Bailiff fees rising when account is in dispute

dollarhound

Hello,

I've searched through the postings but cannot find anything specific for me so hope anyone can help.

I have a parking fine for a vehicle that I owned in 2007. I sold the vehicle but did not complete change of keeper details at the time.

I recieved a parking letter and a speeding fine to which I responed to saying that I was no longer the keeper. The speeding fine went away the parking fine did not.

I thought the parking fine had also disappeared but received a bailiff letter requesting payment in June 2010. I contacted the local authority who said it had not been paid so the fine is with the bailiff company.

I was asked if I could provide proof that I had sold the car. I contacted dvla who took a written statement from me where I gave the date I sold the car. In the meantime the bailiff called to my property. I was not in so they left a letter adding extra costs. I contacted the council who said that they needed a letter from dvla confirmning that they had updated their records (not a copy of the statement I had made) in the meantime I received a further visit (incurring additional costs) I completed a request for information from dvla (cost £10) but the information that I received showed my records had not been changed. My bill has escalated from £100 to £300 while I have been trying to reslove this issue.

I appreciate that this should have been sorted out at the time and not 3 years later bu then again should the council not have tried to recover it back then?

If the council does decide that I did not own the car at the time (which I did not) and withdraws the fine am I still responsible for the bailiffs escalating costs even thought the council said thay would hold recovery action? and can the bailiffs seize goods even though they aren't recovering a fine?

Sticks in my throat a bit having to pay £300 for something I didn't do.

Thanks for you time.

king100

I suggest you take a trip to Consumer Action Group, they have a dedicated baliff section that will help you on this.

Google CAG

Firstly

Do not open the door, they are not allowed to force entry.

Find out as much info as you have in regards to the parking ticket.

He can only charge certain fees.

Park your car out of sight as he will levy on car and charge extra.

The fees do sound too much as well.

DaveF327

dollarhound wrote: »

Sticks in my throat a bit having to pay £300 for something I didn't do.

Could be worse, you could have to pay a £1000 fine for failing to notify DVLA of a change of address when required by law.

peter_the_piper

Either CAG or bailiffadviceonline.co.uk. There may be a small charge but they certainly know their stuff so could be worth it.

dollarhound

Thannks for the replies folks,

I appreciate that I should've notified DVLA but only had the green part of the V5 when I sold the car (was an ebay purchase that the wife said I wasn't allowed).

To be honest though I'd rather have paid the DVLA £300 than the bailiffs.

The car was parked on a single yellow (I got to see the evidence at the council) and the council said they would remove the fine if DVLA provided a statement to say I wasn't the owner. This hasn't stopped the bailiff continually adding charges in the meantime and it looks like I could be let off with the fine (if DVLA change their records) but left with a big bailiff bill that I'll have to pay for nothing.

As the car was sold before the ticket was issued the bailiff cant levy on that but would it stop them taking my wifes (family) car?

Thanks again though.

king100

If your wifes car is in her name then he cant touch it, if its in the driveway he will assume that it is your car and add charges against it.

Park the car around the corner away from your house.

Go and have a look on CAG in regards to what they can charge, if I remember correctly for parking tickets they are as follows

Sending letter advising client requesting sum £10
Where sum is no more than £100 £25 charge
Where sum is more than £100 then 25% on the 1st £200 and 5% any sum over £200
For attending to levy distress but where no levy made reasonable costs but no more than fee if levy occured

The fee for the letter can only be charged if if letter sent before visit

Can only charge for a max of 3 visits

It goes on

zi55y

i am getting letters from bailifs for a parking fine on private land,which i took the advice on here not ton pay,but the company sells them on to bailifs, what to do next?

King_Nothing

zi55y wrote: »

i am getting letters from bailifs for a parking fine on private land,which i took the advice on here not ton pay,but the company sells them on to bailifs, what to do next?

Continue to ignore. If it's a private ticket, then it's likely the "bailifs" are just a debt collection company who have no real power.

Fergie76

zi55y wrote: »

i am getting letters from bailifs for a parking fine on private land,which i took the advice on here not ton pay,but the company sells them on to bailifs, what to do next?

They can't pass/sell on this 'invoice' to Bailiffs, without first obtaining a CCJ against you from a court and they are not going to go near a court as they will lose.

Just continue to ignore them!

Have a laugh at them wasting money on stationery and postage etc, knowing full they will not receive a penny from.

Certainly don't let it worry you, life's to short!

Sir_Roger_deLodger

zi55y wrote: »

i am getting letters from bailifs for a parking fine on private land,which i took the advice on here not ton pay,but the company sells them on to bailifs, what to do next?

Its not a fine.
They cannot "sell on" something that doesn't exist.
They are not bailiffs.

The scam relies on people not knowing the difference between a bailiff and a debt collector. You now know, so carry on ignoring.

king100

Still doesnt help OP, zi55y, as people are answering you at not OP.

OPs ticket is from council and needs to be dealt with asap.

OP have you posted on CAG as cant see anything on there from you.