Box junction fine
Discussion
After advice for my daughter please.
She has just received a debt collectors letter for stopping in a box junction, with a fine of £425.
The infringement was dated 14/01/2025, she had moved before that date with all correspondence going to the old address, she didn't notify the DVLA of a change of address until 11/07/2025, however has not received any correspondence regarding this infringement until today; 5m after notifying of the change of address.
She has spoken to the debt collectors who have told her she has 48 hours to pay it otherwise they can obtain an enforcement notice to seize property, she has spoke to the council who say she can appeal, detailing the circumstances and the fact she has had no correspondence to her current address until today, despite changing the details with the DVAL 5 months ago, however it can take 6 weeks for a decision.
She fully appreciates she was caught and has offered to pay the initial fine, however as it is now with the debt collectors, this is a no go.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated?
She has just received a debt collectors letter for stopping in a box junction, with a fine of £425.
The infringement was dated 14/01/2025, she had moved before that date with all correspondence going to the old address, she didn't notify the DVLA of a change of address until 11/07/2025, however has not received any correspondence regarding this infringement until today; 5m after notifying of the change of address.
She has spoken to the debt collectors who have told her she has 48 hours to pay it otherwise they can obtain an enforcement notice to seize property, she has spoke to the council who say she can appeal, detailing the circumstances and the fact she has had no correspondence to her current address until today, despite changing the details with the DVAL 5 months ago, however it can take 6 weeks for a decision.
She fully appreciates she was caught and has offered to pay the initial fine, however as it is now with the debt collectors, this is a no go.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated?
I'm not sure it's relevant that she didn't receive any correspondance until she decided to update her address, as how else could they correspond with her anyway? All parties involved would have got her address from the DVLA, which had the wrong details, because they weren't informed until 6 months after the offence.
The fact she presumably updated her address completely coincidentally in July, and didn't receive the latest correspondance until November, is probably academic if the last mailing pre-July was a final demand and/or court proceedings & CCJ ruling or whatever.
This might be of help: https://www.gov.uk/appeal-against-a-penalty-charge...
The fact she presumably updated her address completely coincidentally in July, and didn't receive the latest correspondance until November, is probably academic if the last mailing pre-July was a final demand and/or court proceedings & CCJ ruling or whatever.
This might be of help: https://www.gov.uk/appeal-against-a-penalty-charge...
HTP99 said:
After advice for my daughter please.
She has just received a debt collectors letter for stopping in a box junction, with a fine of £425.
The infringement was dated 14/01/2025, she had moved before that date with all correspondence going to the old address, she didn't notify the DVLA of a change of address until 11/07/2025, however has not received any correspondence regarding this infringement until today; 5m after notifying of the change of address.
She has spoken to the debt collectors who have told her she has 48 hours to pay it otherwise they can obtain an enforcement notice to seize property, she has spoke to the council who say she can appeal, detailing the circumstances and the fact she has had no correspondence to her current address until today, despite changing the details with the DVAL 5 months ago, however it can take 6 weeks for a decision.
She fully appreciates she was caught and has offered to pay the initial fine, however as it is now with the debt collectors, this is a no go.
Well, I hate to say this but from your description/timeline of events I think she has no-body else to blame & no leg to stand on.She has just received a debt collectors letter for stopping in a box junction, with a fine of £425.
The infringement was dated 14/01/2025, she had moved before that date with all correspondence going to the old address, she didn't notify the DVLA of a change of address until 11/07/2025, however has not received any correspondence regarding this infringement until today; 5m after notifying of the change of address.
She has spoken to the debt collectors who have told her she has 48 hours to pay it otherwise they can obtain an enforcement notice to seize property, she has spoke to the council who say she can appeal, detailing the circumstances and the fact she has had no correspondence to her current address until today, despite changing the details with the DVAL 5 months ago, however it can take 6 weeks for a decision.
She fully appreciates she was caught and has offered to pay the initial fine, however as it is now with the debt collectors, this is a no go.
In actual fact she is lucky that DVLA aren't going after her for not updating her address.
From DVLA website.
"You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA when your address changes."
What your daughter should do is shoplift meat, deodorant , babycare and female hygiene products until she has acquired the necessary amount to pay off the bailiffs.
Because, in modern Britain, shoplifting is effectively decriminalised, whereas stopping in a box junction is treated like it's tearing apart the very fabric of society.
Sorry, I don't have any serious advice, but I'd recommend your daughter put false plates on her car, and forgo tax and insurance. The risk of being stopped for these are a fraction of the risk of being caught making a mistake and being taken to the cleaners for having the temerity to partake in society.
Never open the door to a bailiff.
Because, in modern Britain, shoplifting is effectively decriminalised, whereas stopping in a box junction is treated like it's tearing apart the very fabric of society.
