Hi,
New here!
I went over the Dartford crossing at the beginning of the year and forgot to pay. It was a first offence and I was sent a letter advising me of this but unfortunately, when I received the letter, I had just left the country for 6 months. If I had been around to receive the letter, as it was a first offence, I only had to pay the normal fee for crossing, which is £2.50.
When I arrived home and checked the mail, the fine had escalated to £192.50 and gotten to the point of being handed over to bailiffs who were due to attend my property imminently.
I was advised to pay the fine, to avoid the bailiffs attending and appeal the charge to get it refunded at a later date.
I sent off my appeal, explaining the situation and giving evidence of my 6 month return flight out of the country.
I have just received a letter from HM courts and tribunals service saying that “your recent application to file a statutory declaration/witness statement out of time was referred to the court officer for a decision without a hearing under part 75.5 (1) of the civil procedure rules” and it was refused.
I have 9 days now to apply for a review of the decision either by a district judge at a county court hearing centre for a fee of £303 or a review by a district judge without a hearing for £119.
This seems very unfair but I don’t really understand what the review decision process is. Can I just go and represent myself? Does it seem a straightforward case that I could win? Would I get the fee back if I win? On the last question, obviously it wouldn’t be worth doing anything if I wouldn’t get the fee back as the fine is £192.50.
Thanks all!
