Just had Equita at the door :(

Buttercup2305

I Have an unpaid parking charge from November (council one). I meant to sort it but stupidly forgot. Since January I have had a carer as I have schizophrenia and they are slowly and surely working the mess out I have been in over the past few years.
This morning an Equita Bailiff left a letter through my door saying they are going to seize my goods.
I told them I am on ESA/DLA and could give them £10 a week which he laughed at.
He said the minimum he will accept is £55.
I tried Equita head office but they said I had to deal with the bailiff directly and can't help.
Is there anything else I can do?
Thank you for any help.

dancingfairy

Hi there is a really useful factsheet on all of this here:
http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=13_magistrates_court_fines
I would write to the fines officer at the court, explain your situation and ask them to make an attachment to your benefits. It does say to write to the bailiff with your offer (which would be 5 pounds - the same as would be taken from your benefits) but I'm sure it would be a lot easier for you if it was deducted from your benefits so I would push for the benefits attachment.
I'm sure someone with more info will be along later.
df

Buttercup2305

Thanks for that dancingfairy, the Bailiff on the phone said I had 24 hours to sort it or he would remove my goods.

erimus1

Buttercup2305 wrote: »

Thanks for that dancingfairy, the Bailiff on the phone said I had 24 hours to sort it or he would remove my goods.

You need to contact the fines officer at the issuing court. Tell them your situation and circumstances. They may well ask you to attend a fines court where you will be able to formalise any payment schedule in front of the magistrates. Also tell them that you could get a doctors note if required. They will bend over backwards to help you as they will not want to be responsible for hampering anybody that requires assistance. Get in the phone to hem straight away - they will be ble o tell the bailiff to desist straight away too.

Good luck.

Buttercup2305

Thank you so much for your help everyone My carer spoke to the courts and they said they could not help and referred us back to the issuing authorities. The Bailiff had told me earlier on the phone that it was £317 in total.
Spoke to Dover district council and they said that it should not be that much. They called Equita on my behalf and told them to call me and that £5 was acceptable to pay.
Equita have just phoned and my carer asked for a breakdown of the charges and they actually said it was £95. So now it is all sorted
Thank you for the advice

amyloofoo

Buttercup2305 wrote: »

Thank you so much for your help everyone My carer spoke to the courts and they said they could not help and referred us back to the issuing authorities. The Bailiff had told me earlier on the phone that it was £317 in total.
Spoke to Dover district council and they said that it should not be that much. They called Equita on my behalf and told them to call me and that £5 was acceptable to pay.
Equita have just phoned and my carer asked for a breakdown of the charges and they actually said it was £95. So now it is all sorted
Thank you for the advice

This 'preloading' which seems to be done by so many of these companies is an absolute disgrace :eek: