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Hi All
Thanks for your responses. This is my first time in the forum, it is great to see such a constructive community here.
The address on the V5C was actually an even older London address I had which I lived in early 2023. I forgot to change my V5C when moving address (which I have now done). I appreciate this is not ideal and just makes the situation more confusing. Basically between my last official London address and my current residence, I was waiting for houses to complete and so was moving around between in laws and my parents house with my wife so the address situation is a bit all over the place.
The reason I potentially have had the letter sent to my mother in laws address is that I had another PCN in the same area (Tunbridge Wells), so possibly the council had the address details for the reg plate from a previous submission I did where I may have been staying with my mother and thus used her address. Otherwise, there is no way they would know that address as my V5C does not have it. Although I have received a CDER letter, I do not have ANY correspondence from the council itself abot the initial contravention asking for payment. I have no idea where these letters are or where they are sent. When they didn't hear anything from me on the current PCN, they likely forwarded it to CDER with the same address I used on a previous submission (just a hypothesis).
I know it was advised not to do this, but I did contact the council. If it has made the situation worse then so be it, I will just clear the current charge. I have told the council that letters have not been received and as such, I am happy to clear the original charge with the council on the misunderstanding explained.
CDER have given me a deadline of 6am on the 6th November to respond to them. The email below to council was sent yesterday, and obviously they were closed so I would look to have a call with them tomorrow morning.
Letter below:
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Dear Tunbridge Wells Borough Council,
I am writing to request your assistance regarding a Penalty Charge Notice issued for a bus lane contravention on 6th May 2023, associated with my vehicle registration number *****.
At the time of the incident, I was temporarily residing with my mother-in-law at ****, Tunbridge Wells. I have since relocated to a new residence in Mayfield at the beginning of 2024 and have not returned to my mother-in-law’s house. Consequently, I was not aware of any correspondence regarding this fine, as I did not receive any notices sent to the *** address.
Recently, my wife found a letter from CDER Group, dated 24th October 2024, indicating a total outstanding amount of £189. This amount includes what I understand to be the original fine of £114 as well as an additional £75 enforcement fee. However, I am unclear if £114 is the initial amount or if it has been adjusted over time due to missed deadlines from prior correspondence.
I would like to confirm the original amount of the penalty at the time of the contravention on 6th May 2023. Given that I missed the initial notices due to the change of address, I am kindly requesting if I could be permitted to pay this original contravention amount only, without the added enforcement fee. Had I been aware of the initial correspondence from the council, I would have paid promptly to avoid any escalation.
Please let me know if there are further steps I need to take to resolve this situation and settle this matter as soon as possible.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration.