Thanks for that Burp to be fair I don't think he could work out which car is which as its parked on a public road with loads of other cars so ain't overly worried about that

They can and will check with the DVLA to see what vehicles are registered to you. It's a bit of a debate on here as to whether they can levy whilst parked on a public road - we know they shouldn't but they do. You need to check the paperwork you've from B&S (did they realise what looks like when they named the company?! ). As BURP said earlier, if he has not levied on your car yet, you are stilled within your rights to sell , dispose of it, hide it.

Well after an awful night, and then having to wait for cover at work, I toodled on down to the courts. Got the wrong one first (doh!) but eventually was directed to the enquiry desk of the Magistrates Court. I was a quivering wreck by then! I explained everything to the lady and she was an absolute diamond! She told me to write out the events in the form of a Stat Declaration. I had photocopied everything in triplicate so attached copies of everything to the letter. While I wrote it out she went off to the finance department and told them what was happening so they could make a note on my file (should slow up the bailiffs / police then!) She even photocopied my letter so I could have a copy.

I should hear whether they have agreed for the case to be re-heard, which should result in a reduced fine.

Thank you, PD, for telling me to get my a**e down to the courts rather than phone them. You're a star.

Thank you so much PD (great surname BTW ). I'll go down first thing tomorrow and see what happens. You say it will be put before the magistrates bench - will that be there and then?

I suppose it's 50/50 whether they set it aside. They didn't receive my form - I didn't receive theirs. I have read that they deem normal postage to be sufficient, so it should work both ways, shouldn't it?

We'll see..

Thanks again. Can try to get some sleep now.

Okay, I am receiving some help from the people at PPP. It now turns out that the oroginal paperwork I received was indeed a NIP. In response to this I returned the Driver / Keeper Statement.

After this I did not receive anything until the request for my licence, then today's fine. I have been searching frantically on here, there and everywhere regarding this and I get the impression I should have received a summons for (allegedly) not returning the Drivers Statement.

Is there a process to appeal the fine?

Failing that, I think I am going to have bite the bullet and telephoen the courts tomorrow, explain that I only received the fine today and that I think it is unreasinable of them to request payment tomorrow. I should also mention I am a single parent and on tax credits. Do you think they will let me make a payment arrangement with them?

Thank u Ting. I have to admit I was thinking the same thing. I'll pop over and see what they say, but please, if anyone else has any advice, let me know.

Hello good people of this section. I'm hoping you might be help me with a problem...

Earlier this year I was caught on camera using my mobile whilst driving (stupid I know, esp as I had a bluetooth set in the car) and got the usual paperwork through the post. I filled in the forms and returned them within about a week of getting them. Scroll forward to yesterday, when I get a letter from the courts saying that I have failed to submit my licence as requested and would I send it in now to have some points added. Okay, so I must have missed that bit in the original forms, but am photocopying today and posting off. Today, I've just got home to find a 'letter' from the 'Adult Bench' of my local law courts - Notice of fine and collection order. Basically it says that I 'failed to give information re driver's identity as required - s.172 Road Traffic Act 1988'. For this they are fining me £525.00, plus 'costs' @ £60.00, plus 'costs' @ £15.00 = £600.00. It goes on to say the court has made a collection order to collect the sum due. The letter is dated 24th Oct, the date at the bottom of the letter states 3rd Nov, the postmark is 5th Nov and I've got till 7th Nov to pay the £600!

So, I am going to have a good look round here to see if there are any threads similar, but have gone in to a bit of a tail spin after receiving this!

Any advice gratefully received!

nb I am going to dig the forms out I posted back earlier this year - I'm guessing they're saying they didn't receive them? I sent them 1st class (before I realised the importance of Rec Del!), but will have a receipt from the post office for this.

Definately report her if she doesn't pay you. As said in my previous post we did and we still get the odd call from the fraud people to see if we've heard any thing from our old tenants. Also, if she tries to claim HB again, she'll come unstuck.

I feel the same way as Erika in that it makes me mad when people abuse the system. It's our taxes etc that help people to pay their rent (I was brought up in household which survived solely on benefits for most of my childhood) and people who abuse the system are making it harder for the genuine claims. You only have to look around this site to see how many people are having to 'pay' for those who get away with it.

Good luck and keep us informed.

Opening caption to film..

"Some of the biggest men in the United States, in the field of commerce and manufacturing, are afraid of something.

They know that there is a power somewhere so organised, so subtle, so watchful, so interlocked, so complete, so pervasive, that they had better not speak above their breath when they speak in condemnation of it."

Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States.

Change the US for the U K... do you think he means CAG?!

I have checked on our payroll system (Sage) and it states..

"For an employee to be eligible for SSP their average weekly earnings must be above the lower earnings limit for National Insurance Contributions. The average weekly earnings are calculated from the previous 8 weeks pay."

So if your wife didn't have any deductions re lower hours within the 8 weeks prior to the date she became ill, she will qualify.

Hi Rob,

Is there any news on this? Did they turn up with their tow truck? Any response by them or the council?

K

Already starting to feel sorry for Grattan....

Definately!

The blue blob problem sounds terminal - I've got one on my very old Toshiba (it's not flat, it's not silver!) which is fine when you are watching a film about the ocean I guess.

As for the US sorting this out for free and the UK saying 'go whistle', well that's no surprise. My son's laptop's wireless bit stopped working about a month out of warranty. It's 'known issue' with Hewlett Packard in the States and very easy & free to get repaired, but over here? Fat chance! In the end I just bought a plug in wireless adaptor.

Go for it Bookie!

MrShed, I've always presumed from your posts that you are a man of years, experience and some social standing.

