Thanet council... Parking attendants and parking fines.

[Lorns]

Right this dates back to October 2005.
My bloke took my car for a jaunt to Ramsgate, at the time it was untaxed but that is another story. He parked my car in the carpark and promptly got me reported for out of date tax and a parking fine. The tax issue is justified but he bought a ticket and clearly displayed it. Mr Jobsworth must have got all excited when he saw the out of date tax disc that his eyes fell out and didn't see the parking ticket. Mr. Hellfire made many trips to Thanet council to contest the parking fine with the original ticket to show them. They photocopied it made notes and told him that no further action would be taken. They wanted the original ticket but Mr. Hellfire said no chance, we're keeping it. So i was rather pissed off when the debt recovery letters began falling through my letterbox. It came to a head yesterday when i was informed that my car will be impounded and sold at auction if the fine isn't paid within the next few days.

Mr. Bailiff man was actually quite a decent chap. He's given me a few extra days to sort this out. I still have to pay him, but he will send receipts and other bits and bobs that i will require to show a lawyer if i decide to take it that far. Not sure what the other bits and bobs are.

Mr Thanet district council man was not so decent. He claims that we never corresponded to the letters until the 26th July. That is bullshit and i told him so. So because we apparently ignored the letters we get fined anyway, regardless of the fact that a parking ticket was paid and displayed, in his words i'm getting fined for ignoring letters. That is not right, how can someone get a £255.77p fine for ignoring letters. Mr.Bailiff man and Mr. Solicitor have both given me the same advice, pay now and take action against the council later . Mr.Lawyer also advised me not to use a legal representative as their fees are about £ 185 an hour so is therefore not financially economical. I should be able to do this myself. Not sure how succesfull it'll be. I am truly pissed off.

I have learnt from this experience. If you're going to contest any kind of action from councils or anyone who is trying to fine you, you send a letter contesting the matter by recorded delivery. Phonecalls and seeing them personally requires no signature to acknowledge your complaint. It's a costly, frustrating and stressful lesson.

I have every intention of arguing this matter and getting my money back. It's not right and they shouldn't be able to get away with it. Anyone else had this kind of experience and if so do you have any advice for me to make this less stressfull for me?

[Gavin Scott]

Their argument is flawed. You cannot be forced to pay a "late penalty" for a matter you were not guilty of. It's a shame your earlier correspondence wasn't sent by recorded delivery, but it's not the end of the world. A good lawyer may insist the Council CCTV tapes are examined to back up your story of a personal visit.

If you sue them (which you are absolutely entitled to do) you would be entitled to all of your out of pocket expenses, including a lawyer's time.

Mr H shouldn't have been out in your car for a jolly when it is untaxed. He could have taken a bus and spared you this grief.

Until such time as the matter is resolved I trust HE will be paying this bill for you? I certainly can't imagine why you should.

[Lorns]

You know, i'm really hoping there is CCTV evidence to prove Mr Hellfires claim, for his sake. I really only have his word and until now i've never really had a reason to doubt him ( he's let me down in other ways but that is irrelevant in this case). I've asked him to give me all the paper work that he has so i can persue it further. If he can't come up with it, i'll know he's lying. I'm not really sure how i feel right now, it is the first time in my life where i have so many feelings of anger, disappointment and frustration that i am truly emotionless. I can't even cry , i feel so numb. Is this what falling out love feels like?

As for him paying for it .... Hahahahahahahah!! I insist that i pay it because then at least i know for sure the matter has been dealt with. I will get the money back from him or is associates/ wankers ( i'm being polite). I suppose right now i can't afford to get emotional as i have a battle to fight on 2 fronts.

[Gavin Scott]

Oh. I thought you had been to the Council offices yourself.

I can only really go on the information about Mr H which I have gleaned over time; and from that I get the sense that you definately SHOULD be questioning his cander over the issue.

There is clearly much more going on here for you. I don't know if this is what falling out of love feels like, but again, I get the sense that you do.

Pay the bill. Put a period after it. This is a relatively cheap lesson - it could have been worse.

I know you have invested more than just £250 in your relationship, but this may be the time to cut your losses. It's often relatively small matters like this that can help crystalise your feelings about a relationship.

Incidentally, in another thread you mentioned you would "send Mr H in" to talk to a forum member about car trouble. I took the precaution of shifting your earlier personal thread in case he read it and it put you in any difficulty.

I apologise if I was overstepping the mark, but I thought it better to play safe.

[Lorns]

I'd not been to the offices myself, but i had called them. I'm so pissed off a 60 quid parkking ticket has gone upto £ 255 and since my post increased to £420.77 over the weekend. Mr . Hellfire and Thanet Council arn't half gonna get a gob full from me.
I'm in the wrong business, i now wanna be a vet, solicitor or bailiff.