Marstons HMCTS North east and east London Courts

[hawkonefive]

Hi ,

Back in April 2013 , via post , received a letter which contains an account no , at first glance , it look's official , court stamp ( blurred image ) telephone no's do not match any official site I have managed to find ? the letter pertains to be a debt that it is alleged that I owe , for a vehicle , which Vehicle reg no does not register with me for one thing . but is pertaining that it is an unpaid fine for ? £ 211.67 dated the year 2003 ,

Due to my suspicions I sent these details via a police scam awareness site , have not heard form anyone until , December 19 2013 , where an envelope , sticking out of my front door letter box . only hanging by one corner , not posted fully in through the letter box . it stated hand delivered at 0600 hrs ?

heading is from Marstons , with lots of red highlighted wording , ( the threatening , intimidating words removal notice , a figure of £ 511 -67 , the letter states that unless I pay in full , they are basicly returning to take goods ,

Now , I am a full time carer to my partner with serious health issues , although the property that we rent is joint tenancy , although I have read some points of note here about Bailifs methods , and do not let them in , one of my main concern's is that if I am not here if they should call , the situation of distress this could cause my partner .

I firmly believe this is some sort of scam on behalf of Marstons , I did read somewhere of the Statute of limitations 1980 , could possibly be implemented due to the date of the year 2003 , 11 years ago !

I am really unsure what to do or how to approach this , so any help or advice would be apriciateated

[bizzybob]

Re: Marstons HMCTS North east and east London Courts

First of all welcome to Legal Beagles, second try not to stress, Beagles are here to help.

Now a couple of questions:

1: Were you resident at the property in 2003 the date of the alleged offence?
2 : Did you own a car then, and was the registration number similar to the one in the letter?
3: What is the alleged contravention the fine is for.

You need to contact the court that set Marstons on you and maybe swear a Statutory Declaration regarding no knowledge of the offence , you should have done this when you had the first letter in April, as the court may be a bit iffy due to the time between April
indicate and provide proof your household is most likely vulnerable under the National Standards due to your partners illness tell them exactly what is wrong with them, and that you are a carer for them, as this may mean bailiff enforcement is inappropriate notwithstanding you deny any knowledge of the offence and dont or never owned the car in question.

and now, however if the whole mess is due to a faulty trace by Sharkstons, something they are very good at, as in getting the wrong J Smith., and you truly were not the offender, the court should listen and accept a Stat Dec.

Other Beagles will be along soon to help no doubt. In the meantime keep the bailiff out and hide any car until you get sense from the court, only they can stop Marstons. Is your partner on DLA, and have they a Motability car? if so the bailiff cannot touch the car no matter what they claim, and if they were to clamp it they would be in the soup.

[hawkonefive]

Re: Marstons HMCTS North east and east London Courts

Hi , thanks for the reply , ok ,

Q1 . firstly the address on the original letter , there is not one , so can not cross check what address , only address is via envelope ! so I can not verify an address that is not stated !!
only details it contains is an account no , plus the division 078 . As mentioned prior no success with contacting via this phone number just automated !! there is no fax no on this letter , only a PO box no .
However on the second red letter , there is a mobile no to a mr Cocks ( a slight variation in spelling )
a fax no , and another PO BOX no .


Q2 : yes , I would have had a vehicle back then , and only vehicle that I have knowledge of was scrapped , however the registration does not ring any bells with me !

Q3 : it does not say what this fine is about , who for or who too !! again only the year of alleged debt back in 2003 ? 11 years back !

Yes , as regards my partner , her health issues are quite extensive , from a brain aneurism , resulting in severe migraine which can be brought on through stress , along now with on going tests for possible cancer . my 16 year old step son also has mental health issues , both are classed as disabled , both via DLA , my only income is cares allowance , which is used for bus fares to chaperone at hospital appointments and other sundry's pertaining to there welfare , the finance was opted for , in place of mobility vehicle .
all of the above can be verified , proven to be true .
I have downloaded the template letter , ready to be filled and printed as soon as I can access a working printer , should I attempt to still post via proof of postage / recorded delivery or should I fax a copy via fax no to Marstons in place of or addition too ?

