Letter from court addressed to my address but not in my name.... Advice?

DezUk · 5 Feb 2009 at 21:39

Just came home and had a letter lying on the floor, so open it up and first thing I see is it’s from the court. So this instantly grabs my attention.

But the next thing i notice is its not in my name, its in a name similar to mine with the same sir name. Anyway reading the letter turns out its a fixed £60 fine for a breach of the peace offence committed back in 2007. Here is the letter...

I refer to your attendance at the Means Enquiry Court on 24/07/2007 when you were ordered to pay the above fine at the rate of £0.00 every 0 week(s) commencing.

You have defaulted in your payments and in terms of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 219, the balance of £60.00 is due.

Please therefore forward payment to the Fines Office at the below address or contact us with your proposals for payment within the next 14 days.

Now this has ****ed me off a bit, why has it arrived at my door. For all i know my address could be on some convicted criminal list. Now i agree it’s most likely the courts have just made a mistake and sent me this letter, since i have a similar name. I have had a speeding fine before so there is every chance my address will be on the computer but this isn’t really an excuse.

Just looking for advice on how anyone else would handle this. I was thinking of phoning them but from previous experience with councils and government bodies a letter is usually the best approach, as phone calls sometimes end up in things not being dealt with properly.

My Dad reckons a letter to a news paper about this would gets things dealt with promptly and show up how bad the system is

Tobes · 5 Feb 2009 at 21:41

or just ring up the court tomorrow and tell them they have made a mistake?

paradigm · 5 Feb 2009 at 21:41

How can you default at paying £0.00 every 0 weeks?

I'd have them on that technicality if nothing else.

Seriously though, speak to the CAB.

DezUk · 5 Feb 2009 at 21:49

Tobes said:
or just ring up the court tomorrow and tell them they have made a mistake?

Well yeah I could but that would be just letting them off with it. I am sick of the system constantly screwing us over. So when they screw up like this its an opportunity to pull them up for a change.

Just had it pointed out to me that the poor guy who was supposed to get this has just had his human rights breached under the data protection act. Thats a more serious issue.

Dunks · 5 Feb 2009 at 21:51

DezUk said:
Well yeah I could but that would be just letting them off with it. I am sick of the system constantly screwing us over. So when they screw up like this its an opportunity to pull them up for a change.

And do what exactly? And on your second note, the letter wasn't addressed to you, so why open it?

.

Fuzz · 5 Feb 2009 at 21:55

DezUk said:
Just looking for advice on how anyone else would handle this.

Plug in Shredder, switch on shredder, pass letter through shredder, switch off, unplug and go make a cuppa tea.

DezUk · 5 Feb 2009 at 21:57

DunK1 said:
And do what exactly? And on your second note, the letter wasn't addressed to you, so why open it? .

Well I could start with a letter of complaint and if nothing comes from that then a letter to the paper. I live on my own so any letters that come through i just open.

Tobes · 5 Feb 2009 at 21:57

DezUk said:
Well yeah I could but that would be just letting them off with it. I am sick of the system constantly screwing us over. So when they screw up like this its an opportunity to pull them up for a change.

Good luck with that. There are much more major things that need sorting out than the courts sending a letter to the wrong address.

Steve2000 · 5 Feb 2009 at 22:01

DezUk said:
Well I could start with a letter of complaint and if nothing comes from that then a letter to the paper. I live on my own so any letters that come through i just open.

Why bother? Just either ignore it or ring them and inform them of their mistake.

Papers would probably not entertain this either unless it's the Daily Star or something.

Dunks · 5 Feb 2009 at 22:02

DezUk said:
Well I could start with a letter of complaint and if nothing comes from that then a letter to the paper. I live on my own so any letters that come through i just open.

Nothing's going to come of a letter like this being sent to the wrong address.

me227 · 5 Feb 2009 at 22:17

I doubt the newspapers would be interested in a non-story like this. Just call the courts tomorrow and tell them.

NickM · 5 Feb 2009 at 22:19

paradigm said:
How can you default at paying £0.00 every 0 weeks?

I'd have them on that technicality if nothing else.

^^ This.

craptakular · 5 Feb 2009 at 22:24

I am not understanding the issue here... its not a letter for you, so just RETURN TO SENDER and phone the court.

I dont get it?

Raymond Lin · 5 Feb 2009 at 22:25

Just write them a letter, send it something like this and then call up next day to follow up.

The Court Manager
Local County Court
Address
...
....

5 February 2009

Re: £60 fine
Claim No. xxxxxx

Dear sirs

I refer the above matter and your letter dated 01/01/09.

I am writing the advise the Court that the addressee on the Order dated 24/07/2007 do not reside at (address), I enclose a copy of my Driving licence for your information. You will note that we share the same surname but different first name.

I hope this clear up the matter and please remove the judgment against my address off your records. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully

Obviously photo copy their letter, passport (or your driving licence) or something else with your name and address to go with the letter.

Luke · 6 Feb 2009 at 07:29

If this is the biggest outrage in your life then you are a very lucky person. Stop being such a drama queen and get on with your life.

Mr-White · 6 Feb 2009 at 08:55

write them a cheque for £0.00 and post it back

MW

Egon · 6 Feb 2009 at 10:02

I know this isn't really the point but:

you were ordered to pay the above fine at the rate of £0.00 every 0 week(s) commencing.

You have defaulted in your payments

Coupled with the fact they have the wrong person, that's just insanely inept of them really isn't it !

mrk · 6 Feb 2009 at 10:16

It sounds like an automated mail-FAIL to me.

DezUk · 6 Feb 2009 at 10:21

Ok guys i realise i am making a big deal out of this but think about it this way. If the courts (or any government body for that matter) were chasing me for money and i made a small mistake i.e. paid the wrong amount or posted to the wrong address. Do you think they would let me off with it and say "Oh it’s ok we will let you off".

Somehow i doubt it, they would just fine me more or order me to court if i didn't. So why, when the shoe is on the other foot and they screw up should i let them off with it and waste my own time calling them to help them fix something they have screwed up.

Yes its a very small mistake but i am fed up being screwed over by the system in this country. Just my opinion

callmeBadger · 6 Feb 2009 at 10:26

DezUk said:
Just had it pointed out to me that the poor guy who was supposed to get this has just had his human rights breached under the data protection act. Thats a more serious issue.

But you opened the letter that wasn't intended for you. So your the one who breached caused the breach.

As a side note i don't think this would constitute a HRA breach at a push a DPA but as the information contained seemed justifiable and proportionate I doubt that the court would loose much sleep over it.