Changed address on v5 and the bailiffs show up |
Changed address on v5 and the bailiffs show up |
Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 19:38
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#1
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Member No.: 83,908 |
Hi all,
I got home from work today to find a bailiff letter demanding £1271 from 'Marston tracings and investigations unit' for non payment of some fine. The letter states they have a warrant of control for my possessions if it isn't paid within 14 days. It doesn't say what the original offence is but from what I've read here it seems likely it might have been a speeding ticket at one point. So, otherwise I have no indication what I've done, I had only recently updated my v5 to my current address which is no doubt how they have traced me. It's been a while since I updated my v5 and I move house often, so I've never seen any of the original documents, court orders or whatever. I haven't seen anything and no nothing about them. I've only got one question - do I have any defence at all or do I just have to suck it up and find the money for these bailiffs? Is it simply my fault for not updating my v5 before now, or can I get the whole thing reconsidered? thanks loads for any help, I'm panicking, this is not a trivial amount of money obviously! Mark |
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Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 19:38
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Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 19:44
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 26 Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Member No.: 83,904 |
Who does the fine come from?
I'm in the middle of something very similar (my fine is £1871) so will say what many others will - get to your local magistrates court and do a statutory declaration. This will void any previous convictions made in your absence (which will be what has happened here) and stop the hefty fine for now. Others will give better advice but do not give them anything until you know the full details of the case. I recommend finding this out asap as I realised I'd been disqualified only after contacting HMCTS. |
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Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 19:47
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#3
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Member No.: 83,908 |
It says the client is "HMCTS London SE & C", that's the only indication. No doubt I can get more info if I call them on Monday but there is nothing on this letter
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Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 19:52
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 26 Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Member No.: 83,904 |
Yep, almost identical to mine. I panicked, phoned and set up a payment plan before actually checking the details. I don't recommend that. There's nothing you can do right now, but first thing Monday, phone either the London and SE magistrates court or your own local court, get your case numbers and arrange to go down there at your earliest opportunity to do your statutory declaration.
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Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 19:52
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#5
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Member Group: Members Posts: 33,610 Joined: 2 Apr 2008 From: Not in the UK Member No.: 18,483 |
So presumably you committed an offence in London at some point.
-------------------- Moderator
Any comments made do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon. No lawyer/client relationship should be assumed nor should any duty of care be owed. |
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Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 20:07
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#6
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Member Group: Members Posts: 6,723 Joined: 3 Apr 2006 From: North Hampshire Member No.: 5,183 |
Checking your driving licence record at the DVLA is a possible starting point. https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence
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Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 20:08
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#7
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Member Group: Members Posts: 6,178 Joined: 1 Jan 2013 From: Glasgow Member No.: 59,097 |
Yep, almost identical to mine. I panicked, phoned and set up a payment plan before actually checking the details. I don't recommend that. There's nothing you can do right now, but first thing Monday, phone either the London and SE magistrates court or your own local court, get your case numbers and arrange to go down there at your earliest opportunity to do your statutory declaration. Although much of the advice on here re these sort of situations is to do a Stat Dec at a solicitors. |
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Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 20:22
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#8
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Member No.: 83,908 |
Checking your driving licence record at the DVLA is a possible starting point. https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence Very good tip, thanks.. So, there it states I have a £660 fine for 'Failure to give information as to identity of driver etc' and 6 points from June 2015 But after hearing from Rinajayne I'm relieved I'm not disqualified (no offence Rinajayne and you have my thanks for your help and my sympathies for your situation!) So where does that leave me? I'm happy to confess to whatever original offence I committed. Particularly if it reduces the bailiff bill and gets them off my back.. |
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Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 20:54
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#9
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Member Group: Members Posts: 6,178 Joined: 1 Jan 2013 From: Glasgow Member No.: 59,097 |
Checking your driving licence record at the DVLA is a possible starting point. https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence Very good tip, thanks.. So, there it states I have a £660 fine for 'Failure to give information as to identity of driver etc' and 6 points from June 2015 But after hearing from Rinajayne I'm relieved I'm not disqualified (no offence Rinajayne and you have my thanks for your help and my sympathies for your situation!) So where does that leave me? I'm happy to confess to whatever original offence I committed. Particularly if it reduces the bailiff bill and gets them off my back.. Reason he was disqualified was because he had amassed 12 points. |
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Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 21:04
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#10
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Member Group: Members Posts: 22,678 Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Member No.: 27,239 |
Make the Statutory Declaration to get the bailiffs off your back
If you can't get an immediate court appointment, you can do it at any solicitor for a nominal charge Can't see where the extra Marstons charge comes from unless they're claiming for a couple of visits to the wrong address It will be prosecuted again and you don't really have a defence if you failed to keep your V5 up-to-date or at least provide some address where you could be contacted What you can do though is plead Not Guilty and do a deal with the prosecutor on the morning of the hearing Offer to plead Guilty to speeding if they drop the S172 Even if it's not on the original charge, the prosecutor and court will usually bend the rules and substitute a charge in the interest of justice This post has been edited by Gan: Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 21:05 |
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Fri, 22 Apr 2016 - 21:06
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#11
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Member Group: Life Member Posts: 24,214 Joined: 9 Sep 2004 From: Reading Member No.: 1,624 |
So where does that leave me? I'm happy to confess to whatever original offence I committed. Particularly if it reduces the bailiff bill and gets them off my back.. A statutory declaration (under s. 14 Magistrates' Courts Act 1980) requires the court to quash the conviction and sentence. Depending on how the court processes it, that either puts you back at the stage when the summons was issued, or puts the ball back into the prosecution's court to decide whether to proceed with the charge(s). If the summons was for speeding as well as the s. 172, you will almost certainly be able to do a deal with the prosecution to drop the s. 172 if you plead guilty to the speeding. You might be able to defence both charges - the speeding has no legs unless you plead guilty or otherwise admit to being the driver, but the s. 172 would be far more difficult if the reason you did not receive the notice was that you did not update the details on your V5C. If the summon was for s. 172 only, it would be more difficult to do a deal to plead guilty to a charge which would not be lawful to instigate after the 6 months have expired, but such things have happened. Alternatively, you would have the opportunity to plead guilty to the s. 172 (assuming that you do not have a viable defence), get a 1/3 discount off the fine and perhaps most importantly, avoid having the fine passed to the bailiffs to add their fees to. -------------------- Andy
Some people think that I make them feel stupid. To be fair, they deserve most of the credit. |
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Sun, 24 Apr 2016 - 13:28
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#12
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Member No.: 83,908 |
Thanks for all the help guys you have been a lifeline.