[bizzybob]

Re: Marstons HMCTS North east and east London Courts

Hi , thanks for the reply , ok ,

Q1 . firstly the address on the original letter , there is not one , so can not cross check what address , only address is via envelope ! so I can not verify an address that is not stated !!
only details it contains is an account no , plus the division 078 . As mentioned prior no success with contacting via this phone number just automated !! there is no fax no on this letter , only a PO box no .
However on the second red letter , there is a mobile no to a mr Cocks ( a slight variation in spelling )
a fax no , and another PO BOX no .


Q2 : yes , I would have had a vehicle back then , and only vehicle that I have knowledge of was scrapped , however the registration does not ring any bells with me !

Q3 : it does not say what this fine is about , who for or who too !! again only the year of alleged debt back in 2003 ? 11 years back !

Yes , as regards my partner , her health issues are quite extensive , from a brain aneurism , resulting in severe migraine which can be brought on through stress , along now with on going tests for possible cancer . my 16 year old step son also has mental health issues , both are classed as disabled , both via DLA , my only income is cares allowance , which is used for bus fares to chaperone at hospital appointments and other sundry's pertaining to there welfare , the finance was opted for , in place of mobility vehicle .
all of the above can be verified , proven to be true .
I have downloaded the template letter , ready to be filled and printed as soon as I can access a working printer , should I attempt to still post via proof of postage / recorded delivery or should I fax a copy via fax no to Marstons in place of or addition too ?

Fax it to the buggers, and the court, and send a hard copy in the post, other Beagles will be along soon with more and probably better advice

[Sir Vere Brayne d'Emmidge]

Re: Marstons HMCTS North east and east London Courts

On all paperwork left by any bailiff there should be an address, even if only a PO Box number....think! If you were a villain with no scruples and get a letter from a bailiff and they give you their home address how long would it take you to torch the pplace to a heap of smouldering bricks and timber?

I know for a fact that the telephone number on all Marston correspondence (the hated 08450) has an automated response that points you to option 1 (automated payment line) and option 2 (speak to an advisor).

I do not believe that Marston are in the business of inventing addresses to milk money from the innocent, they were given your address by a Magistrates Court.

As far as Magistrates Court fines, High Court writs and some County Court liability orders there is no statute of limitation.

You are entitled to know what the fine is all abouts, Marston can (and should if you request it) ask the Court for all the details that lead to your conviction in your absence, or if you were there totally forgot about.

If your only income is via DLA, then you are classified as a vulnerable case, take phocopies of any documentation and send it to Marston with a cover letter, to the PO Box number (recorded delivery is a must) with your request for more information about this fine, the Magistrates Court that issued the warrant and the Court reference number which is not Marston reference number.

The latter should get marston off your case, but do not forget, that id a fine was imposed on you, for whatever reason (assuming the conviction was sound) the fine will never go away!

[hawkonefive]

Re: Marstons HMCTS North east and east London Courts

On all paperwork left by any bailiff there should be an address, even if only a PO Box number....think! If you were a villain with no scruples and get a letter from a bailiff and they give you their home address how long would it take you to torch the pplace to a heap of smouldering bricks and timber?

I know for a fact that the telephone number on all Marston correspondence (the hated 08450) has an automated response that points you to option 1 (automated payment line) and option 2 (speak to an advisor).

I do not believe that Marston are in the business of inventing addresses to milk money from the innocent, they were given your address by a Magistrates Court.

As far as Magistrates Court fines, High Court writs and some County Court liability orders there is no statute of limitation.

You are entitled to know what the fine is all abouts, Marston can (and should if you request it) ask the Court for all the details that lead to your conviction in your absence, or if you were there totally forgot about.

If your only income is via DLA, then you are classified as a vulnerable case, take phocopies of any documentation and send it to Marston with a cover letter, to the PO Box number (recorded delivery is a must) with your request for more information about this fine, the Magistrates Court that issued the warrant and the Court reference number which is not Marston reference number.

The latter should get marston off your case, but do not forget, that id a fine was imposed on you, for whatever reason (assuming the conviction was sound) the fine will never go away!

Thank you ,

In order to clarify here , yes I am aware of the reasons for these people only providing a po box no , as can some scammers , however the telephone no that I tried , was NOT , Marstons , but via the " court letter " this is the one which to me seems suspect , the no ( and it can be provided for you to try ? ) it states contact no or phone no to Pay a fine , both no's give you the same effect , a recorded message on how to pay , NO OPTION to speak to an advisor , the days of speaking to a human are few and far between these days

And you would also be correct in the assumption of Marstons obtaining this address via a court , my point here , which court ? which fine / debt .

