Court summons

[rjt14]

Hello guys and girls. My first question on this site.

I received a summons today through the post it reads :

You have not paid 140.00gbp which is owed on the above account number.
If you don't pay the full amount shown you must attend on 2nd March 2011.

Penalty is : Use/Install TV without licence Costs 60 pound
Fines 80 pound
This is dated back to Jan 2007.

This would be the first letter i have ever received. I Lived in Wolverhampton at this date, was only there on 6 month work contract and immediately moved away from the area when the contract finished. In this 6 months i never had any vists from the TVL people.
I did however receive a phone call from them. I declared over the phone that i did not have or use a t.v (This is true i worked 12-14 hour days and was only temp accommodation.) Im pretty sure i did not give my address either.

So my question is this : How can i receive a summons or fine without my knowledge of the incident occurring ?

Also would they not need evidence of my signature on some kind of paperwork to say they have caught me ?

One more. What exactly dose this summons mean, have they decided ( off their own backs ) that i owe them this money.
Thank you to anyone that reads this and can clear up some points for me.

[weas]

they know that a tv was active !!

[rjt14]

Please Re-read. No t.v

[alexanderd]

If you can prove you had no tv then they can not claim any money off you. Were you in rented accomodation and can the landlord confirm there was no tv there?

[ummmm]

Have you wrote to them? Write to them explaining the situation...then ignore them.

rebelsouls will love this....do a search of his name in news..!

[AlBags]

What account then?
Who exactly are you supposed to pay?
Do they include a Bank slip?
Is there a 'referenced address' to which the summons refers?

There is supposed to be reasonable proof you are watching or using equipment capable of receiving live television transmissions. I can't see they can send that based on a phone call where you answered to the contrary .. and especially where no address specified.

[AlBags]

I hate 'em too : )
Pests.

[rjt14]

Yes was rented. As re guards to the landlord only seen him at moving in time and on leaving.

Why do i have to prove anything ? It is the TVL/BBC who are demanding the money should they not be the ones to prove that i did have a T.V.

By the way, if i did have a tv i would tell you, i have no reason to lie to anyone. I am generally concerned to receive a fine without any knowledge of it.

[ummmm]

Personally, I would write to them...if I could be bothered. More than likely I'd throw it in the bin. How the hell can they prove that you had a TV for 6 months in 2007?

[alexanderd]

I would ignore it under the circumstances, doubt if you will hear any more from them it wont be worth them taking you to court unless they can prove you had a tv which I doubt very much after that length of time

[rjt14]

The account is to the court itself.

No bank slip. says i can pay online through the gov website or phone the payment line.

No they do not include the address they claim the fine is from.

It all looks very official and the government website is official.

@ ummm have not written to them yet and cannot contact them till tomorrow as i got home rather late today.

[rjt14]

I am not sure if i should ignore it, They have set a court date for two weeks time, Failing that i could have the bailiffs or a warrant out for my arrest.

Its seems like the courts have already decided that i owe this as it states : you have failed to pay moneys owed.

[factor-fiction]

If they rang you up they would have known your adrress- they would have chosen you because they knew your address and that it was not covered by a licence. I don't know how they knew your phone number though.
I am sure they will argue that they contacted you at the time and you didn't satisfy them that there was no TV.
Anyway, let us know how you get on

[The-HouseHusband]

I would definitely just shred the letter and leave it at that. If it was not sent by registered/recorded post then they have no proof of you getting the letter. If they can't prove you got a letter within the last few weeks how are they going to prove you were watching a TV in a bedsit in Wolverhampton four years ago.

[rjt14]

The reason for the call is i had moved from my old address which was registered with a tv licence. I only use mobile not landline phone also must of been registered.

So the phone call was to ask why, i told them i had moved and did not have a tv at this new address.

Ok i admit i hung up on the guy. I was a little annoyed about the way he spoke to me on the phone. Could tell he did not believe me.
As far as i am concerned i am under no obligation to tell them when i move and where to.
How can i satisfy them about not having T.V over the phone.
If they were to find my address and visit i would happily prove them wrong just to wipe the smug smile of their face.

[AlBags]

Ring that court clerk and ask if you are on the list.
Tell him the basics and see what they advise.
Up to me .. I would not admit anything .. even living at any address .. to discover what their evidence is based on.

[factor-fiction]

I cam't follow this.
I'm not sure how they know your latest address to write to you.
Does their letter say which address the 'offence' relates to?

[ummmm]

You are under NO obligation to tell the BBC where you move to. They work on the presumption that every household has a TV. Which, of course, is wrong. You will be treated as guilty until proven innocent.

I'd still bin it and ignore though...

[rjt14]

I will do that Allbags first thing tomorrow Brilliant idea.

As i am on the electoral register i assume they can find anyone over time.
No it dose not state the address the offense relates to.

This is what is concerning me. There really is little information except the money owed.

[factor-fiction]

I agree with Albags.
Let us know how you get on but I can't help thinking things don't quite add up here.

[rjt14]

@ ummmmm. I always assumed it was innocent till proven guilty.