4yr old Bus Lane fine

MLock

Hi
I received a call today Feb 10th 2012 to my home phone regarding a 'Bus Lane contravention' dating back to 2007 and on behalf of Merton Council, London.
The company was called the Marston Group and this was for a car I owned whilst at a previous property, some 3 cars ago....
I have since moved (3.5yrs ago) and they've tracked me down.
What rights (if any) do I have? Will they track me to my new address?
I cannot remember when and where I was - or if I even owned the car at the time. The fine now is £160, which seems low for a 4yr non-payment of debt (that I wasn't aware of)
Any advice?

Martyn

HappyMJ

It's not a fine. It'll be a penalty only courts issue fines and you would have had a trial. Now they know where you live they may take further action. There isn't a huge amount they can do but I would be making sure that anything on display such as a car is out of their reach. Park it down the road somewhere. They may come knocking but if you don't answer it then they will go away. They may get a CCJ. If they did that before the 6 years was up you can pay it so it doesn't appear on your credit file. I'd ignore them and all their requests for payment.

Trebor16

HappyMJ wrote: »

It's not a fine. It'll be a penalty only courts issue fines and you would have had a trial. Now they know where you live they may take further action. There isn't a huge amount they can do but I would be making sure that anything on display such as a car is out of their reach. Park it down the road somewhere. They may come knocking but if you don't answer it then they will go away. They may get a CCJ. If they did that before the 6 years was up you can pay it so it doesn't appear on your credit file. I'd ignore them and all their requests for payment.

There would have been no trial in relation to a PCN issued by a local authority. Marstons are bailiffs so the PCN would have gone to the stage of a charge certificate being issued.

I would seek advice from the following sources:-

http://www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/

and

www.pepipoo.com

Don't hesitate as I have no doubt Marstons will be racking up the charges dramatically.

Rover_Driver

Don't ignore it. I expect that Merton Council have applied for a warrant from the Traffic Enforcement Centre at Northampton County Court, which is what the bailiffs are trying to enforce.

Follow the advice in Trebor16's post.