So I have constructed a letter / letters , outlining the " vulernable case " firstly , secondly a request for all details pertaining the details of alleged debt / fine. and thirdly a statutory declaration , as there are limited details virtualy none regarding this , a , as I see it , they should respect the former and take note . they should also ask the court for further instructions ? and should also provide me with all details , at least in order for me to know who or what this is about . if it is owed then yes agree it should be paid , but if I am not the perpetrator , then I would not !

[hawkonefive]

Re: Marstons HMCTS North east and east London Courts

Update :


I constructed a letter/s , which stated facts as to the position regarding of my self being a full time carer to my partner and her son , imparting brief details as to what there health and mental health conditions are , I also provided via four copies that verify these facts ,

I also made it clear that , I do not know of what this alleged fine / debt pertains too , and therefore request that you provide my self with all details to this fine / debt , ( I used one of the template letters for these )
I asked for , information to be provided of the original offence , the court details where it was held with dates and reference no's , and all corresponding details to this alleged offence of which I have no recollection of !

These were all Faxed and posted via recorded delivery .

Today : I received a letter which does not address my requests by any means !

It only contains a breakdown of Marston's costs . COPIED BELOW :

Dated 6th Jan 2014

Fine £ 211.67
Compliance fee £ 85.00
Attendance fee £ 215.00
Total £ 511.67

Date of Attendance 30 /12/ 13 ( NO ONE HAS ATTENDED AT ALL , ALL WERE IN !! )

Dear Sir ,

Thank you for providing confirmation of your personal circumstances. please refer to the breakdown of fees and dates of attendance above as requested .

In order for us to address this matter further please telephone our customer contact centre on 0845 0743749
( a local rate number ) and press option 2 , which will take you through to an operator . Once through , please ask to speak to one of our welfare officers who will be able to set up a payment arrangement .

please note we have held your case for 7 days to allow you time to call our customer contact centre .

customer care team .


I have yet to respond to this , and would apprieciate some advise on how to go about this . as they have blatantly ignored my request to provide ALL DETAILS . I am not about to be coereced , into any form of payment plan based on the unknown , it is also not correct that the attendance date of the 30th December 2013 , did not occur as we had family still here after Christmas , and no one has seen or heard any one at our front door , nor any further mail until today !!

Thanks in advance

[bluebottle]

Re: Marstons HMCTS North east and east London Courts

If Marstons are clearly telling porkies, contact HMCTS and challenge their conduct. HMCTS enforcement staff are, on the whole, very helpful. As far as health issues go, you will need to get your GP to write a letter confirming them and why you are considered to be vulnerable. Copies of this letter should should be sent to the court and Marstons.

[hawkonefive]

Re: Marstons HMCTS North east and east London Courts

Thank you for your reply ,

yes they sure are , just some points here , if Marstons had " attended " on the 30th , then why did they not attempt to carry out the " warrant " ?? the fax and letters were sent on the 2nd of January ,

one of the main reasons that I can recall so clearly on the 30th , is due to our roof / ridge tiles coming off on the 22nd , on the 30th , we had , landlords agents attend our home along with builders to assess damage , auto glass parked in driveway repairing relatives damaged car , so was a very busy eventful day , and had to look and listen out for door so as these people could sort out the damage !!

Now , you mention HMCTS , which office should I contact , my local court ? as the list of HMCTS is a minefield , and wish to go to the top to sort this out , any advice welcome , thanks

[CleverClogs]

Re: Marstons HMCTS North east and east London Courts

if Marstons had " attended " on the 30th , then why did they not attempt to carry out the " warrant " ??

on the 30th , we had , landlords agents attend our home along with builders to assess damage , auto glass parked in driveway repairing relatives damaged car , so was a very busy eventful day , and had to look and listen out for door so as these people could sort out the damage !!

Perhaps the Marstons moron couldn't decide on which vehicle he should levy distress, and had to go home with a headache? :rofl:

[bizzybob]

Re: Marstons HMCTS North east and east London Courts

He may have been fwitened by the presence of burly builders