Equita bailiff charges HELP please it's urgent

tas447 · 15th April 2008, 19:37

I received a parking ticket from Barnet council which i appealled against and was refused, I then heard nothing till I got a letter from Equita stating that I owed £168 dated 10/03/08. I rang them this morning (I know i should have rang the day I got the letter) the bailiff said it had gone up to £576 and i had to pay now or my car would be clamped until they received payment ( it's on mobility hire purchase) not contract hire. What is the best way to handle this, I was willing to pay £168 but I just can't afford £576. Somebody please advise me what to do. There is no one that i can borrow off and I have even looked at the payday uk loans but they will only lend £300 and then I have to pay £150 interest. I am desperate.
Any advice please.

buzby · 15th April 2008, 20:46

Once the appeal was rejected, the amount of the ticket remained due and payable, there would be no requirement for them to keep asking you for it. What was your challenge, and could you have a realistic chance of escalating it to a further appeal (through perhaps failure of accurate paperwork etc?).

tas447 · 15th April 2008, 20:54

They said they counldnt see a blue badge and It should have been displayed properly. I didnt expect it to rise to £576 the bailiff only sent one letter for £168 and when I rang them they said it had increased to £576, they said they hand delivered a letter on the 14th March (I did't get it) then they called on the 3rd April (no letter through the door)

tas447 · 15th April 2008, 21:16

They said that the original ticket after Northampton Crt is £168.16
When I rang Barnet they said that they have Hand delivered one letter and the bailiff has called once, So how do they reach £576
surely its the £168 plus £13.16 plus £24.50 Grand total of £194.48
I am confused !!!!!!

buzby · 15th April 2008, 21:20

I fully accept if you have a Motability vehicle, you probably had a blue badge. Was it on display? Did it slip from view to the floor? I have heard of cases where tickets have been issued they've been cancelled because the owner proved his Motobility status (irrespective of whether the pass was shown). This was because of a spate of thefts and break ins to STEAL said badge. Was it an oral hearing or just decided by letter?

It is the council that can call this off - so you may find it worthwhile to speak with both the Roads/Parking department as WELL as the council's 'disability awareness' offer. Tell them you'll go to the local paper, they might just see sense! (But there's no guarantee).

Further immobilising a car belonging to a Motobility driver with a clamp will make the council a laughing stock.

tas447 · 15th April 2008, 21:29

Sorry £205.82
My maths is poor as well as my purse.

tas447 · 15th April 2008, 21:32

It was the Council that confirmed they could clamp and charge what they like, she was very rude but she did say that they could not tow it away. If they clamp it the price goes up even further if i cant afford £576 how can I pay more. She was the one that told me that they have sent one letter and that bailiff's have visited this is why the amount is so much.

buzby · 15th April 2008, 21:37

A Bailiff visit (which the council would have instructed) is a set tariff, and is around the £30-50 mark, so the maths elude me too. The Bailiffs are only doing what they're paid to do, and it all leads back to the council. Even if I had the money, I'd be going to the council offices to speak with the CEO or Mayor, and point out this persecution. Alnog with your local press, disabled rights, the whole 9 yards....

Bernie_the_Bolt · 15th April 2008, 22:31

When you say you appealed and lost, was this an appeal following receipt of a document called a "Notice to Owner"? When you lost, were you informed of your right to appeal to the independent adjudicator?
Do you still have all the paperwork?

tas447 · 15th April 2008, 23:38

It was when i first got the parking ticket.
I can't find the paperwork (stupid me)

Bernie_the_Bolt · 16th April 2008, 00:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by tas447

It was when i first got the parking ticket.
I can't find the paperwork (stupid me)

Are you saying you never got a notice to owner?
Would you sign a statement to a court stating the same?

tas447 · 16th April 2008, 09:36

No i think I got that.

Bernie_the_Bolt · 16th April 2008, 09:47

And did you complete that and send it off? If so what then happened?
Or did you just forget about it?

tas447 · 16th April 2008, 10:01

No i didnt reply, does that mean I havent a leg to stand on, I am due to ring the bailiff this morning with my debit card details so he can take £576 at the end of the month but after going through my finanaces I just cant pay it. So what is the point in ringing him.
I did ask him if there was any way to reduce the cost and he said NO>

Bernie_the_Bolt · 16th April 2008, 11:03

I think you need to go along the lines suggested by Buzby

tas447 · 16th April 2008, 15:11

Found paperwork and they is no Notice to owner. I have a shared letterbox and alot of my post goes missing.
What Now.:o

pin1onu · 16th April 2008, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by tas447

Found paperwork and they is no Notice to owner. I have a shared letterbox and alot of my post goes missing.
What Now.:o

You will need to fill out a statuatory out of time declaration on the basis that you did not receive the NTO.

If its accepted it will return the process back to the NTO stage at which stage you could either appeal to the adjudicator or pay up.

tas447 · 16th April 2008, 20:07

Where do I get the form from ?
How much will it cost ?
Do I just say that i didnt recieve NTO letter ?
Many thanks.

pin1onu · 16th April 2008, 22:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by tas447

Where do I get the form from ?
How much will it cost ?
Do I just say that i didnt recieve NTO letter ?
Many thanks.

You can download the form from here.

If you get it sworn at your local county court it will cost you nothing.

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