Thanks all We found out what it was, someone used my boyfriend name EIGHT years ago to bunk a train. He now has to go to court to prove it wasn't him! The whole thing has been put on hold for 28 days til it gets sorted, nightmare and so ****ed off that they just sent that threatening letter without trying to establish it was for the right person. He has a really common surname too, like discovering there is a joe bloggs on so and so street lets send them a distress warrant, bastards!!! xxx

Thank you, we are going to do that tomorrow. What I was hoping to find out is if it is possible for a bailiff to take on a non payment of magistrates fine, if we have never been summonsed to court? It seems very unfair as to put it with the bailiff incurs all sorts of costs when we haven't been given the opportunity to pay it at court. i know the stat dec will alleviate it from the bailiffs but I want to know if this is legally correct the way they have acted. x

And also..... The letter demands payment within 7 days but neither the letter or the envelope is date stamped so how does this leave us??

Hello I am desperate for some help or advice! My bf and I live together and he has been sent a notice of distress warrant for an unpaid magistrates fine... firstly neither of us know what on earth this could be for, we haven't been asked to go to court yet have not paid a magistrates fine!!! Neither of our cars are registered here, and the council tax is in both our names so it is strange they have address this letter directly to my bf, Can bailiffs take your goods for an unpaid magistrates fine if we have not received an invitation to go to court???? It seems very strange! The amount on the letter is £265 but when I log onto Phillips website it says £340!! We are going mad here and no one is open (didn't get the letter til today as was out all yesterday) x