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FightBack Forums _ Council Tickets & Clamping and Decriminalised Notices _ Bus Lane PCN, Christmas Day, Old Address

Posted by: RedWeb Fri, 9 Aug 2019 - 21:07
Post #1506564

Hi,

Today in the post I received a 'notice of enforcement' for parking owed to my local council. This is the first correspondance I received so had no idea what they were referring to. I called the council who said that it was for driving in a bus lane on Christmas Day last year. They said they sent the fine and a number of reminders out, which I hadn't received. It turns out that when I moved house and informed the DVLA to change my licence, I forgot to change my V5C so all correspondance was being sent to my old address. I know this was stupid and I have sent it off today to be changed. So the notice of enforcement says I owe £98.00 for the initial Debt (when I looked online the penalty was £60 so not sure where this amount has come from) and then £75.00 for a compliance stage fee. The total sum outstanding is then £408 which does not add up.

They have said I have to pay by Tuesday 13th August or an enforcement agent will come and seize my belongings which doesn't give me much time considering it is the weekend.

I would appreciate any advice you could give me.

Posted by: stamfordman Fri, 9 Aug 2019 - 22:14
Post #1506576

Fee is made up of:

£60 PCN
£30 charge certificate
£8 debt regsitration
£75 compliance
£235 bailiff enforcement

You have the option of an out of time declaration - that you didn't get the PCN - but councils often oppose this if there is no good reason.

Which council?


Posted by: RedWeb Fri, 9 Aug 2019 - 22:30
Post #1506581

Thanks for your reply. It's Gloucestershire Council.


Posted by: stamfordman Fri, 9 Aug 2019 - 22:34
Post #1506585

I think the OOT will buy you time. Others will advise. You can also pay a small fee for https://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk to help.

See https://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/index-page/traffic-enforcement-centre-tec/what-is-an-out-of-time-witness-statement

Posted by: RedWeb Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 08:11
Post #1506604

If the £235 is for bailiff enforcement but they haven't actually come out to my house yet then why do I need to pay this?

I have completed the OOT which I will send off. However, I'm concerned about the time frame. They insist upon full payment by Tuesday and my OOT won't arrive with the traffic enforcement agency until Monday and relies on them immediately contacting the council to call off the bailiffs. If they do this all in writing then the deadline will have passed.

https://ibb.co/Wx2V7Jc
https://ibb.co/8Dw8h4x
https://ibb.co/Wcqs5wn


Thanks.

Posted by: Neil B Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 09:38
Post #1506615

QUOTE (RedWeb @ Fri, 9 Aug 2019 - 22:07) *
when I moved house

Which was?

Posted by: Neil B Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 09:49
Post #1506616

QUOTE (RedWeb @ Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 09:11) *
However, I'm concerned about the time frame. They insist upon full payment by Tuesday and my OOT won't arrive with the traffic enforcement agency until Monday and relies on them immediately contacting the council to call off the bailiffs. If they do this all in writing then the deadline will have passed.

Firstly you e-mail it (safer).
Secondly, they must suspend enforcement as soon as practicable.


QUOTE (RedWeb @ Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 09:11) *
I have completed the OOT which I will send off.

Erm --- don't.
Show us first.

Posted by: Neil B Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 10:04
Post #1506617

QUOTE (RedWeb @ Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 09:11) *
I have completed the OOT which I will send off.

You need it sworn first?

QUOTE (RedWeb @ Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 09:11) *
If the £235 is for bailiff enforcement but they haven't actually come out to my house yet then why do I need to pay this?

Flag that up to the council; a complaint if necessary.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/1/regulation/5/made

Posted by: RedWeb Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 10:35
Post #1506624

Moved house late 2016.

I rang the enforcement agency as they are the only people I could get hold of on a Saturday (just really wanted to talk to someone as I'm getting very stressed) and they have extended the deadline to the 17th. They informed me that the TEC wouldn't be able to stop them coming after me. Also queried the £235 addition - they said they made a visit to my previous address in May.

Posted by: Neil B Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 11:01
Post #1506628

QUOTE (RedWeb @ Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 11:35) *
Also queried the £235 addition - they said they made a visit to my previous address in May.

There is no clear legislation on what visit actually counts. Even if I were to give you the argument against
that, there is nowhere for it to be heard.

QUOTE (RedWeb @ Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 11:35) *
They informed me that the TEC wouldn't be able to stop them coming after me.

