Help! Cannot find proof of fine payment

mauranya

Hi all - I'm kicking myself that I didn't come here earlier!

In a nutshell, received a fine in April 2021 for driving down a restricted road. Paid the fine within 14 days via credit card (payment showing on statement) 

Cut to 2 years later, receive a letter mid July 2023 with court action etc...fine now £270.

I have searched high and low and I cannot find an email, text or anything with a payment receipt from the council. The credit card statement says the council name, amount but nothing else. We don't live in the borough it was issued and I know 100% that payment on my statement in April 2021 was for that fine. 

Like an idiot, called them and said had no idea there was an issue and that I had proof of payment so it's all ok. They said without actual confirmation of payment from the issuing local authority, tough luck the fine stands. Emailed council asking them to provide me with confirmation, received automated email that it will take up to 30 days for any type of response. 

Cut to this evening I'm at a friends house, husband calls to say their putting a clamp on my car outside the house unless we pay £500 immediately.

Said we hadn't received anthing until 2 weeks ago. He produced a picture of a letter sent to our old address in March 2022. We moved to our current address in March 2020. Driving license and log book changed in April 2020. 

Husband paid it so action stopped.

My question is, if the council do get back to me with any evidence/confirmation of the fine being paid what are my chances of getting any money back from this company? I fully appreciate I've been foolish but £500 gone up in smoke and the embarrassment of heavies turning up this evening has really made me feel like crap. 

If you've got to the end of this post, thank you for reading this far and any input/advice would be much appreciated!

Coupon-mad

1.  Cut to 2 years later, receive a letter mid July 2023 with court action etc...fine now £270.

2.  Cut to this evening I'm at a friends house, husband calls to say their putting a clamp on my car outside the house unless we pay £500 immediately. 

These are unrelated, surely?

URGENT: is what you call a 'letter' in paragraph 1 a court claim? The amount sounds like a private parking firm Claimant, not a Council at all. EASY TO DEFEND BUT MUST BE DONE IN TIME.

Re 2 you can recover your money by complaining to the Council and proving you paid. Take it to the LA Ombudsman to decide.

mauranya

Hi there - thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

The letter received to me on 13th July 2023 is a notice of enforcement from Marston Recovery. They're saying I have not paid the penalty charge issued in April 2021 when I have a credit card statement showing it was paid in April 2021 - what I don't have is a confirmation from the council that the fine was paid (awaiting their replies to my emails) Marston have refused to acknowledge my credit card statement as proof of payment. 

Coupon-mad

OK -that's a relief that you don't have a private parking court claim to defend as well - so your complaint lies with the Council.

You will have to see what they say and once that avenue is exhausted you send your evidence to the LA Ombudsman.

mauranya

That's great thanks so much for the guidance!