Help ! Collectica TVL fine - not paid

[Annem235]

Can anyone advise me on how to deal with Collectica.

 

 

They wrote to me back in August saying that I have to pay £505.00 for not paying Lancashire Magistrates court

the money that I owe for not having a tv licence.

 

 

This is quite in depth and goes back to 2012

I will keep the long winded story to a minimum.

 

 

I was staying at my sisters.

Her home,

her tv

 

 

In my ignorance I signed to say that there was in fact no valid tv license at this address

 

 

He already knew this ( obviously)

 

 

I just thought there was little point in pleading ignorant and signed !

 

 

It goes on further by writing to the courts and explaining the situation,twice !

 

 

I never received a response from either.

 

The court has since instructed Collectica to collect the money from me.

 

 

A letter of their intention was sent to an address that I no longer lived at and hadn't done for almost 6 months.

Eventually I received a letter from them at my current address.

I called them as instructed in the letter deciding that this wasn't going to go away and make an arrangement with them.

...as stated in the letter.

 

 

Long story short, the guy was rude,

wouldnt let me speak and refused point blank to accept an arrangement

as I have been ignoring them for months.

 

 

It was at this point that their screw up with the wrong address came to light

but the guy just didn't want to know saying that there was no intention of accepting any such arrangement

and that the letter was a ruse just to get me to call

and make immediate payment in full.

 

 

Eventually he agreed, after supposedly speaking with his 'manager' to give me until November 16th to get the money together

which brought huge sense of relief !

 

 

but now today 20th October.

I received a text to say that full payment is due tomorrow and to make the payment by then.

 

 

I have called them but got nowhere.

 

 

They just don't want to listen and said if payment inst received tomorrow

then I have to accept the consequence

 

Sorry if I have gone on a bit...really stressed with this !

Edited October 20, 2014 by Annem235
Error in title

[rebel11]

Hi Anne

 

Welcome to CAG

 

The guys will advise as soon as they are available.

 

Title amended.

[citizenB]

It is a shame that you dealt with this on the telephone and not in writing.

 

I am not quite sure why you are being pursued for this if it was not your home or tv ?

[Annem235]

When the tv licensing bod called at the house my sister wasn't home.

 

The guy handed me a form and asked me to sign it. He said it was to acknowledge that he had visited the the address and no current tv license could be produced. Like a fool I didn't read through the the paper before signing. I wrote to the courts explaining all this,not once but twice ! No response ?I have since moved out of Lancashire, two years ago in fact. It would appear that they have been trying to trace me in all that time and even then Collectica had been sending letters or even visiting the wrong address. This is one of the reasons Collectica say they wont make an arrangement with me. Because I have been ignoring all correspondence since June, yet I no longer lived at that address and I can prove it but they wont listen. I cant ignore mail I haven't recieved ?

[mikeymack2002]

Since you are neither the tenant or the owner it was not your responsibility for arranging the TV licence. That belongs to your sister, harsh but true.

 

 

Did you not go to the Court and tell them you was just staying there as a guest, this should not be allowed, also the fine will have gone up significantly now with the new regulations by at least £85.00 and will/may continue to rise until you deal with this.

 

 

Since you would not have filled in a MC100 form (for means enquiry) you could still get this sorted at an agreeable rate if you are not working, but you need to ask for this to happen, the fine WILL not go away, but will in all honesty increase in size, then they EA (Bailiff) will take control of your personal goods ok!

[Bailiff Advice]

When the TV licensing bod called at the house my sister wasn't home.

 

The guy handed me a form and asked me to sign it. He said it was to acknowledge that he had visited the the address and no current TV license could be produced. Like a fool I didn't read through the the paper before signing. I wrote to the courts explaining all this,not once but twice ! No response ?I have since moved out of Lancashire, two years ago in fact. It would appear that they have been trying to trace me in all that time and even then Collectica had been sending letters or even visiting the wrong address. This is one of the reasons Collectica say they wont make an arrangement with me. Because I have been ignoring all correspondence since June, yet I no longer lived at that address and I can prove it but they wont listen. I cant ignore mail I haven't received ?

 

 

This is actually very simple indeed to resolve.

 

What you have to do is to telephone the court and state that you need to file a Statutory Declaration. This will 'rewind' the case back and the bailiff involvement will end. The court will then send you a new summons and you will be given the opportunity to plead NOT GUILTY (on the basis that the house was not yours, the TV not yours and that the person responsible at the time would have been your sister).

 

You do not need to worry about your sister being summons as she has not let a TV Enquiry agent into her home etc and there really is nothing that can now be done.

[brassnecked]

Sadly another illustration of the ludicrous iniquitous TV Tax and crapita, and another "babysitter" conviction of whoever is unfortunate enough to open the door and say anything to a TVL goon whether resident or a visitor.

 

Absolutely spot on advice BA, hope the court accept the Stat Dec and call the dogs off

[Annem235]

I called the Fleetwood Magistrates court to file a statutory Declaration and was told that I have to go to the court local to me in Yorkshire. This sounds like its going to take more time than I have. How long before they send the bailiff knocking on my door to demand payment ?

[mikeymack2002]

All you need do do is attend your local Court get a date and time to attend the hearing/swearing of the SD it takes about 5 mins of your time.

 

If you cannot or will not follow advice given then you WILL face further fees/removal of goods.

 

Sorry to be blunt but sometimes it is needed and no offense is meant to you the op

 

The whole process could take little or no time at all it is a choice you have to make or pay the fine either way you need to make your choice asap as swearing a SD is far cheaper quicker and will be your best bet

[Bailiff Advice]

I called the Fleetwood Magistrates court to file a statutory Declaration and was told that I have to go to the court local to me in Yorkshire. This sounds like its going to take more time than I have. How long before they send the bailiff knocking on my door to demand payment ?

 

It is actually simpler than you realise.

 

You will need to contact the Yorkshire court closest to you and they will provide you with a date when you need to attend court to file the Statutory Declaration. Almost always they will inform Collectica Ltd of the forthcoming application and instruct them to put all action on 'hold'.

 

PS: The difficulty you may have is finding out which Yorkshire Court to speak to as many cases are dealt with by the Yorkshire Enforcement Dept. If you post with details of your local court I should be able to provide contact details for you.

[Annem235]

I am more than happy to act on advice and grateful for any viable options suggested. The time frame is relevant, the bailiffs could come knocking any day now so obviously I need to act quickly. I was merely saying that it may not be quick enough. I have never had to deal with these hounds before so I have no idea when they will come or what stunts they will try to pull or even what they really can do...legally

[mikeymack2002]

I am glad no offence was taken, Go to the Court asap and get a date as soon as you get it it will end all EA activity straightaway ok, this will take place pretty quickly providing they have time

[Annem235]

Thank you This will be the Huddersfield magistrates Court.

It is actually simpler than you realise.

 

You will need to contact the Yorkshire court closest to you and they will provide you with a date when you need to attend court to file the Statutory Declaration. Almost always they will inform Collectica Ltd of the forthcoming application and instruct them to put all action on 'hold'.

 

PS: The difficulty you may have is finding out which Yorkshire Court to speak to as many cases are dealt with by the Yorkshire Enforcement Dept. If you post with details of your local court I should be able to provide contact details for you.

[Annem235]

Not offended somethings get lost in translation. I probably sounded " oh woe is me!" I'm just not up to speed and quite dumb on this issue

[mikeymack2002]

Dont put yourse;f down follow this advice and MAYBE you will be smiling very soon ok thz for your understanding