Enforcement IS suspended when you file your OOT, until a decision is made; minimum 2 1/2 weeks,
generally circa 5 weeks.

If they are referring to the ultimate outcome, then they should not opine; it's not their decision.

You haven't confirmed you understand the OOT needs swearing?

and we haven't seen your proposed draft content.

Posted by: RedWeb Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 11:09
Post #1506631

I understand that it needs to be sworn and have arranged for someone to do this for me...however what I have written on the PE2 about having paid the fine is what I originally intended to do. It has since become apparent this is probably not the best course of action in this first instance?

https://ibb.co/GHP0CyM https://ibb.co/31wcCx4

Posted by: Neil B Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 11:15
Post #1506633

QUOTE (RedWeb @ Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 12:09) *
what I have written on the PE2 about having paid the fine is what I originally intended to do. It has since become apparent this is probably not the best course of action in this first instance?

Not much else you can do.

You are not 'applicant' btw; that's GCC

----
What and how have you paid?

Posted by: RedWeb Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 11:37
Post #1506640

QUOTE (RedWeb @ Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 12:09) *
what I have written on the PE2 about having paid the fine is what I originally intended to do


nothing has been paid yet smile.gif

Posted by: Neil B Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 11:42
Post #1506643

QUOTE (RedWeb @ Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 12:37) *
QUOTE (RedWeb @ Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 12:09) *
what I have written on the PE2 about having paid the fine is what I originally intended to do


nothing has been paid yet smile.gif

Then perhaps better to say you look forward to settling the matter?

Posted by: PASTMYBEST Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 11:43
Post #1506644

print the forms from here then start again

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/traffic-enforcement-centre-forms

Posted by: RedWeb Sat, 10 Aug 2019 - 11:51
Post #1506650

Ok, will do. Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help.

Posted by: RedWeb Fri, 13 Sep 2019 - 16:47
Post #1515084

Hello again,

My Statutory Declaration has been refused. They have said that I can pay £225 to have the case reviewed by a District Judge but that's a big portion of the £408 fine.

I haven't even had the opportunity to challenge the original fine which I got on Christmas Day! Is it normal for bus lane restrictions to be enforced on a day when there are no busses running but you can use the lane on a Sunday and after 7pm when there is still a restricted bus service?

Am I right in thinking that I either pay the fine or pay £225 to go to court? Are there any other options open to me?


Posted by: Neil B Fri, 13 Sep 2019 - 17:17
Post #1515088

Did you receive a copy of GCC's 'objection'?

Posted by: RedWeb Fri, 13 Sep 2019 - 17:25
Post #1515094

No, not from GCC. I'm a bit concerned they've sent it to the old address. The letter from TEC says that the response from the local authority should have already been sent to me but I haven't had anything.

Posted by: Neil B Fri, 13 Sep 2019 - 17:31
Post #1515096

QUOTE (RedWeb @ Fri, 13 Sep 2019 - 18:25) *
I'm a bit concerned they've sent it to the old address.

Why would they have done that? Presumably you put your correct address on the PE forms.

Posted by: RedWeb Fri, 13 Sep 2019 - 17:32
Post #1515097

I did put my correct address, yes.

Posted by: Incandescent Fri, 13 Sep 2019 - 19:35
Post #1515118

Whilst you can attend a "judge in chambers" to have your OOT reviewed, you can just have the TEC decision reviewed based on the papers by the same judge without attending. This costs £100. What the judge reviews is the correctness of the decision to refuse your OOT, it is nothing to do with the original alleged bus lane infringement.

Frankly, by not updating your V5 until prompted by this forum many months later, you are the architect of your own misfortune so I don't think paying the non-returnable fee of either £100 or £255 will get the matter reverted. These sums are not reimbursable and if the decision is confirmed as is the almost 100% certainty, you will still have the original PCN and bailiff fees to pay.

You are not in a good place. We see so many threads like yours where the OP has failed to update their V5C, The outcome is almost never favourable.

Posted by: RedWeb Fri, 13 Sep 2019 - 19:39
Post #1515119

Any advice about the Christmas day part specifically? If there is no bus service, should I be getting a fine in the first place?

Posted by: Neil B Fri, 13 Sep 2019 - 19:57
Post #1515123

QUOTE (RedWeb @ Fri, 13 Sep 2019 - 20:39) *
Any advice about the Christmas day part specifically?

Even if there was any mileage in that, and there isn't, you denied yourself the opportunity to
raise it. Now long past.

Soz. Harsh reality.

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