fined £640 for un-taxed car

[flo1]

i have a really big problem and i need help please!

yesterday i recieved a threatening letter from a court saying that i owed £640 and i need to pay within 10 days or i will have my car clamped or i will be arrested!? or the fine will go up by 50%

i had no idea what the fine was for so i called the court, and they said it was for having a un-taxed car.
apparently my car was photographed by the dvla with a old tax disc.... but this was a year ago!

i have never recieved any fines from the dvla and this is the first letter i have had.

im really worried and dont know what to do.....
apparently i can appeal but i have no evidance to say that i didnt recieve the fine.... and now because its a year on... its gone up from £80 to £640

what can i do?!

[R1Geezer]

Sorry I don't buy it. There is no way you could not know about this. To be up to £640 it must have been to court in your absence and bailiffs fees must have been added, they must have come to your house. Is your car correctly registered at your address? There would have been a mountain of paper work through your letter box, sorry don't believe you. You've been doing a classic head in the sand and hope it goes away. The initiall issue would have cost about £100 max end of. I advise you to pay this right now, it will only grow.

[north star]

Post a question here for an authoritative answer

http://forums.pepipoo...275840188&showforum=5

[Garmard]

Get yourself a good solicitor my friend.

[joko]

are you certain that your car was ever untaxed? or just guessing at when it possibly could be?

i would suggest you double check the phone number and address of this letter...it could be a scam...

check who they are asking you to address a cheque to, and where to send it...is there a way to pay through the online site...?

my dad was scammed this way with a parking ticket...

[kia cat]

My stepson had the same problem.

If the car was on the road [ie public highway] and no/out of date tax, then an absolute offence is committed. We rang the fines office at the DVLA, the best they would offer - after a week's extension - is an attachment of earnings order, if you need time to pay. This means the money is taken from your wages before you get it.

The amount starts at 7% of your take home pay [regardless of your other outgoings or commitments] if your monthly income is less than £660, 12% over £660 and less than £1040; rising to 17% if his salary was over £1040. I don't know if it varies from case to case. Write back to the court, explaining your circumstances, clearly, concisely and above all politely. Explain it all in date order. Above all don't ignore it.

[SeaJayPea]

Aren't fines and summonses sent out Recorded Delivery? They certainly used to be, but it's been a while...

If that is still the case, then get DVLA to produce their proof of delivery. If they can't then you may find that the court will look upon you with a degree of sympathy.

Best of luck.

[dizmouk2009]

£640 I bet you had wished they had just took your vehicle and crushed it, then you would know about the tax. R1Geezer is right, I only offer advice and ideas when it comes to the court side of things, everyone works differently - especially the DVLA.

SeaJayPea: I wouldn't know, I'm not in debt so I've never had one nor have I ever missed taxing my vehicles.

[northernmonkey]

Question 1 - In the time your car was untaxed, where was it parked?
Question 2 - Ask the DVLA to post documentation that includes details of all amounts/dates/reason for the added costs. Also ask for copies of any letters ect relating to the fine also sent so you've got dates and also know exactly for what reasons the £640.
If you qualify for legal aid, then once getting everything above from DVLA, go and see a solicitor for their advice, and if you have any grounds for appeal then he can appeal on your behalf, best option if any of your appeal being successfull.

Or, get in touch with money made clear, which is FREE debt advice and would be something you could follow up today based on what information already mentioned and find out if you have any grounds for appeal or if the fine's not disputable and , now £640.00, that is what must be paid end of.

[factor-fiction]

Hi flo1- a number of good questions have been asked in the responses we've given but we haven't heard from you for a while. Have you now decided the fine is valid?

[nmonline]

I know this is an old thread so this answer won't help the OP, but for anyone stumbling across this thread in a similar situation, try https://sites.google.com/site/clamprescue