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Hello,
I just wanted to tell you about my current discussion with Equita Bailiffs as a documentation of what is going on for others. I have taken great comfort in reading about how other people have dealt with these problems and would like to "pay it forward".
My problem started with me driving accidentally into the London Congestion Zone in July 2012. I realised at the time that I would probably need to pay, and a couple of days later, I tried online, but you can only pay on the day or the next day - after that, you get a fine (at least that is how I understood it).
I decided to wait for the fine to come, but none was forthcoming. I considered myself lucky that the cameras had not been working. However, in the beginning of February 2013, I got a bundle of letters forwarded from my second previous address. In it, I see that TFL has demanded £180 fine, then went to court, and I owed £200.
Equita was then engaged - they sent a letter in January to the same address telling me to pay up (I was unaware at this point).
When I got the bundle of letters, I called the bailiff immediately, but he did not answer. I went online to Equita and paid my £200, but apparently typed in the wrong reference number. I then got a reply from the bailiff saying that no money had been received and I now owed £560!
I paid this immediately as I was going abroad and could not reach Equita to ask anything (their number does not work from abroad).
I asked for a breakdown of the costs, and the bailiff just said "costs" - I asked via Equita's website, and I have yet to get anything (only a week), but have got confirmation that they are "working on it" over the phone.
I have also asked for a refund of the £200 wrong payment, and they said that the turnaround is 7 - 10 days, so I am waiting until next week to see what happens then. I am nervous that if I complain too much, the refund will not materialise. One step at a time.
I am also, based on advice on this website, sending them a letter asking formally for a breakdown of the payments and will take them all the way to court if necessary.
Overall, I regret being so careless, but I was totally unaware that this kind of legalised robbery was so rampant in the UK!
i will report back what happens - in the mean time, stand together, fight this immoral and reprehensible industry!
Zwanesh
I just wanted to tell you about my current discussion with Equita Bailiffs as a documentation of what is going on for others. I have taken great comfort in reading about how other people have dealt with these problems and would like to "pay it forward".
My problem started with me driving accidentally into the London Congestion Zone in July 2012. I realised at the time that I would probably need to pay, and a couple of days later, I tried online, but you can only pay on the day or the next day - after that, you get a fine (at least that is how I understood it).
I decided to wait for the fine to come, but none was forthcoming. I considered myself lucky that the cameras had not been working. However, in the beginning of February 2013, I got a bundle of letters forwarded from my second previous address. In it, I see that TFL has demanded £180 fine, then went to court, and I owed £200.
Equita was then engaged - they sent a letter in January to the same address telling me to pay up (I was unaware at this point).
When I got the bundle of letters, I called the bailiff immediately, but he did not answer. I went online to Equita and paid my £200, but apparently typed in the wrong reference number. I then got a reply from the bailiff saying that no money had been received and I now owed £560!
I paid this immediately as I was going abroad and could not reach Equita to ask anything (their number does not work from abroad).
I asked for a breakdown of the costs, and the bailiff just said "costs" - I asked via Equita's website, and I have yet to get anything (only a week), but have got confirmation that they are "working on it" over the phone.
I have also asked for a refund of the £200 wrong payment, and they said that the turnaround is 7 - 10 days, so I am waiting until next week to see what happens then. I am nervous that if I complain too much, the refund will not materialise. One step at a time.
I am also, based on advice on this website, sending them a letter asking formally for a breakdown of the payments and will take them all the way to court if necessary.
Overall, I regret being so careless, but I was totally unaware that this kind of legalised robbery was so rampant in the UK!
i will report back what happens - in the mean time, stand together, fight this immoral and reprehensible industry!
Zwanesh
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