Need advice

[HawkHam83]

Hi, I recently took my children on holiday. They do not live with me and I had asked rhe school if I could take them and was told no.. So I knew that there would be a fine. I had read its £60 per parent per child per week. So £240. When I returned from holiday after about two weeks my ex and her partner received a fine. But I did not get one. I assumed that they had thought since my children live there that the fines should go there. I transferred the money to my ex and marked it down as kids holiday fine. She paid and showed me these fines were paid. 6 months later I get a letter through the door from West mercia enforcement centre saying I owe £634. I phoned ro see what it was about and was told. I hadn't paid my holiday fine. I said two fines were paid and I had assumed the wrong name was on the form as I had not received a letter. They told me they sent letters out but it was my old address so I did not know about them. They also told me I missed a court date. I have always been on the electrol role and had changed my address with the school so couldn't understand why I had not received a letter yet I managed to receive a letter at my address now. I explained what had happened and even sent proof of payments and sent all my bank transactions. They then sent another letter to pay £25 a week or else face further fines and even maybe arrested. Two of these letters are not even signed. They seem unprofessional. What can I do. I would like to Go to court to sort this out as in my defense I have paid. I knew my ex wouldn't pay although she claims "our fines were paid" Yes because I paid the money. So it looks like I haven't paid a fine. But why pay £634. Seems extreme. Any advice on this is much appreciated. Chris hamilton.

[Amethyst]

The fine was sent to you and your ex and your ex paid it - therefore the fine was paid ?

[HawkHam83]

When the council sent a fine out they sent it to the ex and her boyfriend but I did not recieve one.. Apparently I was supposed to have one but it was sent to the wrong address. It was my understanding that both parents would be charged a fine and not the ex' boyfriend since he has no legal rights over my two children. Apparently I was told later because he lives there that's why there were three fines. So although I gave the money to the ex to pay what I thought was just two fines in their names. It looks as if I paid theirs and not mine. So yes two fines are paid but the third wasn't and they sent letters to an old address which it looked as if I had ignored them hence getting a debt collection agency involved telling me I owe £634. I am still confused why three fines were sent out and I knew two would be initially before I took my girls out of school time to go on their first holiday abroad. With all how much this has cost now hardly seems worth it and in the future looks as if I have to pay three fines since the ex always claims they are skint.