So, I've a few questions left; if I get the stat dec do the bailiffs still have a right to charge me the extra they have added onto the debt? Presumably for visits to my old house. Or would it cancel the lot? Also, reading around would I be right in thinking my quickest way of getting a stat dec is going to see a solicitor tomorrow? Or should I turn up at the court? The bailiffs letter says I have 14 days till they come round and I would prefer to prevent that if possible. Finally; what rights of entry do the bailiffs have? I live in a shared flat, there's a buzzer for the main door downstairs, then a locked door to the flat and a locked door to my room. They won't know which room is mind unless one of my flatmates tell them. Can they drill the locks? force entry? They could probably get access to the main block door just by waiting for someone to leave but gaining access to our flat and my room would probably require forcing entry. thanks again Mark |
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Sun, 24 Apr 2016 - 14:48
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#13
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Member Group: Members Posts: 56,198 Joined: 9 Sep 2003 From: Warwickshire Member No.: 317 |
They can't force an entry, they can only come in if you allow them to, although once they have a foot in the door it's almost impossible to get rid of them.
-------------------- There is no such thing as a law abiding motorist, just those who have been scammed and those yet to be scammed!
S172's Rookies 1-0 Kent Council PCN's Rookies 1-0 Warwick Rookies 1-0 Birmingham PPC PCN's Rookies 10-0 PPC's |
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Sun, 24 Apr 2016 - 15:26
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 13,735 Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Member No.: 14,720 |
Suggest you ensure you car is either garaged, or parked securely away from your house.
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Sun, 24 Apr 2016 - 15:28
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#15
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Member Group: Members Posts: 33,610 Joined: 2 Apr 2008 From: Not in the UK Member No.: 18,483 |
They can't force an entry, they can only come in if you allow them to Are you sure about that? -------------------- Moderator
Any comments made do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon. No lawyer/client relationship should be assumed nor should any duty of care be owed. |
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Sun, 24 Apr 2016 - 17:03
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#16
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Member Group: Members Posts: 6,178 Joined: 1 Jan 2013 From: Glasgow Member No.: 59,097 |
They can't force an entry, they can only come in if you allow them to Are you sure about that? Is there anything here that helps? https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-...into-your-home/ TO OP...Dunno if this site has been suggested http://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/ |
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Mon, 25 Apr 2016 - 17:38
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#17
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Member No.: 83,908 |
Today I called Lavendar Hill court who gave me the original case ID for the stat dec and then I phoned my nearest court. They've got me booked in for a stat dec and retrial on Wednesday
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Mon, 25 Apr 2016 - 17:45
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#18
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Member Group: Members Posts: 28,931 Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Member No.: 4,323 |
and retrial ? ?
the same day ? ? you haven't even seen the papers from the original case. -------------------- Which facts in any situation or problem are “essential” and what makes them “essential”? If the “essential” facts are said to depend on the principles involved, then the whole business, all too obviously, goes right around in a circle. In the light of one principle or set of principles, one bunch of facts will be the “essential” ones; in the light of another principle or set of principles, a different bunch of facts will be “essential.” In order to settle on the right facts you first have to pick your principles, although the whole point of finding the facts was to indicate which principles apply.
Note that I am not legally qualified and any and all statements made are "Reserved". Liability for application lies with the reader. |
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Mon, 25 Apr 2016 - 20:42
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#19
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New Member Group: Members Posts: 7 Joined: 22 Apr 2016 Member No.: 83,908 |
The woman at Lavendar Hill Court, which was the place which handled the 'Failure to supply documents' said she couldn't tell me what the original case was for.
She said "The police don't tell us", a lie do you think? |
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Mon, 25 Apr 2016 - 20:47
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#20
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Member Group: Members Posts: 33,610 Joined: 2 Apr 2008 From: Not in the UK Member No.: 18,483 |
Ignorance, more likely.
-------------------- Moderator
Any comments made do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon. No lawyer/client relationship should be assumed nor should any duty of care be owed. |
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