£650 charge! Unpaid fine due to change of address

jean232

Hello experts, 

I need advice please. Long story short, I moved to a new property last year and less than a month later, I changed my address with the DVLA on my driving licence. I did however forget to change my address on my logbook, in truth I didn't even know that I needed to change it as I was under the impression changing the driver's licence address was sufficient enough to change my records with DVLA. 
I then had a fine for a no entry road and all the letters were sent to my previous address, I didn't receive any as a result. 
I only knew of the fine when someone knocked our door at the new address requesting us to pay £650 or otherwise have the car impounded. 
My wife had no choice but to pay on the spot, we have a toddler and a newborn and we just couldn't let them take the car away. 

I have filed PE2 and PE3 forms explaining the situation that this was a genuine mistake and that we would have paid the reduced fine if we knew about it. 

I then received the representation from the Council stating that they have done every effort to contact us, which I fully disagree with as my new address is shown on the DVLA, I requested a Subject Access Request and it shows both addresses. 

I now received the refusal letter based on the fact that I haven't provided enough explanation or  evidence as to why I have not notified the DVKA of the change of address for the V5 logbook.

They stated that I can appeal this but the cost is £313 for the hearing or £123  without. 

Has anyone had any success in a similar case? 

I am wrong not to update my address and we all make mistakes, I just find it an extortionate amount to pay, especially in this cost of living pressure and the fact we are barely surviving on 1 salary with my wife on statutory maternity leave pay. 

Thanks in advance for any constructive and professional advice.

Keep_pedalling

Your failure to update your V5C is the cause of your problem. Whether it is to late to undo most of the damage I don’t know, but as this is a local authority penalty you will be be better off posting over on the FTLA forum, but don’t do do without reading the read me first sticky thread. 

https://www.ftla.uk/civil-penalty-charge-notices-(councils-tfl-and-so-on)/

Gr1pr

The DVLA runs 2 separate databases,  so both your DL and your V5c log book needed to be done,  so ensure that BOTH are up to date

When they accessed the V5c database they used the registered address on there and sent out the penalty,  so they followed the rules.   Ideally you should have setup mail redirection to catch any incorrectly addressed mail 

Extricating yourself from this mess could be difficult but that FTLA forum would know 

jean232

Thanks both, I will give FTLA a try. I know I have done a mistake but to be penalised by £650 for what is a genuine human error mistake is a bit much. 
I also find it unlawful not to be justifying the charges. For example £110 for sale & disposal fee, this is applied when the bailiff takes the good to sell them and recover the cost, they haven't incured this as we paid it outright. It shouldn't be allowed for a council to act unlawfully...

Gr1pr

Its all regulated so I doubt that any of it is unlawful,  maybe immoral  !

jean232

I can see that all 3 charges had been applied but no items had been taken to be sold for them to apply a £110 charge, I would say that is definitely immoral but also unlawful as they can't charge for a service that wasn't implemented. 

Coupon-mad

I agree. Report the Bailiff firm to the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB).

Is it Marston Holdings?

They are currently under active investigation by the ECB for "serious, long-term breaches of regulations" regarding excessive enforcement fees. 

• Current status: In an August 2025 statement, the ECB announced it is taking "strong action" to ensure affected individuals are found and refunded, and that the company has signed up to a "robust action plan".

jean232

This is honestly the type of advice that I needed, thanks a lot and yes it is Marston Holdings.
Thanks again

Coupon-mad

I see this was paid in July so you are one of those people who should be refunded.