dca charges

[dlou]

Following an unpaid proportion of a speeding fine and a change of address have now received letter from Marston group demanding £390. £200 of the original fine of £275 was paid and court was to confirm receipt and balance remaining. I had moved home since the offence but court had been advised and in fact have correspondence demonstrating this. Hands up I forgot to pay balance and so am liable for that at least. Court then passed on to DCA but gave them my old address despite having new one so had not received any corresp. from dca. Last week received letter as stated demanding vastly inflated sum. Phoned dca for clarification of charges which they claim are 'tracing fees', have also phoned court to find out why they had given old address. Both court and dca intransigent court don't want to know, and dca wont consider reducing fees or accept arrangement and just state that they will be enforcing - i.e. handing to bailiff in next couple of days. Dont have the money, no assets - what can I do - if anything?

[Guest]

Re: dca charges

. Dont have the money, no assets - what can I do - if anything?

Then there is nothing Marston can do about it. It will return to court and you wont need to pay any fees.

Marston does not have a contract with you that obligates you to pay any fees, and there is no legislislation prescribing any.

When the case is returned to court, make an offer to pay in affordable instalments.

For the time being, I recommend you make a statutory declaration confirming you have changed address and send this to the court with a covering letter - a simple one liner will do - asking the case to be returned to court administration.

Template: http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...ad.php?t=32485

If you get fobbed off with excuses, post here again, and I'll write a template letter for you to start the formal complaints procedure.

See - Dealing with Bailiffs: http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/...ad.php?t=32490

[ExBailiff31]

Re: dca charges

For the time being, I recommend you make a statutory declaration confirming you have changed address and send this to the court with a covering letter - a simple one liner will do - asking the case to be returned to court administration.

Read more at: dca charges - Legal Beagles Consumer Forum

I agree with Happy Contrails with this response as the council have the responsibility (and in your case the correct new address) to send correspondence to you thus giving you time to pay or at least make an arrangement for the balance.
As well as making the "Stat Dec" you should also send a letter/E-mail to the council and courts acknowledging the outstanding balance and either a reasonable payment plan such as two or three installments or a reasonable date for full payment such as your next payday for example, they will have to accept this as they had made the balls up with your address in the first place.
and just in case a Bailiff does come round DO NOT LET HIM/HER IN!!