Hello all,
In April 2015 at Greenwich station my fiancé was told that she would be fined for travelling without a valid ticket. She was not given the opportunity to pay the fine plus the fare at this point, as the inspector alleged it was a deliberate attempt to avoid paying a fare (not the case). True address details, etc, were taken and they checked her address (how they do this I do not know but she said that they would not let her go until her address was verified).
Some 15 months later a letter has been received confirming that the court have contacted her employer and will be deducting £250 from her pay. This is the first correspondence received about this fine. After contacting SE Prosecutions and Bromley Magistrates Court, it appears they have been sending letters to No.4 instead of No.40. This latest letter was addressed to No.40.
She has therefore:
- not been given the opportunity to pay the fine on the day as she should have been;
- not been given an opportunity to pay the fine out of court (they sent one to No.4 asking for £134.30);
- not been able to respond to the court summons (sent to No.4).
Bromley have suggested that she requests the order is reopened but she would have to go to court and there is a risk that the sum could be the same or more. SE Prosecutions say the same, but my gut feeling is a straightforward letter to SE Prosecutions and politely request to offer to pay the £20. If it is an administrative error on their part then surely that should be it?
As it stands, what are the implications in terms of credit and criminal records?
Thanks,
Paul
In April 2015 at Greenwich station my fiancé was told that she would be fined for travelling without a valid ticket. She was not given the opportunity to pay the fine plus the fare at this point, as the inspector alleged it was a deliberate attempt to avoid paying a fare (not the case). True address details, etc, were taken and they checked her address (how they do this I do not know but she said that they would not let her go until her address was verified).
Some 15 months later a letter has been received confirming that the court have contacted her employer and will be deducting £250 from her pay. This is the first correspondence received about this fine. After contacting SE Prosecutions and Bromley Magistrates Court, it appears they have been sending letters to No.4 instead of No.40. This latest letter was addressed to No.40.
She has therefore:
- not been given the opportunity to pay the fine on the day as she should have been;
- not been given an opportunity to pay the fine out of court (they sent one to No.4 asking for £134.30);
- not been able to respond to the court summons (sent to No.4).
Bromley have suggested that she requests the order is reopened but she would have to go to court and there is a risk that the sum could be the same or more. SE Prosecutions say the same, but my gut feeling is a straightforward letter to SE Prosecutions and politely request to offer to pay the £20. If it is an administrative error on their part then surely that should be it?
As it stands, what are the implications in terms of credit and criminal records?
Thanks,
Paul