ago. The fine is £290 and I can't afford to pay it. Help!:(

Comments

  • Gordon_Hose
    Gordon_Hose Posts: 6,259 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    Did you give them your new address when you moved?
  • redkev76
    redkev76 Posts: 120 Forumite
    No, but bear in mind I had spoken to them mid-August 08 and had been told I would be informed in 30 days if the appeal was unsuccessful and the fine was still payable. This would be mid-September. We didn't move out until February so 6 months after i'd spoken to them. Having not heard from them and the person at TFL looking at my appeal information and telling me I had a reasonable case, I never thought any more of it
  • Do you have any evidence to say they would contact you within 30 days, or was it just some phone operative telling you on the phone?
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