Statutory declaration

[Guest]

I forgot to pay my road tax for 15 days....no reminder due to I forgot to update my V5. Yes I’m an idiot! Genuine mistake! Anyway had pretty tax reminder on my windscreen, now set up direct debit so it doesn’t happen again! Anyway when we moved into rented I posted V5 back to DVLA (August) and it came back to me start of November. At this point we were moving into new house, resent it (November) and new one came January. All hunkey dorey!!! Then on Monday I receive a letter from Marston Baliffs demanding £630!!!!!!!!!!!! After crying and doing some research apparently a fine was sent to our first address followed by a court hearing in November. But at that point my V5 has been updated to our new address so never received any of the letters, there is no audit trail but they guess the letters were sent Sept/Oct. I have now spoken to Avon and Somerset (who have the fine?!!!!!!!) and asked for a Statutory Declaration. Well that was what I was advised to do and am waiting to hear from Portsmouth court. Meanwhile bailiffs are saying I have until Thursday to pay the fine! Been the law abiding citizen and most straight laced person I am actually panicking so much I’m annoying myself. What should I do next? If I pay the fine will I get that reimbursed when I go to court? Obviously I’m at fault for not taxing my car for 15 days out of the 26 years I’ve owned a car but we genuinely didn’t receive letters as we had moved and DVLA were informed. When I spoke to the tribunal court they still had our original address. Question ,..,if I pay the Baliffs will o get it reimbursed when to go to court to the statutory declaration?