Please help me, I am desperate for some honest advice.
In August I received a ticket for stopping for 4 minutes in a no stopping zone on a Sunday. I was in hospital when the ticket was issued and 4 people were insured on my car to help with DC and logistics.
I wrote to the parking company and said I was not the driver and I would write asap when I knew who was. I wrote back a week later identifying DH as the driver and giving them his details. They contacted me again demanding an increased payment. DH wrote and said he was the driver and offered to settle, he also told them I was back in hosp and repeated that I not the driver.
They wrote again demanding another increase, I wrote again asking for the original fine to be issue to DH (and obviously wishing I'd just paid the first one).
I have now received a letter saying it has gone to court - I had no idea - and it is a huge £270 bill. If I don't pay there will be bailiffs coming to my home.
I don't understand why I am responsible for the charge when we have sent 4 recorded delivery letters. I thought it was very important to be honest about who was driving as you must be on speeding tickets etc but this seems to have been a mistake. If I'd paid the original £120 I wouldn't be threatened with baliffs now.
I am utterly confused what to do. I think I will be diagnosed with MS next week, all investigations are pointing to it. I am depressed, utterly penniless after so much time off work and now can't stop shaking and worrying about baliffs.
I rung the number on the letter 3 times but it took over 20 mins to get thru each time and then someone just shouted 'hello, hello' then hung up.
WIBU not to pay the first fine when I was not the driver?
AIBU to expect them to issue the original fine when they know the driver?
I feel like I am being extorted and cannot understand how this is legal. Please advise on what I should do if you have any ideas. And if I have been an idiot and caused all this problem myself please go easy on me. Thank you.