Dro not being accepted by CDER

nanila123

Hello I applied for a Dro and it was approved, in the DRO I also included a debt by CDER which are basically bailiffs for three PCNs. The Dro was granted the 25th of last month but then a bailiff came yesterday I showed proof of the Dro and he said that because the claim came from the court the Dro is invalid. Is that true?

sourcrates

Hi,

Debts you will still have to pay

Some types of debt won’t be covered by a DRO and you will still have to pay them.

These are:

• child maintenance, or anything you owe under family proceedings
• student loans
• budgeting and crisis loans from the Social Fund
• debts secured against an asset you own
• fines for drug offences
• damages or fines a court has ordered you to pay
• unpaid TV licence fees
• any debts you incur after the DRO is granted

Have these PCN`s gone to court, and had an order to pay issued by a magistrate?

If so they are not covered by your DRO.

nanila123

I was sent a court order or order of recovery and then it was sent to the debt collectors but I haven't received any letter from the magistrate.

sourcrates

A court order is not the same thing as a court fine, I would double check with your DRO advisor.

You do need clarification on this as soon as possible, see what fatbellys take is on this.

nanila123

I called step change and they said the debt is covered by the dro so the bailiff was wrong 

sourcrates

nanila123 said:

I called step change and they said the debt is covered by the dro so the bailiff was wrong 

You would be wise to put this in writing to the bailiff's head office, adding step change as a reference, and quoting guidance to avoid future visits.

fatbelly

PCNs are qualifying debts (meaning they are covered). From the guidance, which is now publicly available so dim bailiffs can check:

Fixed penalty charges issued on behalf of a local authority, including those in relation to the London congestion charge, are not fines.
They should be treated as qualifying debts and will be released at the end of the DRO period. This is applicable to most parking charges.