Collectica Enforcement Services - council parking fine

[backofbeyond]

Hi just wanted a little bit of advice regarding bailiff laws for parking fines.

 

I have today received 2 letters from Collectica Enforcement Services relating to 2 parking fines received by my local council in March and April last year. The total amount owed is £190.88 (2 x £95.44). The letters state that as I have failed to pay the amounts outstanding for the contraventions they write to notify me that they have been instructed to commence immediate recovery procedures against me. It says that I am requested to make full payment within 7 days of this notice to prevent further recovery procedures commencing. if I fail to make payment bailiffs/agents will be instructed to attend your premises to instigate further recovery procedures. Additional charges will be incurred 8 days after the date of the notice.

 

With regards to these parking fines I received notices from the TEC late (because I had moved) and contacted them, they then passed it back to the council. I received notification from the council and then I responded online asking to pay by installments. I never heard anything else and if i am honest I just forgot all about them and had my memory jogged by these letters from Collectica!

 

I cannot afford to make payment in full. I could possibly make payments of £20 per month (£5 per week) so what do I do? On the back of the Collectica letter it says I can email them. My questions are:-

 

1) Are they just normal bailiffs i.e is this the same as credit card debt or are is this debt the one where they can get locksmiths etc?

 

2) I don't own anything of value.....I don't have a car, my sofa and TV are on HP therefore even if they did get in there is nothing of any value should I say this on my email?

 

3) Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what i say to them in this email?

 

Really can't face them turning up.

 

Any help much appreciated. Lucy

[ploddertom]

They have sent the letters prior to visiting. Once they commence to visit the fees will rocket accordingly. Did the Council accept your Out of Times? The debt has now been to Court and a Warrant of Exeution will have been given to Collectica. The worst you can do when they call is to let them in - they cannot force entry unless they have gained peaceful entry previously. Although you have no car this will not stop them levying on random motor near to where you live. Even if they accept "instalments" they will probably want paying within 2 to 3 payments.

[backofbeyond]

They have sent the letters prior to visiting. Once they commence to visit the fees will rocket accordingly. Did the Council accept your Out of Times? The debt has now been to Court and a Warrant of Exeution will have been given to Collectica. The worst you can do when they call is to let them in - they cannot force entry unless they have gained peaceful entry previously. Although you have no car this will not stop them levying on random motor near to where you live. Even if they accept "instalments" they will probably want paying within 2 to 3 payments.

 

It was the TEC that I replied to and they informed the council who then wrote to me at my correct address. I filled out an online form asking to pay by installments but never heard anything further and like I say it just went to the back of my mind until now.

 

What would your advice be? Obviously I don't want them coming and adding extortionate fees on, I want to deal with it as quickly as possible but cannot pay the full amount. I know it's not a large debt but we only have 2 part-time wages coming in (but we earn too much to get help with HB etc) and we have an AOE on my husbands wage for council tax each week so that eats up quite a bit.

 

P.S. they haven't been before (this is the first I have heard from them) and I wouldn't let them in but I had dealings with Collectica 18 months ago for a court fee and some bad advice from the warrants officer. It was sorted in the end but the bailiff was very rude and aggresive and obviously because that was a magistrates court fine he was threatening locksmiths and all sorts.

[ploddertom]

It would appear that it was reissued to your present address. You need to find out the date that is on the actual Warrant as they only have a life of 12 months.

 

Unfortunately the only way to prevent the Bailiff turning up is to pay in full. If you look at the letters you have received you may find they were "written" some days ago and only give say 7 days in which to sort this, it could be the time is up tomorrow or at the weekend.

[tomtubby]

When the ticket was reissued it should have been at the original amount (£60 or £80) etc. Was this the case?

 

The debt is a civil one and does not allow for any right to force entry. If you do allow a bailiff into your home then this is your choice but is NOT to be recommended !!

 

Thankfully you do not have a car and accordingly the bailiff will have to rely upon you either making a voluntary payment or being allowed to come into your home to take goods (not to be recommended).

 

Unlike the majority of people, for this particular purpose, you are fortunate in that you do not have a car. I would therefore suggest that you write to the company to offer an affordable payment plan (at a rate that you can comfortably afford) and that this be sent by email.

 

I would also suggest in your email that you state that you no longer have a vehicle and that due to financial difficulties you will not be allowing the bailiff into your property because to do so will incur you in additional fees that you would be unable to afford.

[lamma]

At first glance the amounts do not add up. As per tomtubby how much was each PCN originally ? This could be a case of the bailiff company doing a DCA job.

[backofbeyond]

At first glance the amounts do not add up. As per tomtubby how much was each PCN originally ? This could be a case of the bailiff company doing a DCA job.

 

I cannot remember and can't find any paperwork relating to it. It just says they have 2 accounts of £95.44

[backofbeyond]

It would appear that it was reissued to your present address. You need to find out the date that is on the actual Warrant as they only have a life of 12 months.

 

Unfortunately the only way to prevent the Bailiff turning up is to pay in full. If you look at the letters you have received you may find they were "written" some days ago and only give say 7 days in which to sort this, it could be the time is up tomorrow or at the weekend.

 

Who do I ask about the warrant? Collectica or the council?

 

Yes you are correct the letters were dated 23 January (how lovely eh?).

 

Right I shall email them now. Is there anything else that i should tell them other than the fact that I don't own a car? Like the fact that my sofa and TV are on HP?

[backofbeyond]

I have emailed collectica and received an automated response saying they will contact me within 7-10 days. I have offered to pay them £20 per week from next Wednesday and I will make the payment on Wednesday regardless of hearing from them.

 

If they do turn up they won't be getting in my house (they may not even enter my garden). I have 6ft fences / gate with a "I live here" dog sign on the gate. If they ring the bell on the gate I shall just let the dogs into the garden.

[backofbeyond]

UPDATE

 

Just received an email back from Collectica and they have accepted me paying by installments. £20 to be paid by 11/01/14 and then £15 every 7 days until the balance is cleared (no fees added). They just said that if I break the agreement they would visit and add fees on

[tomtubby]

Yet again your response is confirmation that writing to a enforcement company can provide the desired effect. Well done. An excellent outcome.