Debt collection

[byf]

Hi,

My fathers got a letter in regards to a debt of £400 owed from parking fines, it's now been passed onto a debt firm...who said they want every penny now.

Just a quick enquiry if anyone knows anyway around this.

The guy was insistant that every penny must be paid now, no excuses.

Has anyone gone through the same thing?

 

[zefarelly]

Why didn't he pay them is the question? Are you disputing them?

(poo - this is tedebear btw - logged in as my husband OOPS )

 

[The Wookiee]

Yes you do have to pay it, they have the power to take your car away. You might be able to pay it in installments but highly unlikely

 

[clippedgull]

Hi,

My fathers got a letter in regards to a debt of £400 owed from parking fines, it's now been passed onto a debt firm...who said they want every penny now.

Just a quick enquiry if anyone knows anyway around this.

The guy was insistant that every penny must be paid now, no excuses.

Has anyone gone through the same thing?

Depending on your dads financial situation, most firms will help out financially disadvantaged debtors by an instalment system. If he has the cash, best to pay now to get them off his back.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Are they fines from the local council or from private car parks? If they are from local authorities then he needs to pay them but the private car parks will need to get a court order.

 

[Garage_Doors]

How do you rack up £400 in parking fines, that's an awful lot of illegal parking.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

How do you rack up £400 in parking fines, that's an awful lot of illegal parking.

Probably £60 in fines, and £340 in 'fees and charges'....

 

[Deleted User X18H]

They cannot take possession of your car or any possessions unless they have a warrant/or possession order from the court.

Debt collectors cannot force you to pay nor enter your property. If they wish to visit you they can do so only by prior arrangement.

You can make arrangements to pay as per your own financial status.

If this is a Debt Management Company ensure you sort it with them re instalments or however you wish to pay. Don't let it go to court then bailiffs then they can take your car.

Write a letter itemising how much you can pay and pay it. Don't be bullied.

 

[Deleted User X18H]

Yes you do have to pay it, they have the power to take your car away. You might be able to pay it in installments but highly unlikely

Wrong!

 

[Garage_Doors]

Probably £60 in fines, and £340 in 'fees and charges'....

Good thinking , they do like to bump them up.

 

[drew]

I would still like to know how this £400 in fines was racked up. No sympathy if your dad just takes the piss and parks where ever he likes but if he has been caught out by misleading signs then some sympathy. But to let it get to £400 before doing anything stinks of ostrich syndrome!!!

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Could be just a £60 fine that is increased after 4 weeks to £120 and 4 weeks later sold onto a DCA.

 

[Worthai Seagull]

Could be just a £60 fine that is increased after 4 weeks to £120 and 4 weeks later sold onto a DCA.

SO...why let it mount up ?

 

[The Wookiee]

They cannot take possession of your car or any possessions unless they have a warrant/or possession order from the court.

Debt collectors cannot force you to pay nor enter your property. If they wish to visit you they can do so only by prior arrangement.

You can make arrangements to pay as per your own financial status.

If this is a Debt Management Company ensure you sort it with them re instalments or however you wish to pay. Don't let it go to court then bailiffs then they can take your car.

Write a letter itemising how much you can pay and pay it. Don't be bullied.

Thats what I meant, The bailiffs can take your car

 

[desprateseagull]

if parking on private property, i do not think these fines (nd extra charges) are enforceable- check out the forum on Money Saving Expert: Consumer Revenge - Credit Cards, Shopping, Bank Charges, Cheap Flights and more

traffic warden ones are though, depending on the circumstances- you might be able to appeal..?

 

[Hiney]

Your Dad's obviously been ignoring the debt for some while - debt collection agencies don't get involved until some way down the line.

They will always try the more aggressive approch and try to scare you into paying the debt as quickly as possible. If you can't do this then they have to accept any reasonable offer of payment - don't pay more than you afford but don't take the piss.

They cannot seize your property unbless they have a court order.

Don't be bullied but don't ignore it either. These firms can be VERY persistent.

 

[robinsonsgrin]

do what my ex does..open the letter on the bog, throw it in the empty bath....leave it for a while..eventually move it to a cupboard and pretend it does not exist..ah,. maybe that has happened already... i like to call this the 'ostrich approach to financial management...' grrrrrrrrrrrrr