Specialist bailiffs on trial to chase up unpaid parking fines across North Lincolnshire
Specialist bailiffs will now be used by North Lincolnshire Council to claw back money owed by errant motorists refusing to pay fixed penalty charges.
More than £59,000 is still unpaid for the period April 1 to September 30, during which £126,173 was successfully collected.
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A North Lincolnshire parking enforcement officer on duty in Brigg
The council considers £2,760 to be "potential write-offs" and has "cancelled" £14,465 in notices issued to drivers.
The authority achieved a recovery rate of 86 per cent for the first full financial year since it took over the enforcement of on-street parking from the police.
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It says this level of collection compares very well with neighbouring authorities; North East Lincs managed 66.9 per cent and the East Riding of Yorkshire 70 per cent.
A report considered yesterday at top level within the council says staff believe they are doing "virtually everything possible" to collect the cash.
"However, there is a firm of bailiffs who specialise in recycled debts," the report explains. "They claim to be able to secure income where other bailiffs have failed.
"We propose exploring engaging this company on a trial basis for those debts that are still within the warrant period (warrants are valid for 12 months).
"We also propose that our existing bailiffs pursue any debts where warrants have expired, through the debt recovery process.
"This means further letters, telephone calls and possibly home visits in order to collect any available payment."
Councillor Nigel Sherwood (Brigg and Wolds), Cabinet Member of Highways and Neighbourhoods, yesterday decided the council should continue to make diligent efforts to recover penalty charge notice debt and that Bristow Sutor bailiffs will be appointed on a trial basis "to attempt to recover appropriate outstanding debts."
Marston and Jacobs bailiffs will also be requested to follow up their uncollectable warrants through the debt recovery process.
The council's latest position on debt recovery will now be reported at cabinet level every six months.
Formal write-offs of debt will be referred to the cabinet "as appropriate."
There remains what is described by the authority as a core of non-recoverable debts, reasons for which include untraceable drivers, unregistered vehicles, drivers who have moved away from North Lincolnshire (and efforts to find new address have been exhausted), people who have died, "foreign vehicles" and even some motorists who have gone to prison.
The stages followed by the council to chase up penalty charge notices (PCN) until they are settled are:
Month 1: Penalty Charge Notice issued, 28 days to pay.
Month 2: Notice to owner issued, 28 days to pay or put in formal representation.
Month 3: Charge Certificate issued, increasing PCN by 50%, 14 days to pay.
Month 4: The council registers the debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre.
Month 5: Warrants passed to bailiffs.
Comments
by delboyseven
Thursday, November 22 2012, 8:32AM
“heres job worthyness for you. a van parked inoculously in a ten foot off frodinghm road, not causing an obstruction etc, totally useless.”
by IT_MAN
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 8:20PM
“Confiscate their cars then they might consider paying up.”
by kennysenior2
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 2:42PM
“Hazzers & Sister Wendy, i suggest you check your facts, that side of Oswald Road is not restricted parking so anybody can park there for as long as they like !”
by SisterWendy9
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 2:21PM
“@Hazzers
""There is regularly a flash car with a private plate parked in a 1 hour bay on Oswald Road near the Little Tots nursery for hours on end which gets ignored by the Civil Enforcement officers. I'm not insinuating back handers have been paid by the car owner for this little perk but it seems strange that this car seems to be able to flout the regulations.""
Yes, you're not the only person to notice that. The only people who fail to notice it are the Council. If the owner is who I think it is, they get away with a lot more than selfish parking! It's amazing what you can do with a bottle of correction fluid and a Xerox machine.”
by Truestory
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 1:33PM
“On friday i witnessed a civil enforcement officer issue a ticket while being parked illegally..... One rule for the council and one for us...
The thing is as well he couldn't hide his absolute glee....
I have a picture of this...”
by Truestory
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 1:29PM
“I have a story to tell...”
by Mozart
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 1:11PM
“There is a misconception amongst some motorists that parking tickets (PENALTY CHARGE NOTICE's) issued by the council or police can safely be ignored like parking tickets (PARKING CHARGE NOTICE's) issued on private premises. I wouldn't advise it but many appeals are won. Also the police or council can still clamp your vehicle, not so on private land.”
by povetyman
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 12:33PM
“Just checked on the certified bailiffs register on line and it shows no results they dont actualy have and certified bailiffs nice flashy website tho.
It will just be one of these mickey mouse set ups that think that just haveing one real bailiff on there books makes all there other employees bailiffs well it doesnt, and how will they be successful where others have failed well its not rocket science they will just step up there bullying and intimidation tatics most of them willl just be debt collection agents and have as much power as the milkman tell them to DO ONE.
Always record on your phone if you need to engage these people.”
by Hazzers
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 11:48AM
“There is regularly a flash car with a private plate parked in a 1 hour bay on Oswald Road near the Little Tots nursery for hours on end which gets ignored by the Civil Enforcement officers. I'm not insinuating back handers have been paid by the car owner for this little perk but it seems strange that this car seems to be able to flout the regulations.”
by englander61
Wednesday, November 21 2012, 10:58AM
“It take it that the councils department for collecting dept will be laying off staff as it,s not working right , And been handed over to private sector company who no doubt will send bills out with penalty's on ,and further penalty's when dept collectors call at midday when some people are out at work . It might be a better idea to get rid of current department head and replace with some one who can handle the job properly . We are told pay top wages to department and yet going to private sector,s for advice and paying for consultants .”