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Always being sent car fines for car/s we have never owned.

17 replies

goldbraid · 22/09/2023 11:41

For the past couple of years we have been getting letters addressed to a neighbour (for a car they used to own) at our address for various parking tickets, threatened legal action, debt collectors and so on. We have spoke to the neighbour about it, who doesn't care as long as its not his address on the letters, wrote to the DVLA about it, sent letters back not know at this address, contacted the companies sending the letters and even contacted our local MP all to no avail. We haven't heard anything in a few months now but the last time there was a big gap was when it was being passed to a debt collectors and so for all I know next I will be getting a court letter to my address.

The DVLA did write back saying they had removed our details from their records but we now have another letter which appears to be about the the car being untaxed / having no MOT. I haven't opened it but that is what it seems to be about. Firstly DVLA lied when they said they removed our address details from their records if they are still sending mail here and also if this is about a fine relating to unpaid tax then if this isn't paid it will probably result in the whole saga starting up again.

I am just sick of it. I've looked into what happens in the long run and while I understand debt collectors don't have much power and that it is unlikely that a parking fine will go to court and lead to bailiffs at our door ( not impossible though) a fine from the DVLA is a different matter. I have looked into this and while I hope it isn't likely, it has happened that court directed bailiffs have entered peoples homes (in situations like mine where the wrong address has always been used) and either searched for evidence that the person they have a warrant to seize property from lives their or they even start inventorying goods and removing them. If this happens your personal possessions are usually quickly sold and by the time it all cleared up you get a check for what they estimate the value of your property is, usually not what it would cost to replace.

Now I accept that the possibility of this actually happening is small or at least I hope it is but I shouldn't have to be worried about this at all. I am a responsible person, I have no debt, I always pay everything on time. I shouldn't have to have even the possibility of this hanging over me. This could happen to anyone and as far as I am aware there is no way to stop it, none at all. Even if I do get a court letter there isn't any opportunity for me to go and say its not my address as these are usually close administrative hearings and even if I write it in the absence of another address the court will still use my address and send bailiff to my home.

I'm so sick and tired of this 😔

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YetMoreNewBeginnings · 22/09/2023 11:44

Tbh the best thing that could happen is a bailiff turning up.

we used to get a mountain of mail for someone who used to live her. We sent it back. We called and nothing changed.

Bailiff knocked. I showed them our council tax bill and my ID. That was the end of it.

YourNameGoesHere · 22/09/2023 11:45

Do you rent or own? We had similar at an old rented property and kept a copy of the tenancy agreement by the door for when Bailiffs turned up to show they didn't live here. It happened about 4 times in total and all the Bailiffs were pretty pleasant, they get a bad reputation but I found them very reasonable. Having documents by the door eased anxiety and meant they were to hand so no opportunity for them to gain entry.

goldbraid · 22/09/2023 11:47

@YetMoreNewBeginnings Thanks for that, it is reassuring and I think what is supposed to happen but there are definitely cases where that doesn't happen, where bailiffs enter the property and at the very least search the rooms, poke into your drawers looking for evidence of the person they are after. There is even some footage of these things happening on youtube.

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goldbraid · 22/09/2023 11:48

@YourNameGoesHere We own our property but we have a council tax bill, would that be enough?

I just think it is absolutely shocking that their isn't any way to stop this happening from the get go, even when you get an MP involved.

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YourNameGoesHere · 22/09/2023 11:51

goldbraid · 22/09/2023 11:48

@YourNameGoesHere We own our property but we have a council tax bill, would that be enough?

I just think it is absolutely shocking that their isn't any way to stop this happening from the get go, even when you get an MP involved.

Yes a council tax bill should be plenty of evidence anything to show who resides at the property.

To be honest your neighbour sounds very suspect and I would think he'd deliberately put down someone else's address. So I would think Bailiffs turning up would resolve the issue more efficiently than talking to him.

goldbraid · 22/09/2023 11:58

@YourNameGoesHere I don't know about the neighbour he is a bit suspect, a selfish idiot really. I've just checked my records and there are at least 2 separate cars he has owned registered to our address. I had previously been giving him the benefit of the doubt that it had been an error but now I don't know. Unless his driving license is registered to the wrong address? I don't think we have or would get any mail about his license.

Looking online both the cars have an expired MOT and one has expired TAX so potentially there is another fine coming out way.

I'm going to send the letter back to DVLA (no point in passing to my neighbour who will just bin it) along with the letter they previously sent us and ask for them to stop sending these letters. Hopefully that will work.

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FunkyMonks · 22/09/2023 12:05

Op sorry if I've missed it in your post but have you told the DVLA it's your neighbour and even possibly brought it up with the police as a matter of fraud?
I would certainly look into that if your neighbour is intentionally using your home address to register they're vehicles I would be worried about what else they are doing.
Again sorry unsure if you've already tried that or not.

goldbraid · 22/09/2023 12:10

@FunkyMonks Thanks for your reply, yes we have contact the DVLA they sent us a letter saying they had removed all our details from those records but apparently not, it also hasn't stopped the letters and threats from car park companies or debt collectors. I am going to write to them again and yes now you mention it if this has been done on purpose it is concerning about what else they could be signing up for using our address however we haven't had letters for any credit cards or loans so hopefully not!

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FunkyMonks · 22/09/2023 12:16

You can check on your own credit reports to see what has been applied for on your home address/name always handy to have access to.
I regularly check mine once a month to make sure nothing suspicious has been done can't be safe these days with the amount of scammers and those with low morals about.

I really hope it all settles and resolves itself soon for you op.

goldbraid · 22/09/2023 12:21

@FunkyMonks Thank you and yes I will check our credit reports!

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LakeTiticaca · 22/09/2023 12:35

If the bailiffs do rock up, just send them next door 😉

Whataretalkingabout · 22/09/2023 12:40

Send the letters back with an address correction.

goldbraid · 22/09/2023 12:40

@LakeTiticaca I would have no issue telling them where to go but from my previous research they can only attend the address they have on their documents.

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goldbraid · 22/09/2023 12:42

@Whataretalkingabout I've tried that multiple times but to the parking companies and debt collectors as far as they are concerned I'm just another debtor trying to weasel out of paying and the DVLA can't put a different address on a record just by my say so although they should be able to remove my address but haven't even though they said they did.

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Helenahandkart · 22/09/2023 13:04

Whatever you do, absolutely do not invite bailiffs into your home to discuss this. They are not able to force entry, so if the worst happens and they do visit you don’t allow them in. Ideally you would have a chain on the door.

YourNameGoesHere · 22/09/2023 13:39

Helenahandkart · 22/09/2023 13:04

Whatever you do, absolutely do not invite bailiffs into your home to discuss this. They are not able to force entry, so if the worst happens and they do visit you don’t allow them in. Ideally you would have a chain on the door.

They won't won't to come in, in my experience. Once the situation is explained and they've seen evidence that the person they are looking for doesn't reside at the address they will leave with a thank you. At the end of the day they are doing a job, treat them with respect and they won't be more than a minor disruption to your day. I get there's lots of scare stories but the vast majority are decent amenable human beings from my experience with them.

goldbraid · 22/09/2023 14:03

@Helenahandkart I won't be letting them in but I don't have a chain and no way really to fit one I don't think.

@YourNameGoesHere I hope that this would be true of most bailiffs but there have been cases where they have entered peoples homes when they have the wrong address and went though people private property and belongings.

The real issue is that if this happens to you there is NO official and final way to stop it even when you can prove the person doesn't live at your address, it shouldn't ever got to the point where bailiffs knock on your door but it does happen.

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