Magistrates Court Order

[wahoo_thomas]

Hi all,

I would like some advice for a good friend.Today she received a letter from marstons demanding immediate payment for a Fine for not having a TV licence.I have a couple of questions.

Firstly Do they have power to force entry to her property.

Secondly as she is a vulnerable person ie she has only buried her baby last Monday and is currently receiving benefits how can she contact the court and get a payment plan with the courts.As you can appreciate she and her partner are currently under a lot of stress and this is not going to help them . I am trying to help all I can the total amount is 400 pounds .Any help would be grately appreciated .


Thankyou in advance
Jim

[labman]

Re: Magistrates Court Order

Technically yes, for a Magistrates' Court fine, entry can be forced. In reality it is very rare.

Your friend should make both the court and the bailiffs aware of her vulnerability asap. Can she go to the court and tell them. Alternatively, phone them first thing Monday morning and see what they can do.

[ploddertom]

Re: Magistrates Court Order

On top of what Labman says she may need to provide some proof of the tragic events. I appreciate this may seem insensitive but they do receive this type of "vulnerability" issue on a daily basis and do try hard to sort out those which are real and those which are imagined.

Was the fine imposed at her current address or an old one?

[wahoo_thomas]

Re: Magistrates Court Order

On top of what Labman says she may need to provide some proof of the tragic events. I appreciate this may seem insensitive but they do receive this type of "vulnerability" issue on a daily basis and do try hard to sort out those which are real and those which are imagined.

Was the fine imposed at her current address or an old one?

The fine was at her current address she has done the typical emu on this and thought it would go away.She lost her baby daughter and only buried her last week .I am not looking for a way for her to not pay but to get rid of the bailiffs and pay an amount she can afford .I am going to contact the court at lunchtime today and see what happens from there.Thanks again.


Jim

[labman]

Re: Magistrates Court Order

Best of luck for a positive outcome. :tinysmile_grin_t:

[ploddertom]

Re: Magistrates Court Order

I would of thought as she is on benefits she could ask for a Means Hearing where the Court can set the level of payment and maybe the payment could be deducted as an Attachment to Benefits.

[Monzter]

Re: Magistrates Court Order

I think she might be considered vulnerable -


Those who might be potentially vulnerable include:

"the elderly;
people with a disability;
the seriously ill;
the recently bereaved;
single parent families;
pregnant women;
unemployed people; and,
those who have obvious difficulty in understanding, speaking or reading English."

Taken from National Standards for Enforcement Agents
May 2002

To be found ebarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http://www.dca.gov.uk/enforcement/agents02.htm

Hope it helps