Equita- Enforcement Notice received

Mb59uk

Hello all

I am hoping for some advice, I'm not after a get-out clause. More just advice on proceedings from now

Long and short of it, I have x2 unpaid parking fines to a local authority. It's been that long I've ignored letters, that I can't remember if both tickets are included in this notice, or just the one- but hey-ho...

Received today an Enforcement Notice at my address. Details of charges on the letter as follows:
Client Debt- £82.00
Court Fee- £0.00
Compliance Fee- £75.00
Enforcement Fee- £235.00 (handwritten)
Total paid- £____ (a handwritten dash)
Total outstanding £392.00 (handwritten)

Doesn't mention the 7-day time limit on the letter. It mentions the local authority as the client, says they are authorised by the court to remove goods/vehicle to satisfy the outstanding balance of (then the amount handwritten) of £392.00

Followed by if I fail to contact the bailif (named at the bottom with a mobile number) immediately he will have no alternative but to re-attend the property to remove goods for sale

Slightly annoying thing is that the bailiff wrote down my family members license plate number. I do not own my own vehicle, the only vehicle I have access to is a company workvan.

I have already a while back wrote to them requesting the breakdown of fees, also stating that I owned very little in value of goods in the house (clothes mainly) and owned no vehicles, and requesting a payment plan- I did not get a letter back from this. I sent said letter via recorded delivery, but it was so long ago the chance of finding that delivery receipt is nigh on impossible. I have rang the Equita office in the past, only to be sternly told to ring whatever contact number be in any letters that I have received, I don't want to be in a situation to be constantly ringing a bailiff for them to be giving me excuses over the phone regarding my account/amounts owed

Could someone advice me on what to write them now? I would ideally like to deal with this by email or in writing with them, I would like to request a payment plan. I have every intention of paying as I would like this cleared off my name, I just can't justify that amount what with Christmas Eve being exactly a month away, I need all the money I have.

I have no special circumstances, no sad story as to why I haven't paid, I've just basically been an idiot. I do however pay just under £700 p/m in child maintenance if that makes a difference? I'm not looking to get out of this debt at all, I just don't know how to proceed from here on

Also does anybody have the correct email address for Equita? Northampton area. Im guessing I should maybe CC my local authority into the email to ensure this time I get a response?

Any advice very much ly appreciated

sourcrates

Have a read of this, may get rid of the bailif, then deal direct with council :

http://www.dealingwithbailiffs.co.uk/Stop-a-Parking-ticket-bailiff.htm

Mb59uk

Hi Sourcrates

Thank you for the link, however unfortunately I think I am way beyond the time limits of any of the grounds listed in the link

IIRC the night in question was way over a year ago when I last got a ticket in that authority car park. Have parked there numerous times over the years, not knowing it was a pay and display until that one inevitable time.

Then I made the same silly mistake again in another car park round the corner

Both completely my fault

dvdrdl

I had three of these come through the post this morning from Parking Eye
All will be returned.
Any bailiffs show up at my home and I will be off to the nearest PE carpark with my circular saw.
Intimidation at its most vile I really have no idea how these guys are allowed to get away with it.
They are entitled to my £3 worth of parking not a penny more

National_Debtline

Hi MB59uk,


A Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) and a private land parking ticket have different processes. From your original message you have a PCN and there are a few things that I would suggest to try and help you. Firstly, the bailiffs are only required to give 7 days notice of enforcement when they first receive the debt to enforce - unfortunately, they are not required to give you 7 days notice before each visit.

If they have listed your family members car licence plate but no one has signed this then it is not a valid Controlled Goods Agreement - it must have a signature. Do not sign it. Write to the bailiffs and explain the car is not yours, attach a SOA and you should propose your offer of payment to them - don't wait for them to suggest an amount to you because they will normally only suggest the full amount.


If the bailiffs refuse your weekly/monthly offer of repayment then save the money to one side and send it when you have enough to clear the full balance owed. The fees appear correct I am afraid (and based on the breakdown you gave that seems to only be one ticket). As long as the bailiffs don't get inside your home or list anything there shouldn't be any more fees (they have not charged you for listing the car according to that breakdown). Do not let the bailiffs into your home and keep your doors locked and secure. The bailiffs can only take the liable person's goods for the debt but I would suggest your family member doesn't park at yours for now or (if they are going to) they must prove their car is theirs with a receipt/ proof of purchase (not just the V5 document). Hope that helps.


Laura
@natdebtline

MEM62

dvdrdl wrote: »

I had three of these come through the post this morning from Parking Eye
All will be returned.
Any bailiffs show up at my home and I will be off to the nearest PE carpark with my circular saw.
Intimidation at its most vile I really have no idea how these guys are allowed to get away with it.
They are entitled to my £3 worth of parking not a penny more

Yep! That'll show 'em alright!

Mb59uk

Hi Laura

Thank you for the reply

The same night I sent an email to info@equita, and copied in a loca council representative and also a Northants council email address

As of today I've heard nothing back from anybody

Within said email I included a payment plan with x3 dates also, not heard a peep from them. Should I be worried?

Thank you

National_Debtline

I don't think you should be worried as these things can take time...however, I am a little unsure how long ago you sent this email (you didn't specify a timescale in your original message). Even if it was a while ago, don't panic, you may have to be persistent in writing/ emailing them.


If you think you can pay this debt over 3 monthly instalments (including the bailiffs fees) then you should save that money to one side at home and send it when you have enough. The council wouldn't normally deal with you at this stage, especially with negotiations. It is ok that you have copied them in but don't be surprised if you don't get a reply from them.


Hope you get it sorted,


Laura
@natdebtline

Mb59uk

Hi Laura

Some good news

Today received x6 letters from Equita (11/12/15) dated from the 7/12/15

They were split across both fines however agreeing to my proposed payment plan, also providing a sheet of paper with the scan code to pay at paypoint sat the newsagents into one lump sum monthly. A weight off my shoulders especially at this time!

Thank you again

mcjordi

id of recommended doing a statutory declaration to say you never got the ticket this would return the fine to the 1st stage (ie £30/70) what ever it was at the start.. iirc its free to do at the court

sourpuss999

I am hoping for some advice too please! Two years ago my now ex husband received a parking eye notice on a vehicle registered to me but driven by him. At the time I left him to deal with it and he chose the 'ignore it' option. Now I have received a letter from equita demanding to money. My ex and I are about as far from being on speaking terms as possible and I know he will either just ignore the letter or deny he was driving the vehicle. What should I do? I'm tempted to just ignore the letter as I don't want to open a can of worms by contacting them and giving them his details. Any help would be much appreciated Thanks