£5500 court fine and bailifs really need some advice

MivoUK

I received a £5500 fine from the courts for a motoring offense committed when i was younger, i was 18 to be precise. 
I completely forgotten about it until i received a letter from a bailiff agency today demanding all the funds or they would be coming out to drill my locks on Thursday. 
After calling them and going back and forth they refused to make a payment plan with me unless i paid them 75% of the debt upfront which would be £4100+ I explained that i was a minimum wage worker on limited work hours due to covid19. I also explained that i was clinically extremely vulnerable to covid19 and according to the Citizens Advice website they could not do a home visit or demand payments face to face if i was clinically vulnerable to covid19. They refused everything i said, and apparently the bailiffs will be out on Thursday. I'm more than happy to come to a payment arrangement with them but they wont accept any less than 75% of the debt upfront before making an arrangement. The address they are coming to is only a care of address and the householder is mentally vulnerable due to mental health disorders and she is clinically vulnerable to covid19. I really need some advice on how i can stop the bailiffs coming on Thursday and how i can get them to accept a reasonable payment arrangement! 

sourcrates

Difficult with a court fine, you say you were 18 at the time, how long has this been outstanding ?

They can force entry for court fines, so if this is not your address, it won’t be your locks they drill will it, someone will be in for a shock.

If you don’t have the money, then eventually they will accept what you offer, but you should of perhaps stopped it from getting this far.

MivoUK

sourcrates said:

Difficult with a court fine, you say you were 18 at the time, how long has this been outstanding ?

They can force entry for court fines, so if this is not your address, it won’t be your locks they drill will it, someone will be in for a shock.

If you don’t have the money, then eventually they will accept what you offer, but you should of perhaps stopped it from getting this far.

This has been outstanding for around 4 years. 
Could i possibly call the courts directly and ask them to accept a reasonable payment arrangement? Can they actually come out and drill the locks when i don't even live at that address? And they have been told by the householder that i don't live at that address?  And believe me, I'm more than aware how foolish i have been regarding this situation. 

IntoTheForest

I believe it is too late for you to contact the court, you will have to deal with the bailiff at this point. 

In your situation I would write them a letter explaining you are medically vulnerable, on a low income and that you do not live at that address. I would include an SOA and details of the amount you can afford to repay (be realistic, I think step change may have information on budgets). If they have an option to pay online start paying these installments now.

Advise the resident to call the bailiffs and ask them to put the enforcement on hold whilst they send evidence of who lives at the address. 

fatbelly

There's a useful factsheet here

https://nationaldebtline.org/fact-sheet-library/magistrates-court-fines-ew/

It may be worth getting in touch with National Debtline on this one.

If you can get the matter returned to the court you can aim for a means hearing. But neither the courts nor the bailiff will be easily persuaded at this point.

Andyjflet

They are now under the jurisdiction of the courts to collect the fine, you need to show them where you live and that is not your address, send proof of address to them before they drill someone else's locks which would be extremely irresponsible of you.
The when they come to your house you can make an arrangement to pay after they have seen that you dont have goods or a vehicle you won to the value of.   
The courts are backed up currently due to Covid so if you have an official shielding letter then you should be able to get this postponed, but it wont go away so start making an arrangement now.