#13 Re: CDER Enforcement letter sent for PCN - England
on 03 Nov, 2024 12:14 in Civil penalty charge notices (Councils, TFL and so on)
Dear joebloggs90,If you are dealing with enforcement agencies like CDER and facing unexpected charges due to address discrepancies, legal protections under the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (TCEA 2007) may assist, particularly where enforcement procedures have not been followed correctly due to these errors.Paragraph 66 of Schedule 12 of TCEA 2007 provides remedies for improper enforcement. While often seen as benefiting debtors, case law shows broader applicability. For instance, in Goodsell v Mayhew (1950), the court found that inaccuracies in address records could invalidate enforcement actions and fees. Similarly, Ex parte McArdle (1957) concluded that enforcement actions could be nullified if documents were not sent to the correct address.Requesting full documentation from the enforcement agency ensures transparency and compliance under TCEA 2007. Agencies must provide clear evidence of the outstanding balance and justify any additional fees. This documentation helps verify adherence to statutory procedures, and failure to provide accurate records may reveal procedural deficiencies that could challenge the enforcement action.Outlined below are several steps that may assist in addressing this situation:Contact the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC): You may also contact the Traffic Enforcement Centre (TEC). During the security check, provide your mother's postcode. Successfully passing the security check will demonstrate that the warrant does not reflect your current address, rendering the warrant "defective" and thereby invalidating any enforcement action undertaken by CDER at your current address.Request Full Documentation: Contact the enforcement agency and request complete documentation to verify the basis of their fees and the outstanding balance. This will ensure transparency and provide you with the necessary information to ascertain whether all procedural requirements have been met.Contact the Council Directly: Engage with the council and propose settling the original fine if you missed prior notices due to address discrepancies. Emphasise that you would have responded in a timely manner had you received the original correspondence, underscoring your intent to resolve the matter responsibly.Formal Complaint: Should the enforcement agency refuse to suspend their actions, consider filing a formal complaint. In doing so, cite TCEA 2007 as well as the relevant case law, such as Goodsell v Mayhew and Ex parte McArdle. This legal context can bolster your position, particularly if the enforcement agency's failure to adhere to procedural requirements is linked to incorrect address records.Avoid Direct Payments to CDER: You mustn't make any direct payments to CDER. If you do so, they may contend that the payment was made voluntarily, which could undermine any subsequent claim for a refund. Instead, you must argue that any funds taken were done so under duress, specifically under the threat of removal of goods pursuant to a defective instrument.