Maurice Robinson who has been given a £25 parking ticket which has escalated in cost to £260 even though he said he paid it off on numerous occasions. He has now been given bailiffs notices.
PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY
Norwich man could lose VW van over parking ticket
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
2:52 PM
A retired builder is facing losing his van and having to pay £260 over an unpaid parking ticket – even though he says he paid the £50 bill over a year ago.
Bailiffs representing Norwich City Council visited the home of Maurice Robinson, 66, in Mount Pleasant, Norwich, yesterday morning and slapped a notice on his VW Transporter van warning it was going to be sold to make up some of the debt he owed. The father-of-two was also served with papers fining him £260 to cover the legal costs of pursuing the case against him.
Mr Robinson received the ticket when he visited his daughter Joanna Crisp, 29, in Branford Road, Norwich, to carry out some work to decking at her home in July 2009.
He parked his van in Branford Road, close to the junction with Spencer Street, where one hour waiting restrictions are in force. He returned one hour and nine minutes later to find the parking ticket.
He failed to pay the ticket within the 28-day time limit, losing a £25 discount and receiving a letter from the council warning him to pay up. On November 14 he paid £50 to the council, but then received further letters demanding £75 and £43.16 to cover the extra legal costs from his case.
He then paid an extra £30 to cover costs, but the bailiffs arrived in person yesterday.
Mr Robinson accepted he had overstayed the waiting restriction, but added: “I am a bit miffed. I mean, it is only a damn parking ticket isn’t it? When I spoke to the council I said ‘why are you hounding me for money?’ and he said ‘it is costs that have accrued to be added to the debt and it is what the figure is now.’
“It is beyond belief that they would go that far for a parking ticket. I feel it is their way of getting every penny they can out of you.”
But a council spokesman said if the ticket had not been paid within 70 days of being issued it became a county court matter, a notice of debt registration was sent out and a £5 court fee added.
She said: “Twenty one days after the notice goes out, a warrant will be issued if there is still no payment and we instruct bailiffs to recover the debt on our behalf. Bailiffs add their own costs to the outstanding debt.”
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7 comments
Mr Robinson should have seen the ample signs around advising a Permit Parking Zone. If a signs advises 1 hour parking it does mean 1 hour not 1 hour 9 minutes. The ticket also advises how, when and where to pay. There has been many a tale in the printed and moving image media telling people about unpaid fines etc. If Mr Robinson chooses to ignore then more foll him. Paying a parking ticket is not rocket science.
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NchNthMan
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Everyone should remember that the City Council does not make any money from parking tickets, all excess money goes to Norfolk County Council!
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THFC8
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Surely Mr Robison has some proof that he paid?
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chucky noris
Thursday, January 13, 2011
hi this is digusting way too treat people the council seem too be trying too make money out of people, i agree about repairs my back door blew shut in the wind they want 150.00 to repair glass which i cant afford. i rang council too pay for 3 items to be dumped it took 3 weeks yet my neighbours fly tip all the time and they cleared theirs same day for free, i now have a hot water tap running as the washers gone i been told i have too wait 5 days, its disgusting the way their fleecing peopleid speak too your mp mr robinson good luck
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morello
Thursday, January 13, 2011
hi this is digusting way too treat people the council seem too be trying too make money out of people, i agree about repairs my back door blew shut in the wind they want 150.00 to repair glass which i cant afford. i rang council too pay for 3 items to be dumped it took 3 weeks yet my neighbours fly tip all the time and they cleared theirs same day for free, i now have a hot water tap running as the washers gone i been told i have too wait 5 days, its disgusting the way their fleecing peopleid speak too your mp mr robinson good luck
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morello
Thursday, January 13, 2011
What a shame Norwich City Council Housing Repairs section is NOT as keen to meet their commitments, don't blame it on ex contractors Connaughts, problem has existed over two years.
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Paul Platten
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Legalised robbery!
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T Doff
Wednesday, January 12, 2011