Liverpool, Sefton Council Parking Offence Advice Needed

JoeBloggs_3

Hi,
Within the space of a month, I quickly parked in Bootle on both occassions, lasting no longer that 15 minutes each time. On each occassion, I incurred a parking ticket, which I havent been able to pay due to my outgoings already matching what I take home each month!
I have been recieving letters now from a certified Bailiff advising me they are planning on visint my address to remove goods or to clamp my car!!
Can they really do this? And does anyone have nay advice on how I can sort this out?
The bill for both tickets is now something stupid like £240! I am already seriosly debating whether to declare myself bankrupt due to my financial situation, and this really is the last thing I could have done with.
If they clamp my car aswell, I wont be able to get to work, as I work about 25 miles away!
I tried phoning them today, but i just missed them, Im hoping they wil allow me to go onto some sort of payment plan, but from what a friend of mine was saying, it is like they wont accept any offer. They will demand the full lot or your screwed! This really aint fair, and really could do with as much advice as possible, and whether these fees are actually legal??!!!


Thanks for all your help,

Joe

RichyRich

I'm sure the fees will be legal - I saw a documentary on it. Unlike bank charges, where it's probably unlawful, parking charges come under what's called "decriminalised parking" - the council taking over control of the parking safety of an area from the police.

I don't know what to suggest with regard to paying them - the top and bottom of it is that you will have to. But I'm not sure that the bailiffs will be able to distrain for it as they claim they will unless they have a court order. Unless the bailiff has a court order, I'm almost certain you don't have to let him in.

National Debtline (google it) should be able to offer better advice than me, as I am sure will other members of the forum who should be along shortly.

Rich

Hapless_2

Unless the bailiff has a court order, I'm almost certain you don't have to let him in.

They don't need entry to the house for clamping and removing a car, they just will (and can).
If they do agree to a payment plan, make sure you pay them on time otherwise they will jsut take the car.

JoeBloggs_3

Not the news i was hoping for, but will call them first thing Monday before things can get any worse!
I just dont understand how they can get away with a parking fine costing £30, then going all the way up to £120 each for not paying within 30 days!!

Surely they cant get away with this can they?

Wyndham

It does seem like a big increase in a short time, but I also feel I need to say - you parked illegally, and it doesn't matter if it was for 15 seconds, 15 minutes or 15 hours, they are entitled to fine you.

Wyndham ducks to avoid the flames!

mpython

Why did you not pay originally, or when they sent reminder notices? Presumably they sent you a notice to attend court before they got the court order allowing them to use baliffs?

Suggest you contact them as soon as possible & agree a payment plan as I can't see anyway for you to challenge the court order based on what you've said.

JoeBloggs_3

mpython wrote: »

Why did you not pay originally, or when they sent reminder notices? Presumably they sent you a notice to attend court before they got the court order allowing them to use baliffs?

I didnt reecieve any of the initial letters advising of the Bailiffs, as the post was being sent to the old address. It wasnt until I re-taxed my car when the letters finally started coming in. Which is an offence in its own right for not updating the DVLA quickly enough!

and I didnt pay originally, because I simply cant afford to! Like I said, my outgoings are already matching what I take home each month, and I am always struggling, borrowing money from my folks which they never seem to get back either! All my other bills are ALWAYS paid on time as ive been worried about tarnishing my credit file.

Anyway, looks like im on a losing battle, and any kind of good advice on how I could possibly get these costs down would be a great help!


Thanks again