Free Traffic Legal Advice

Quote from: straight on April 10, 2025, 11:59:32 am

I recently received a letter from a debt collection agency in North Shields demanding payment of £335.10 relating to a traffic infringement with their client, The City of Modena in Italy. The letter had an incorrect house number on it, but it arrived anyway.

I contacted this company to tell them that I had not been in Modena for more than two years, and they could not explain. A copy of a traffic infringement from 15 February 2023 was sent to me. This document requires a fine of EUR 67.90 to be paid within 5 days, EUR 92.80 within 60 days or EUR 175.80 thereafter.

It would be surprising for an incorrectly addressed letter not to reach me. On that same Italian trip I had two other penalties (I think their roads are rigged) and both reached me in good time.

The agency said that as I had not received the original notification, they would not charge £335.10, but I could settle for £140.

I replied that this was unfair and I have offered £55 - this being the amount that I would have paid had I been notified in time.

I am now being told that the agency does not own the debt and has no leeway. Their client will only accept £140; if I pay less, they will commence proceedings to recover the balance.

I'm happy to pay £55.

Any advice or suggestions are very welcome.

Thank you.

A debt collection agency cannot take any action in the UK to recover a penalty on behalf a foreign authority.

Since Brexit there is no provision for EU authorities to obtain keepers details from DVLA and therefore yours have been obtained unlawfully.  Companies doing this are being investigated so ignore any correspondence.

Details were obtained from the car hire company. As mentioned before, the address was incorrect.

I recently received a letter from a debt collection agency in North Shields demanding payment of £335.10 relating to a traffic infringement with their client, The City of Modena in Italy. The letter had an incorrect house number on it, but it arrived anyway.

I contacted this company to tell them that I had not been in Modena for more than two years, and they could not explain. A copy of a traffic infringement from 15 February 2023 was sent to me. This document requires a fine of EUR 67.90 to be paid within 5 days, EUR 92.80 within 60 days or EUR 175.80 thereafter.

It would be surprising for an incorrectly addressed letter not to reach me. On that same Italian trip I had two other penalties (I think their roads are rigged) and both reached me in good time.

The agency said that as I had not received the original notification, they would not charge £335.10, but I could settle for £140.

I replied that this was unfair and I have offered £55 - this being the amount that I would have paid had I been notified in time.

I am now being told that the agency does not own the debt and has no leeway. Their client will only accept £140; if I pay less, they will commence proceedings to recover the balance.

I'm happy to pay £55.

Any advice or suggestions are very welcome.

Thank you.