Hi i could use a little adviceif possible. Basically, last year i was fined for non payment of train fare through the court, i was issued something like £180 to pay having to pay a minimum of £5 a week with a payment card. I was paying £5 a week for a few months and paid a lot of it off, the thing is, due to lack of funds i had to stop paying for around 3 - 4 weeks. During this time i had lost my payment card, i had no paperwork regarding my fine so i had no idea of how to apply for another one or contact the courts regarding the debt. I presumed i would be given a notice or warning/reminder about this debt but it never came
Yesterday i recieved a letter from Martson High Cour Enforcement Officers & Certified Bailiffs stating
"fine:£61.50
Fees:£85.00
Cost:£0.00
VAT:£0.00
Total:146.50
"We are in possesion of a Magistrates Court Order as a consequence of non payment of the above amount. We are instructed to demand immediate payment in FULL from you. We must inform you that unless the TOTAL sum due is paid into our office within 7 days of the date of this letter, our bailiffs will attend to levy the distress and remove your goods for sale by PUBLIC AUCTION. This action will involve minimum further costs of £215"
The thing is i have no way of paying this whatsoever, i'm on JSA and have already used the fortnightly payment i recieve, i'm not paid again untill the 25th, i also owe money out on that day anyway and i even if i had all my JSA to make a payment i don't even recieve enough to pay the fine in one payment.
Also, i live with my dad and 99% of the property in the house is his, i only own a computer and it's worth less than half of the £146.50.
I don't understand why there was no warning or reminder letter before this, there isn't even a number to dispute or discuss the matter on the letter, just a payment line and free debt advice line for the citizens Advice Bureau.
I'd like to know if the bailiffs will allow me to setup a payment plan when they're sent round and also if i did set up a payment plan, would they add the further cost of £215 even though they've already added £85.00 fine on top of the £61.50 i had left to pay (how do they justify putting over 120% on top of what was left?).
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
Yesterday i recieved a letter from Martson High Cour Enforcement Officers & Certified Bailiffs stating
"fine:£61.50
Fees:£85.00
Cost:£0.00
VAT:£0.00
Total:146.50
"We are in possesion of a Magistrates Court Order as a consequence of non payment of the above amount. We are instructed to demand immediate payment in FULL from you. We must inform you that unless the TOTAL sum due is paid into our office within 7 days of the date of this letter, our bailiffs will attend to levy the distress and remove your goods for sale by PUBLIC AUCTION. This action will involve minimum further costs of £215"
The thing is i have no way of paying this whatsoever, i'm on JSA and have already used the fortnightly payment i recieve, i'm not paid again untill the 25th, i also owe money out on that day anyway and i even if i had all my JSA to make a payment i don't even recieve enough to pay the fine in one payment.
Also, i live with my dad and 99% of the property in the house is his, i only own a computer and it's worth less than half of the £146.50.
I don't understand why there was no warning or reminder letter before this, there isn't even a number to dispute or discuss the matter on the letter, just a payment line and free debt advice line for the citizens Advice Bureau.
I'd like to know if the bailiffs will allow me to setup a payment plan when they're sent round and also if i did set up a payment plan, would they add the further cost of £215 even though they've already added £85.00 fine on top of the £61.50 i had left to pay (how do they justify putting over 120% on top of what was left?).
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.
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