Sorry, I don't have any serious advice, but I'd recommend your daughter put false plates on her car, and forgo tax and insurance. The risk of being stopped for these are a fraction of the risk of being caught making a mistake and being taken to the cleaners for having the temerity to partake in society.
Never open the door to a bailiff.
NDNDNDND said:
What your daughter should do is shoplift meat, deodorant , babycare and female hygiene products until she has acquired the necessary amount to pay off the bailiffs.
Vodka is a favourite in my local store; the same bloke walks out with a bottle every day with a wave at the staff.Simpo Two said:
Vodka is a favourite in my local store; the same bloke walks out with a bottle every day with a wave at the staff.
Same here, though it s two teenage girls who steal the stuff. The shop employed a couple of scary looking blokes in big boots and stab vests, but they were told in no uncertain terms by the police that they could not do anything other than ask nicely for the items to be paid for. Anything more hands on would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and no, we won t attend shoplifting incidentsThe contract with the security company lasted less than 3 months. They turned out to be a pointless waste of money on top of the c£100 or so of vodka stolen pretty much every day.
Depressing really.
Oh, and yes, never ever open the door to a bailiff!
Durzel said:
How the f
k is any of this overwrought, country-has-gone-to-the-dogs doom-mongering remotely helpful to the OP?
It s just a comment on the state of policing that there seems to be an emphasis on targeting easy wins rather than dealing with more complex problems in our society. This is how forums work! k is any of this overwrought, country-has-gone-to-the-dogs doom-mongering remotely helpful to the OP?There is nothing helpful to say really other than to pay the fine and don t let the bailiff in. It s unfortunate but it s a problem of the lady s own making and not telling the DLVA is the cause.
Durzel said:
How the fk is any of this overwrought, country-has-gone-to-the-dogs doom-mongering remotely helpful to the OP?
It isn't . It's merely a few decent People expressing their bewilderment at what passes for priorities in this Country .k is any of this overwrought, country-has-gone-to-the-dogs doom-mongering remotely helpful to the OP?Sadly it's best to simply pay up and move on as others have said . I had a similar situation in front of Wellingborough Magistrates a few months back and the failure to inform DVLA of a change of address ontime can have serious consequences . In short its no defence .
v9 said:
Durzel said:
How the fk is any of this overwrought, country-has-gone-to-the-dogs doom-mongering remotely helpful to the OP?
It s just a comment on the state of policing that there seems to be an emphasis on targeting easy wins rather than dealing with more complex problems in our society. This is how forums work! k is any of this overwrought, country-has-gone-to-the-dogs doom-mongering remotely helpful to the OP?There is nothing helpful to say really other than to pay the fine and don t let the bailiff in. It s unfortunate but it s a problem of the lady s own making and not telling the DLVA is the cause.
zarjaz1991 said:
In terms of the actual issue. I'm unclear what stage this is at. "Debt collectors" don't have rights to seize property.
Could we see a scan of the letter, with personal details redacted?
Scott
Could we see a scan of the letter, with personal details redacted?
Scott
Yes she didn't inform the DVLA of a change of address untill July this year, however she has had zero correspondence at her current address until the knock on the door earlier today.
The infringment:
Edited by HTP99 on Thursday 13th November 19:28
So there's a Warrant of Control, which does allow them to seize property.
This means it's been to the County Court, presumably a judgement in default and now the council has applied for the warrant.
As others have said the best way out of this is going to be to pay it. Your daughter could try to get the judgement set aside but this exposes the fact she didn't update her address and so could make things worse. Plus setting it aside doesn't make it go away, just sets the process back a few steps.
The moral here is always, definitely keep addresses up to date. That way you always know if something nasty is happening behind your back. This minor issue could have been settled for a fraction of what it's now costing.
Don't delay on the payment if that's the chosen course of action. If they do send actual bailiffs to seize property, costs will get added on at stupid levels.
Scott
This means it's been to the County Court, presumably a judgement in default and now the council has applied for the warrant.
As others have said the best way out of this is going to be to pay it. Your daughter could try to get the judgement set aside but this exposes the fact she didn't update her address and so could make things worse. Plus setting it aside doesn't make it go away, just sets the process back a few steps.
The moral here is always, definitely keep addresses up to date. That way you always know if something nasty is happening behind your back. This minor issue could have been settled for a fraction of what it's now costing.
Don't delay on the payment if that's the chosen course of action. If they do send actual bailiffs to seize property, costs will get added on at stupid levels.
Scott
Pica-Pica said:
Panamax said:
Ain't that the truth. The system picks on "easy targets" while turning a blind eye to anything tricky.
Everybody picks on easy targets, even we all on here, it's human nature and financial sense to do just that.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff