Bus lane fine - can't afford to pay

CabybaraQueen

Hi,

I'm new to the forum and just signed up as I was having trouble finding any information on the net for my circumstances.

I've just received two bus lane fines for the same journey a couple of weeks ago. (My use of the bus lane wasn't wilful. I have some problems with my memory and can only think that I must have thought it was a Sunday and it was ok to use them, when it was actually a Saturday.) The two fines are for two sections of bus lane on the same long road across town. The road changes name at intervals but it's basically one long stretch of road all the way down. So, two fines for the same journey, effectively down the same road.

My problem is that I'm going through a period of financial difficulty. I'm self-employed and haven't been able to cope with a lot of work due to a combination of physical and mental health difficulties. (I'm pursuing appropriate support and I'm on a waiting list for treatment to improve my pain and improve my quality of life and ability to work.) I'm not currently in receipt of any benefits but in the process of applying. I'm currently a month behind with my rent and desperately trying to bring in more work to be able to pay for that along with my bills and council tax.

If I can pay the fines promptly then they'll be reduced to £35 each, so £70. I don't currently have that though and yesterday was down to just under £10 in my current account with rent and bills still owing. According to the letters I've received, if I can't pay promptly then the fine doubles, then if I can't pay that it increases again and then 'enforcement' action is taken.

I wondered if anyone has been in a similar situation, and whether there's any way to have your financial means taken into account with a payment plan or grace period for delayed payment. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

la531983

I suspect you will need to ring them up and have this conversation with them, they wont know any of the above unless you tell them, they could just say tough luck (they have likely heard every excuse under the sun) or they may have a solution.

CabybaraQueen

la531983 said:

I suspect you will need to ring them up and have this conversation with them, they wont know any of the above unless you tell them, they could just say tough luck (they have likely heard every excuse under the sun) or they may have a solution.

Thank you for your reply. I do expect that I'll have to talk with them. I'd just thought that a little information from anyone with a similar experience might help me feel a little more informed going in. I'm not trying to duck the fine, just could do with some extra time to pay it.

Nellymoser

This forum specialise in Parking Charge Notices from unregulated private parking companies. If yours are Penalty Notices issued by the council head to the Free Traffic Legal Advice forum their expertise is on council police fines.
https://ftla.uk

CabybaraQueen

Nellymoser said:

This forum specialise in Parking Charge Notices from unregulated private parking companies. If yours are Penalty Notices issued by the council head to the Free Traffic Legal Advice forum their expertise is on council police fines.

Thank you very much for the link you gave. I'd not been able to turn up that site while searching for advice, so that's very helpful.

Nasqueron

CabybaraQueen said:

Hi,

I'm new to the forum and just signed up as I was having trouble finding any information on the net for my circumstances.

I've just received two bus lane fines for the same journey a couple of weeks ago. (My use of the bus lane wasn't wilful. I have some problems with my memory and can only think that I must have thought it was a Sunday and it was ok to use them, when it was actually a Saturday.) The two fines are for two sections of bus lane on the same long road across town. The road changes name at intervals but it's basically one long stretch of road all the way down. So, two fines for the same journey, effectively down the same road.

My problem is that I'm going through a period of financial difficulty. I'm self-employed and haven't been able to cope with a lot of work due to a combination of physical and mental health difficulties. (I'm pursuing appropriate support and I'm on a waiting list for treatment to improve my pain and improve my quality of life and ability to work.) I'm not currently in receipt of any benefits but in the process of applying. I'm currently a month behind with my rent and desperately trying to bring in more work to be able to pay for that along with my bills and council tax.

If I can pay the fines promptly then they'll be reduced to £35 each, so £70. I don't currently have that though and yesterday was down to just under £10 in my current account with rent and bills still owing. According to the letters I've received, if I can't pay promptly then the fine doubles, then if I can't pay that it increases again and then 'enforcement' action is taken.

I wondered if anyone has been in a similar situation, and whether there's any way to have your financial means taken into account with a payment plan or grace period for delayed payment. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you.

Just a thought but you can get free money from bank switching within a week - normally I'd suggest opening a doner account but as you need it urgently, a switch from your bank to Lloyds gives you £175, you can start that today and get it in process before close of business and qualify for a switch, usually paid within a day after (7 day switch lead time) - you'd need 3x direct debits and have a £3 fee unless you can access enough funds to move £2000 in and out (not all in one go, can do it 20 times with £100 if you have to) or just downgrade later. I discounted the First Direct and Barclays switches as you need to transfer in £1000 / £800 respectively and I don't imagine you will want to do that with £10 in and out 100 times!