Newlyn Bailiffs

[NickG001]

Hi all,

Have a driving fine from Lewisham council which has now been passed on to good old Newlyn. From what I know about Newlyn, they prey on people’s fears regarding bailiffs and use bully-boy tactics to collect fees. I drove up a one-way road that has always been a two-road road in the 40 years I’ve lived in the area. Lewisham council made it a one-way road during Covid and put up cameras on lampposts. I refused to pay the council. The penalty went up to £210 when Newlyn got involved. Offered them £50 a month to clear it and they said no. Then a bailiff turned up and threatened to clamp my car. I said he wouldn’t be clamping anything with me present. My car is on hired purchase for another 4 years and is parked on a private road. The penalty is now over £500. I told Newlyn I would pay £50 a month but only to clear the £210. U.K. not paying £500. Only a matter of time before the bailiff returns. Any advice on dealing with these parasites?

[R0b]

Hi,

Not sure we can be of much assistance to you. You've admitted that you refused to pay the parking fine which has now been escalated up to the council instructing bailiffs and they are entitled to add their own fees to the matter presuming those fees have been correctly added at the right times.

I agree that Newlyn are likely to come back and have another go, possibly on multiple occasions before perhaps giving up so I can only suggest that you ensure your doors are locked and windows kept shut. Although bailiffs are only entitled to enter the house peacefully, I believe the council can make an application to the courts to ask them to grant an order to force entry to seize goods but that's probably the rare exception rather than the norm.

Worst case, I suspect Newlyn will probably try to clamp your car on hire purchase and then the ball is in your court as to what you do next. Breaking off the clamp will likely amount to criminal damage or you will have to go to court and get an order for them to remove the clamp plus seek compensation if you wish - expect Newlyn to fight you on that though.

One thing I am not 100% clear on is whether bailiffs have the legal power to refuse a payment plan, at least not without justification. I would presume that bailiffs must inform the council of any offer of payment but it may be that they are legally entitled to refuse any payment plan, especially if it affects the fees that are being charged by them. If they have to pass on any payment offers and they refused so that they could then add on more fees for the benefit of themselves, that may be worth something to argue about but as I said, I haven't looked into that so it's just a thought.