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Hi
I've read all the advice on this forum but am totally exasperated by the issues we're having with JBW Group & Wandsworth Council.
Last Tuesday I came home from work (6pm) to find a letter from JBW Group claiming they'd sent baliffs round to take our belongings for a supposed debt from Wandsworth Council. I immediately rang them to tell them there was no such debt and this was the first we'd heard of it and they said if we didnt let the baliffs in at 7am the next morning they'd clamp our car, leaving us unable to go to work. I didnt feel I had a choice so I paid it knowing I was in the right and could claim it back. JBW Group assured me they'd send confirmation of payment and all copies of previous letters sent us the very next day. Needless to say this still hasnt happened (9 days later) and every time I call to chase they say there's no one in accounts and hang up.
It turns out this is due to a parking ticket received almost 18 months ago that was contested at the time as incorrect, as I had the correct permit for the zone I was parked in. While it was contested via email (contact details the council clearly provides on the ticket), there was never any response so I assumed they had revoked it. Shortly after this time we moved. The DVLA were informed straight away as were the same council when I updated my parking permit for the new zone (same council). However, the council sent a letter to our old address saying the ticket still stood (confusing signage it turns out - no surprise and I'm sure its a real revenue raiser for Wandsworth Council). I've since renewed my permit twice and not once have they mentioned the outstanding fine. I certainly haven't been hiding from them!
So they've continued to write to my old address as have JBW Group obviously. Now that someone has finally updated my records, JBW Group drop a letter on our doorstep demanding £440 for a £40 fine! The council dont seem bothered that they were sending letters to the wrong address and that its outside the law to claim so much for the fine and keep telling us to claim it back from JBW Group. Surely I dont have to wait 40 days and spend another £10 just to have basic confirmation of payment and previous letters from JBW Group, in order to simply start these proceeding. And how can I trust them anyway given the lies they've traded on until now.
What's more, how can the council not be responsible for updating their own records? Does this situation occur to everyone who moves house after receiving a parking ticket?
I feel this whole situation is totally unreasonable and down to council incompetence and the baliffs lies. Is there anything I can do?
I've read all the advice on this forum but am totally exasperated by the issues we're having with JBW Group & Wandsworth Council.
Last Tuesday I came home from work (6pm) to find a letter from JBW Group claiming they'd sent baliffs round to take our belongings for a supposed debt from Wandsworth Council. I immediately rang them to tell them there was no such debt and this was the first we'd heard of it and they said if we didnt let the baliffs in at 7am the next morning they'd clamp our car, leaving us unable to go to work. I didnt feel I had a choice so I paid it knowing I was in the right and could claim it back. JBW Group assured me they'd send confirmation of payment and all copies of previous letters sent us the very next day. Needless to say this still hasnt happened (9 days later) and every time I call to chase they say there's no one in accounts and hang up.
It turns out this is due to a parking ticket received almost 18 months ago that was contested at the time as incorrect, as I had the correct permit for the zone I was parked in. While it was contested via email (contact details the council clearly provides on the ticket), there was never any response so I assumed they had revoked it. Shortly after this time we moved. The DVLA were informed straight away as were the same council when I updated my parking permit for the new zone (same council). However, the council sent a letter to our old address saying the ticket still stood (confusing signage it turns out - no surprise and I'm sure its a real revenue raiser for Wandsworth Council). I've since renewed my permit twice and not once have they mentioned the outstanding fine. I certainly haven't been hiding from them!
So they've continued to write to my old address as have JBW Group obviously. Now that someone has finally updated my records, JBW Group drop a letter on our doorstep demanding £440 for a £40 fine! The council dont seem bothered that they were sending letters to the wrong address and that its outside the law to claim so much for the fine and keep telling us to claim it back from JBW Group. Surely I dont have to wait 40 days and spend another £10 just to have basic confirmation of payment and previous letters from JBW Group, in order to simply start these proceeding. And how can I trust them anyway given the lies they've traded on until now.
What's more, how can the council not be responsible for updating their own records? Does this situation occur to everyone who moves house after receiving a parking ticket?
I feel this whole situation is totally unreasonable and down to council incompetence and the baliffs lies. Is there anything I can do?
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