CCJ awarded as I wasn't receiving my post

memphis73

Hello, 

Its a tricky one this - I discovered I'd had a CCJ filed on me for an unpaid parking ticket. I didn't get their notifications or post as  my ex-wife and I were having a very painful split up which meant I could not go to my house to retrieve post, and no post was being forwarded to me. All correspondence from that time has "disappeared" so I can't establish the paper trail. While my ex and I are on better terms now, it's left me as a divorcing father in a very precarious position. 

To try and limit the amount of time this stays on my file, I have paid the £250 approx fine and charges, and it now appears as "satisfied", but my credit score of course remains low and I cannot apply for a credit card.

I think I'll just have to get on with it, but i wondered whether anyone has been in a similar position and has anything to suggest.

Many thanks!

[Deleted User]

The best advice is to disregard the credit score and let time do its thing. A satisfied CCJ isn't great, but not the end of the world.

You'll able to apply for a credit card - you just need to apply for one which will accept you at the right time. How old is the CCJ and when was it satisfied?

memphis73

Thanks - it's October-ish last year and I satisfied it on discovering it early this year 

macman

The postal address used would have been that for the registered keeper of the vehicle. If you didn't change that when you moved out, then non-receipt of the paperwork would not be a valid defence.  
All a creditor is required to do is serve at the last known address, which they apparently did, so there are no grounds for a set-aside.

Humdinger1

@memphis73 I'm asking @Coupon-mad to contact you as am sure she and other experts on the parking board can help.  This comes up a lot and can be fixed.  Good luck Humdinger 

porkisnotmeat

Humdinger1 said:

@memphis73 I'm asking @Coupon-mad to contact you as am sure she and other experts on the parking board can help.  This comes up a lot and can be fixed.  Good luck Humdinger 

It can't be fixed if the defendant didn't change their address.  If you're no longer resident at a property and especially if you're not on good terms with the tenants, the FIRST thing to do is to change your address with the relevant companies/authorities.

If the address was served on the last known address, especially if you haven't bothered to change it, your request to set aside will fail.

Bear in mind

You must update your vehicle log book (V5C) if you change your name or address. It’s usually free to update it.

You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA when your name or address changes.

And the same applies to their driving licence.

MalMonroe

Humdinger1 said:

@memphis73 I'm asking @Coupon-mad to contact you as am sure she and other experts on the parking board can help.  This comes up a lot and can be fixed.  Good luck Humdinger 

As well as the fact that there was no change of address, the OP doesn't specify the type of ticket. Penalty or Parking? If it's Parking, i.e. private, then yes maybe coupon mad and the others could have helped. But also the fine and all charges have now been paid. Is there any way back from that? I'm not sure, so that's a genuine question. 

MalMonroe

memphis73 said:

Hello, 

Its a tricky one this - I discovered I'd had a CCJ filed on me for an unpaid parking ticket. I didn't get their notifications or post as  my ex-wife and I were having a very painful split up which meant I could not go to my house to retrieve post, and no post was being forwarded to me. All correspondence from that time has "disappeared" so I can't establish the paper trail. While my ex and I are on better terms now, it's left me as a divorcing father in a very precarious position. 

To try and limit the amount of time this stays on my file, I have paid the £250 approx fine and charges, and it now appears as "satisfied", but my credit score of course remains low and I cannot apply for a credit card.

I think I'll just have to get on with it, but i wondered whether anyone has been in a similar position and has anything to suggest.

Many thanks!

Hi, I'm sorry to hear about the breakdown of your marriage, I've been through that and it's not easy to function as well as you'd like to under those circumstances.

As said above, I don't think there's a lot that can be done retrospectively - if you had known you had been issued a parking ticket you could have come here at that time and been advised by the very knowledgeable people on the Motoring/parking board.  

I agree with what zx81 says, especially the advice about ignoring your credit score as no lender ever sees that. You could try doing a soft search just to see if you would be able to get a credit card. 

Also agree about changing your address but sorry, that's shutting the stable door after the horse left.

Good luck going forward. 

Humdinger1

@Coupon-mad and others often advise on setting aside CCJs.  Maybe it's not possible here but it can be done.

sourcrates

Humdinger1 said:

@Coupon-mad and others often advise on setting aside CCJs.  Maybe it's not possible here but it can be done.

It can be set aside even if already paid off, but the OP must satisfy certain criteria, and unless they are on a low income, it will cost them £255.00 to find out.

Anyway credit cards are the spawn of the devil, so you may have dodged a bullet.