Bailiffs letter for son's parking fine

Ma_Boswell

Will try to put this in logical order.

Son's car was registered at my house,where he lived briefly while between flats. He then moved but before he re-registered the car he got a parking ticket from Salford council ( while visiting hospital for treatment for a back problem, but that's probably not relevant). He stupidly forgot to pay it and today i received a Bailiff letter addressed "His Name" or Occupier. I opened it and its a Final Letter threatening to remove goods. I rang the Bailiff's number and told him my son no longer lives here and has no property here and he said he would "suspend" action as long as my son contacted him within 24 hours.

I have spoken to my son and he has tried to contact the bailiff and left a message, including his phone number.

However, what i would like to know is what else do i need to do to prevent the Bailiff calling - i know i must not let him in and that he cannot force entry, but as i live alone its a bit worrying. The Bailiff also said he might have to search my house to prove that my son does not live here and that if i did not allow this the police could do so. Is this true?

He also said that if my son cannot pay the amount due ( he won't be able to pay it all at once and i have no money to lend him) he could be arrested and sent to prison for 3 months. This seems to be untrue as far as i can see from the Bailiff Advice site, but can anyone confirm this?

I would be very grateful if anyone can put my mind at rest.

McKneff

Are you sure it was from a bailiff, has your son been to court, its only after a court case and a CCJ that bailiffs can act as its the court tht appoints them

Often debt collectors send letters to give the impression that they abre bailiffs.

If they are your son must have forgot an awful lot of times because he would have hald a lot of correspondence which presumably he has ignored.

bondy_lad

are you completely sure on your facts here? ticket from salford council, whilst at a hospital..where was he parked,,,i.e. on hospital grounds or public highway,,as this can make a big difference,,,on the ticket,, did it say,,,penalty charge notice ,,or,,parking charge notice,,please reply.

TrickyWicky

Sounds a bit iffy to me. A while back there was talk of legitimately giving bailiffs power to enter and seize goods with no warrant for unpaid council parking fines but as far as I'm aware it was only talk and nothing came of it.

You're best bet is to actually ring a neighbouring council and ask them what their bailiffs can and can't do. Then ring a few more and see what the general consensus is. At that point you'll have a clear enough picture about thie bailiff to know if he's speaking the truth or trying it on.

halibut2209

This doesn't add up. If he was only there briefly, then I find it hard to believe that (if this is a genuine ticket), that you haven't had several letters from the council, the courts, and bailiffs before this one. How long ago did he leave your property? Council tickets usually take months before a court date

Ma_Boswell

McKneff - it was from Marston's - header says Bailiffs. And he probably has ignored lots of letters - he hasn't yet realised that things don't go away if you ignore them, no matter how many times i tell him - maybe this will wake him up.
BondyLad - i didn't see the ticket, but at the time i asked if it was a council ticket and he said it was - i don't know if he parked in the hospital grounds or on the road nearby.
Sorry - I'm not giving much information am I.
Son has just called to say that he has spoken to the Bailiff(?) who has been pretty decent and agreed to let him see what he can raise and call him back tomorrow night. Hopefully i have been panicking before i needed to - many thanks for the replies

Ma_Boswell

Tricky Wicky - thanks, thats a good idea, I'll try that tomorrow.
Halibut - he left in May and i think the ticket was in June, but i've been forwarding his mail unopened , or he has picked it up when visiting , so i wouldn't have known if he'd had the letters - and he wouldn't have told me so as not to worry me ( or to avoid being told off!)

halibut2209

If this IS genuine, then he MUST contact bailiffadviceonline.co.uk It costs £10 but the advice there could save him a hell of a lot of worry and money. Especially given the seemingly dodgy practices they are currently using against him, and more importantly you!

McKneff

It really doesnt sound like a council ticket, ask him if he has been to court or had any notification of court action.

Tell him to get advice and not pay them a penny till he does.

Ma_Boswell

I will tell him - many thanks to all for replying so quickly

TrickyWicky

McKneff wrote: »

It really doesnt sound like a council ticket

What on earth makes you say that? - Don't give the op false hope as councils use bailiffs all the time to recover unpaid parking charges.

Private companies can't unless they take you to court. Councils.. well its easy for them as they're covered by law and can literally pass it straight to a bailiff without involving any court. If anything it sounds MORE LIKELY to be a council PCN. What is at doubt here is the bailifss automatic right of entry. It was being discussed in parking circles a while back but I don't think anything came of it hence my suggestion to ring neighbouring councils parking depts and ask them independently.