Best way to deal with a bus lane contravention?

[ethan]

Last May, unknown to myself I followed a diversion sign down into a bus lane, gate. Some three months later I received a charge notice informing me of the fact I contravened a bus gate, and that because I hadn't responded to their earlier messages, the fine would jump from £35.00 to £105.00. The reason I hadn't responded earlier was because I hadn't received the notifications. Having received the charge notice some three months after the fact, I tried to contact the council explaining why. I sent two emails to them over the course of a couple of weeks and received no reply back. Running out of time to respond due to the threat of costs and court action I paid the £105.00.

Still annoyed I hadn't received a reply I contacted my local MP who agreed to intercede on my behalf. Another four to five weeks later I received his response, indicating the council disagreed with my reasoning but agreed that I had paid too much. A week later I received a £70.00 reimbursement.
Five days later, I received another letter from the council claiming that despite their reminders the penalty charge remained unpaid and the charge certificate remained in force. Next week they will send out bailiff /enforcement agent to my house with increased court costs etc. I've passed this back to the MP a couple of days ago.

What is my next step? Should I just let them make fools of themselves and deal with it when they knock on my door or continue to deal with it by doing their job for them when I have neither the time or inclination due to the stress?

 

[something daft already!!]

Keep all paperwork and show the bailiffs when they arrive i suggest.

 

[bigmike20vt]

Are they contesting the existence of the diversion sign? because if it were me i think i would be contesting the whole lot because going into a bus lane is one thing........ but following a diversion which tells you to go into one is another all together.

perhaps the diversion was meant just for public transport but unless that was VERY clear that sounds like mixed messages to me anyway.

 

[Scuzi]

Keep all paperwork and show the bailiffs when they arrive i suggest.

They won’t care. Their job is to recover funds, not to judge the merit of the claim.

You need to speak to someone sensible in the council. Good luck with that.

 

[naefeart]

Read about something similar in the BBC last week, it wasn't bus lane contravention but similar. It appeared to escalate with the Bailiffs conducting a harassment campaign again the person in question. We've all seen how many of these Bailiffs conduct themselves on TV, I wouldn't hold out any hope of them being reasonable.

Sadly, continuing to fight your local counsel, while reaching out to the BBC seems to be the solution when the heavies get involved.

Edit - here it is - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7v62v266q6o

 

[Resident]

Last May, unknown to myself I followed a diversion sign down into a bus lane, gate. Some three months later I received a charge notice informing me of the fact I contravened a bus gate, and that because I hadn't responded to their earlier messages, the fine would jump from £35.00 to £105.00. The reason I hadn't responded earlier was because I hadn't received the notifications. Having received the charge notice some three months after the fact, I tried to contact the council explaining why. I sent two emails to them over the course of a couple of weeks and received no reply back. Running out of time to respond due to the threat of costs and court action I paid the £105.00.

Still annoyed I hadn't received a reply I contacted my local MP who agreed to intercede on my behalf. Another four to five weeks later I received his response, indicating the council disagreed with my reasoning but agreed that I had paid too much. A week later I received a £70.00 reimbursement.
Five days later, I received another letter from the council claiming that despite their reminders the penalty charge remained unpaid and the charge certificate remained in force. Next week they will send out bailiff /enforcement agent to my house with increased court costs etc. I've passed this back to the MP a couple of days ago.

What is my next step? Should I just let them make fools of themselves and deal with it when they knock on my door or continue to deal with it by doing their job for them when I have neither the time or inclination due to the stress?

To send out bailiffs they need a court order.

Prior to that court order you should receive notification of that hearing & you will be able to present your case. Send all your correspondence and evidence to that hearing and the judge will dismiss it.

 

[Haggisman]

They won’t care. Their job is to recover funds, not to judge the merit of the claim.

You need to speak to someone sensible in the council. Good luck with that.

Bailiffs or debt enforcement agency? They should be dealt with very differently!

Debt enforcement agents have very little in terms of real power, and (probably because of this) are more likely to try underhanded tactics, but ultimately if you ignore them and refuse to let them in, there isn't a huge amount they can do.

If this is the case then I'd show them the paperwork (outside!) and politely but firmly tell them to do one.

Actual Bailiffs on the other hand have a lot more power, and it's probably worth trying to sort it out with the council before it gets to that stage, but they will only be sent out with a court order.

Edit: make sure to include an invoice to the council for wasting your time with their incompetence, £35 seems a good starting point.