Collectica

stokelady

I had an unpaid parking fine which was referred to Collectica - original amount was around £180, with fees this has now escalated to £462.


Ive checked the fee's and they are lawful, I've managed to put the Bailiff off until Monday but I wont have the full amount and he says that's all he will accept.


Can I call the council direct and pay the original amount via the automated payments line? If so can the bailiff still seize goods for their fee's or can anyone offer any other advise/ideas?


Has anyone had any experience with Collectica? are they likely to be using scare tactics and may eventually accept two payments (4 weeks apart) according to the guy I spoke to, as I already had one broken payment arrangement they will not allow you another ?


Thanks in advance

stokelady

Any advice? This guys coming back at the crack of dawn tomorrow.


Thanks in Advance

longtermplanner

I am assuming that you have no basis for challenging the original fine.

Park the car a LONG way from the house, unless you have a lockable garage.

Paying the original fee to the council will not help at this point and will leave you with less money to sort out the bailiffs.

Can you honestly afford £230 now and £230 in 4 weeks time? ie can you pay half immediately? If so there is a reasonable chance of this being accepted. But if you are offering to pay £230 in a few weeks than the rest 4 weeks later, this is all going to sound like "jam tomorrow, never any jam today" to the bailiff.

stokelady

I have no basis for challenging the original fine.

Yes, I have half now and get paid 4 weekly so can pay the other half in 4 weeks.

How am I best approaching this, am I best waiting outside my house for the bailiff so to not let him in? I will have half the cash waiting.

Thanks

dj0nes

You're on the right tracks in terms of don't let him in. Make sure the car is well out of the way garage is best option as they are wise to people parking it a street or so away.

DON'T under any circumstances let him in even if he says it's just to sort out the paperwork or use the toilet, they will use any old trick in the book to get inside as once they are in they can legally start levying on goods and then you really are in stook.

I would personally communicate through the letter box or an upstairs window depending on what you feel more comfortable with, if possible record the discussion on a mobile phone or camcorder for your own evidence.

Offer him what you can afford, if he rejects it and you really haven't got the rest at least you tried to reach an agreement and pay as much as you can.

Don't let them bully you, you are dealing with general pond life here unfortunately but as long as they don't manage to gain access to your property or immobilize the car this can still work out okay for you.

Let us know how you get on.
By the way if you are unemployed, have a disability, single parent, pregnant etc. then you will be classed as a vulnerable person and that is a real game changer on how they have to approach the situation.