Fine for driving off without paying for fuel

[Sparklesea]

I filled my car up with fuel (£50) in July, went into the shop and used my phone to pay. It didn't go through but neither I nor the attendant noticed and I drove away.

I have received a letter from a company called VARS technology asking for £90, then a few weeks later another letter asking for £120. Now I've received a letter from a different company called Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd asking for £200. I was away from home and so didn't receive these letters until recently.

While I fully accept it is my responsibility to ensure payment is made properly, I did attempt to pay and assumed that I had. Obviously I didn't intend to drive away on purpose. I have been into the garage, spoken with the manager and offered to make the payment. He said he wasn't able to take any money because the fuel had gone from their log and the matter had been passed on to VARS.

It seems such a huge amount for one tank of fuel. Can I challenge the amount that DCBL is asking for, and should I do this with them directly, or with VARS? I can't afford to pay £200 but I don't want the heavies coming round and ending up with a CCJ against me. What can I do?

Why can’t you prove you were away from home for an extended period? Where were you?

Did you not pay for anything when you were away? Does your phone or your bank statement not show the locations of places you bought and paid for things then?

I was away from home and so didn't receive these letters until recently
If that's even true, it's your responsibility to ensure your mail is redirected.

It's not their problem that you didn't do so and that the debt increased.

You should have paid it sooner. It's now escalated. Not sure what defense you want to use!