3. Dartford crossing charge- Bailiffs threatened
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Dartford crossing charge- Bailiffs threatened
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I recently received a text from a No Reply number, saying that I hadn't paid a debt to Bristow and Sutor of £615, and that I should expect a visit from bailiffs and there is a warrant on my vehicle which will be located and seized, but no other details. When I finally got hold of Bristow and Sutor today, it appears that I didn't pay for my dartford crossing back in May last year (a complete oversight). I never received a PCN or any other comms. However, looking back on my phone, I had received a text in December and January from a No Reply number that I assumed were scams, so didn't respond as it did not say who they were from. The advisor today said this text only contact was because I didn't change the address on my V5 when I moved house last March. They had to use a tracing agent to find me, and all they could get was my mobile number. She said they had apparently used the DVLA to find me, who have my up to date driving licence and tax details with the correct address and email/phone etc (the V5 was an oversight of mine), but they weirdly could only use my mobile number to contact me. She said that apparently this case has already been to court without my knowledge. I now have a debt of £615!!!! For an original £5 charge. I am beside myself as I do not have this kind of money, and I am looking for some advice to try and figure out what to do. has anybody had any kind of success in appealing this charge? I am more than happy to pay the original late payment fine as this was obviously my oversight, but £615, seems totally disproportionate. Obviously I do not have any PCN or paperwork to attach, as I have never received any.Thank you.
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Re: Dartford crossing charge- Bailiffs threatened
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Pretty sure you can file a Statutory Declaration to state your case, which will reverse the situation back. Similar happened to me but it was a long time ago and the case only ever got to Charge Certificate stage.

I would make sure the vehicle in question is in a locked garage for now, as they can clamp it forcing you to pay up. Sure someone will be along soon who will be much more help than me.
Good luck with these cretins.
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Re: Dartford crossing charge- Bailiffs threatened
« Reply #2 on: »
Failure to update V5 and then getting a PCN, is a common thing with bailiff cases we get on here, and it is very difficult to revert the matter back to the original PCN. It is your duty as a vehicle owner to keep the address on the V5 up-to-date.

The only avenue open to you now is to submit an Out-of-Time Witness Statement. You will need to complete TEC forms TE7 and TE9. Do be aware that by being OOT, your submission will be passed to DART who can object to it, and will probably do so.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/traffic-enforcement-centre-forms

You can also request advice from
www.bailiffadviceonline.co.uk

Not also that paying the bailiffs has no link to whether your OOT WS will be accepted or not.

Is your V5 now up-to-date ? Frankly, if DART object, I can't see things turning out favourably.
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Re: Dartford crossing charge- Bailiffs threatened
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The enforcement authority have a warrant of control based upon you not responding to numerous formal and informal notices and correspondence.

They do not have you address, therefore neither do DVLA, ...and worryingly neither would any other authority which relies upon DVLA data. You could have a shed load of claims in various stages of enforcement just waiting for this trigger.

But you know your driving habits(and those of any other drivers) and if the risk of there being a host of other potential claims is low then update your V5C address, you can do it online. But deal with the following first.

As regards the previous post but one, an SD at the Charge Cert stage is a different beast completely. IMO, the only thing which could reduce your debt is if you moved round about the date of the contravention. For this to work you need to be precise:
You moved on **** and took up residency at your new address on ****;
You did/did not put in place mail forwarding with the Royal Mail for *** months;
The contravention occurred on ****.

So far we have: March; unknown; May.

You know the first two and you could get the last date from B&S or the authority's website if B&S have the PCN number.

For background, most of the debt is enforcement agent's fees.

Is your car now the same as at the contravention? If so, you need to be careful.
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