Obviously, I was wrong.

Those are the sort of jeans my 13 yo son would wear (altho bought from Matchams for less than a 10th of the price!) and he's dangerously close to becoming a chav

DON'T DO IT!!

We use a set of terms and conditions (provided by our insurance company; approved by the oft) which have a section detailing cancellation fees if the booking is cancelled prior to the arranged date. The % varies depending on how much notice the customer gives. Every time I send out a quotation, I always enclose a copy of the t&c's and when a customer books us, they have to return an acceptance form which they have to have signed to say they accept these t&c's. If you've got it in writing, you have recourse in the event of a cancellation. Fortunately we've only had to enforce the charge once, but once we pointed out that the lady had accepted our t&c's. she paid up.

If you give out written quotes, either get some t&c's printed on the back, or attach them to the quote, make sure the customer knows it is their responsibility to read them and get them to sign to say they acknowledge them. Contact a trade organisation for help with the wording on the t&c's, or speak to your liability insurers who should be able to help you, or at least point you in the right direction.

Hi, we had tenants last year who were in receipt of HB, but we only got one payment. They kept spinning us lines about problems with the council, but that it was due, etc etc. In the end, they 'did a runner'. We were so cross, I rang the council and they told us if the tenant goes into two payments in arrears you can apply to the council to have it paid direct. Obviously it's too late for us now (although the fraud dept are hunting them down!), but I would make a call to the council now, and just ask the question. They might not be able to help you yet, but they might 'flag' her file, which ultimately will help you if this carries on.

Shamelessly c & p from another site..

Instead of wasting money on expensive binoculars, just stand closer to things you want to look at

Ladies - if you have a lot of personalised stationary etc, don't waste it when you get married - marry someone with the same surname

Never keep up with Joneses. Drag them down to your level. It's cheaper.

:grin:

indeed,

 

are all of your offspring's names numeric?

:D

The world's longest lie -in tomorrow, well, until football match with son number 2 late am.

Sunday football match with son number 2 first thing; football match with son number 1 after lunch.

Seeing a pattern here?!

Yep, it really comes to something doesn't it, when you're 25 and your best friend plugs into the mains. Sad really.

 

Fred

Is anyone else having trouble getting on & staying on CAG today? I was only thinking about posting something to do with best friends and batteries, honest.

Blimey, even my thoughts are getting CAGbotted now!

Good advice LMAM

Okay, so am posting the following and would appreciate some feedback from the regulars to make sure I've got this right

I've found the legislation re paying the council direct...

The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992

Distress

45.—

(3) If, before any goods are seized, the appropriate amount (including charges arising up to the time of the payment or tender) is paid or tendered to the authority, the authority shall accept the amount and the levy shall not be proceeded with.

The legislation was amended in 2007, but not this particular section.

And I've also found this letter...

To: [NAME OF BAILIFF]

BY HAND

[DATE]

Dear Sir/Madam

Re: Your visit to [ADDRESS AND POSTCODE]

[NAME OF] Council appears to have instructed you to recover unpaid council tax from me.

This letter gives you notice that you are not being given peaceful entry to my home, levy goods contained therein and I will not be signing anything for you. This notice revokes your eligibility to charge a Walking Possessions fee and any other fee relating to the handling of goods or entering a property.

The debt has already been settle direct with the council and proof is hereby annexed.

Please be advised it is not a "criminal offence" for me to deny a bailiff entry to my property or decline payment of your bailiff’s fees. The law says I have to settle the original debt but it does not obligate me to do business with you. If you suggest to me otherwise I will automatically report you to the police and you may face a criminal record.

Meanwhile please provide a detailed written breakdown of your fees & charges you demanded and put it through the letterbox, then quietly leave the property.

This document was passed to you by hand, and a photograph using a mobile phone has just been taken showing you standing outside the above address reading it.

Yours Faithfully

YOUR NAME

You need to use your GF's details in this letter, and amend the bit about the mobile phone / photo if not applicable.

I would also carry on with the Stat Decs re your car. You need to make sure you dot all the i's and cross all the t's - don't allow them any little chink in your armour!

It's propbably best not to bother telling the council you are going to pay them direct, they'll only say you can't. As for instalments, I guess the quicker you pay them, the sooner they'll call off the bailiffs.

I seem to remember someone (probably Chris) posting a letter on this forum to adapt and print off to give to the bailiffs telling them you are / have paid the council direct, and they cannot therefore enforce any levy. I'll have a look...

You are right Pauly. Get your GF to call the council and check the amount owing to them. This is important as it seems to be a new trick by bailiffs to use an inflated figure. The council will tell her you cannot pay them direct and that you have to deal with Mertons. But as Sillygirl said, use their on-line facility to pay them. They won't refuse it. Once you have paid them, the bailiffs may still be entitled to their first visit fee (check with your GF that this is the first communication with them). It's up to you, but for the sake of £24.50 I'd be inclined to pay them. If you decide not to, they cannot use the CT liability order to recover this fee. They would have to go down the small claims court route to recover it.

He was wasn't he? But sooo much better than the one they've got on now. He's awful!

I see what you meant about Stu - how weird. Started off like the final scene of the Blair Witch Project.

Roll on tomorrow! :grin:

at least i have a CV

Is that a 2CV?

Ooh, I don't think I've got to that bit yet. Stu & Karl are hilarious, aren't they. I can't make my mind up about them but they're great entertainment.

KJD, I'm a saddo too ................. cos I'm watching as well.

Yay!

I started recording it on Sky Plus as was out at the beginning. I think this is what SPlus was invented for - fast forwarding over the chatting! Just give us the ghosties!