What do bailiffs actually do re: fines?

[Lucy807]

So I owe £180 to the council for going in a bus lane. I know it's petty but I'm having a row with the council because whilst I was appealing the decision I lost the chance to pay the £35. It then went to £70 which is a big chunk of money to me. I only earn £1300 a month, it's all accounted for. It was a genuine mistake, I was in a city I don't know and I had just been to a very difficult visit for work.
I know that's not the point but I was not objecting to paying the fine, I was objecting to not being given the chance to spread it. The whole system is geared around people just having that money to pay the fine immediately whilst if you live pay check to pay check, no savings, it could be that you end up paying more due to just not having the money at the time when you get the letter.
I've been putting all this in emails but no one cares. It's got to the stage where it's £189 now and I still don't have it. They're talking about bailiffs coming and I feel like just saying bring it on, good luck finding £200 worth of stuff in my house. I have two old tellys and that's it.
What do they actually do?

Why didn’t you pay it when it was just £35? After losing an appeal they still give you 14 or 28 days (can’t remember which) to pay at the reduced rate.

@Whattodo1610 I appealed twice

We appealed one and lost, we were still given extra time to pay at the reduced rate. TBH, with fines like this I don’t think appeals ever work, no excuse for not being vigilant etc, otherwise it could be argued that you were driving without due care and attention 🤷🏻‍♀️ I was the same as you, unfamiliar, busy city, trying to find disabled parking, unknowingly went in the bus lane for literally 2 metres 🤷🏻‍♀️

As for the bailiffs, work with them, if you’ve got no assets they’ll probably work out a payment plan with you. They have a horrible reputation but they’re only doing their job, they’re not there to put you into poverty, but they do need to recover the money, which is why they usually work out a payment plan. I would try to get it paid somehow then at least it’s off your mind, over and done with.

@Whattodo1610 I know, I have tried to work with them but the only payment plan is half now, half next month. I guess that's because how much time has passed. I just thought they were supposed to be getting better with not putting pressure on you because of the people that have killed themselves?

It’s really difficult, especially because ultimately you had the chance to pay a small fine (in comparison to what it is now) … I’m sure they have to go through your finances with you and see how much is reasonable to be paying. Have the bailiffs been out before?

@Whattodo1610 no never. But the only chance I had to pay the fine of £35 was when I had no money. I was paid on the first of the month and the fine letter came on the 3rd so all my money had already gone out on bills.

90% of the month I have absolutely no money in my account.

This sounds stressful - I would speak to citizens advice. There is a possibility that they could take your car though as that is an asset so don’t assume that they won’t find anything of value to take.

Generally they will try a payment plan but be warned, the cost will go up again as you will have to cover their fees.

If you don't pay, the can arrest your wages or bank accounts, seize assets like cars if you own it. I've never known them to seize household goods for a small debt though.

I'm sure you've already thought of this and sorry if it's a stupid question, but could you borrow the money from a friend/family member and pay back in instalments? I'd do this for someone I knew was struggling

@Idontjetwashthefucker love your username. I guess I just don't see why I should, I feel I have been unfair punished for being poor. I didn't have the money, I asked for a plan, now I get offered a plan when it's four times what it was, plus it's only two payments of £90. Still a lot of money,
I have never refused to work with them, I just asked for a way of spreading it

They could take your vehicle…

I mean this kindly, but this probably isn’t the time to fight for the moral victory as you will almost certainly lose and end up much worse off - if you have the option to borrow the money then I would, then do your best to forget about it, it’s not worth making this even worse for yourself.

As a side point, have you checked whether you are entitled to any benefits? £1300 isn't even full time minimum wage is it? I assume you're working part time? Can you increase your earnings by working full time or getting a better paid job?

Surely it's not sustainable to live with no spare money at all eveyr single month.

I agree, you don't need this hanging over you for another 6 months, a year

A court appointed bailiff can take a vehicle.

This is a council issued traffic "charge notice" which is a civil matter, not criminal, so unless the council take it to court to make it a criminal matter, then a bailiff will have no jurisdiction.

@Lucy807 at the very least I would pay the £35 direct to the council.

Was this on the 3rd of June? (because it's escalated quite quickly to a bigger amount!). They normally give you 14 days to pay the £35 or 28 days to pay this £70. The council can register it with the court and then send sheriff officers to collect the debt but this takes a while, so it indicates this happened some time ago.

Appealing was pointless as you committed the offence so the money needs to be paid. You will need to FIND the money from somewhere. Sell something. Cancel a subscription if you have any. The longer you leave this, the worse it will get.

If you spend 90% of the month with no money in your account and cannot find £35 just 2 days after pay day then you really need to re-think your life and spending habits as this is no way to live.

I'm a student, hence low money. I also am raising two children. I have no time to work any extra hours as I am full time on placement.

Just set up a payment to the council with what you can afford. Send a letter to confirm that you have done it, setting out the monthly sum and that the last payment will be on x date. Stick to it and do not default.

They'd have a hard time defending it if they took it to court if you do that.

@TheSerenePinkOrca if I had something I could sell for £189 don't you think I would have done it by now?

@SquishyGloopyBum that's what I was thinking

The they fined you for being poor not because you were actually in the wrong at the time?

It was originally £35 which wouldn't have been too hard to raise with a bit of effort...

You haven't said how long ago this happened, as it if is at the bailiff stage then this was likely months ago...

@SpringerFall everyone who drives in the bus lane is in the wrong, but you have to pay more if you can't magic up £35 in 14 days

@TheSerenePinkOrca ok talk me through your guide to making more money. You clearly have no idea about how skint is skint.