Debt collector threatening bailiff action on unpaid council parking fine never seen

KeithNute

Hi all

Need some advise and pointers as to what to do

Have just received a letter from collect services ltd for payment of 592 for payment of hounslow council parking fine via CCTV dated 18 April last year and are threatening warrant and bailiff action. However I have never seen this notice before as they sent to prior address. This is due to not updating the dvla on my address until September last year. So hence why I have not seen and admit not notifying dvla my fault.

However, what recourse do I have ? I am willing to accept the fine as I have seen the pic and fair cop. However really angered by first I see is debt collectors note and 592 fine almost one year since I changed address. Plus I live in hounslow borough as well, and was registered for council tax with them since February last year prior to fine.

I have read the government web site and they have pointed to sending in te7 and te9 forms which seem to apply in these circumstances, but like all govt departments seems like this could take its time and I am sure the debt collector/bailiff is champing at bit. I have seen that bailiffs can come knocking in 7 days

Any help much appreciated

ampersand

Welcome to this excellent mse forum Keith. We tend to concentrate on faux invoices from private parking scumpanies.

If yours IS a Council notice, pepipoo are the specialists.

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

Be ready to upload retro+verso sides of ticket and correspondence, redacting identifying details like reg.no. name. address.

Also, subscribe to parking prankster's blog:
http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/
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Most importantly, NEVER engage with, or speak to, debt collectors by phone or in person.

Debt collectors rely on threatening and frightening and intimidating their victims.
Check carefully.

Did you read this section thoroughly?
http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/pcn_further_progression
from which, this:

If you do not make a Witness Statement or make payment within the allocated time then we can request Northampton County Court to issue a warrant of execution and the case can then be passed to our authorised Civil Enforcement Agency, Collect Services Ltd.
If you need more time in which to file your Witness Statement you may apply to Northampton County Court to file an out of time Witness Statement.

Collect services ltd
-http://www.collectservices.com/

They have no power unless you have been taken to Court, failed to pay any fine and/or costs on terms set by a Judge, then had a CCJ registered against you.

Others will be along to advise you further.
Keep us updated.

KeithNute

Many thanks for this advise I am registering with pepipo and parking prankster

I will not talk to debt collector and have also sent through a te7 and te9 for out of time suspension to the arbitration address as well as for what it's worth advising the council of the issue of fine being sent to wrong address.

My worries are

1) they are threatening a court order, is this the same as obtaining a ccj . Can they obtain this without me responding now my address is known ? I know that CCjs are difficult to remove once on credit score and while I am fighting back don't want this put in place without my knowledge. Currently don't see on credit score

2) how long does this take to get warrant for bailiff if letter dated 24 Aug

3) And finally even if I do get more time will I still be liable for all their costs as well as penalty notice as well anyway.

Note in letter they also state that notices have been issued in accordance to legislation to a previous address. This is usually address to which the vehicle was registered at the time the contravention occurred unless an unless an alternate address had been provided.

At end of day annoyed that the borough I moved to was hounslow where I am paying council tax and which was where I got this fine and it has taken that a year and half to find me. Plus I changed dvla address nearly a year ago

Thanks again

HO87

These are all questions that are better fired off on PPP. I can't see any thread you have started but the sooner you get the questions asked there the sooner you will the help you want.