It seems I’m a wanted man!

[BreweryDave]

Had a letter scanned and forwarded to me this week via my mailing service from a debt collection agency saying they’ve had a warrant issued against me for non payment of a fine

( as we’re full time, I use a mail forwarding service)

Long story short, left the U.K. in February and used the Dartford crossing. Was unable to pay the £2.50 as their system didn’t recognise my reg number, it had only been issued a day earlier as I’d imported the van so it didn’t show up on their system.
After several tries, it recognised it 3 days later and I paid the fee, and got an email receipt.

Because it wasn’t paid within their timescale, they must have sent a penalty notice to the address the van is registered, where I dont live and usually have no mail sent. My tenants probably binned it as I’ve told them I won’t have any mail there
So, with that being effectively ignored, they passed the penalty onto a debt collection agency, the amount they want is nearly £200, and they’ve issued a warrant for the money
( they obviously got my mailing address through a credit check).

So I called them and explained, but the person on the end of the phone was a broken record working off a script, and I got nowhere
They said they’d send the bailiffs to the address to seize goods, even though I told them it was a business mailing service. Good luck with that I said, and told them I’d emigrated

Have sent a long explanatory email to the Dartford crossing ( Highways agency) explaining it was their systems fault, and as they had instructed the debt collection agency only they could stop any more proceedings!

Watch this space, cos I ain’t paying, and own nothing in the U.K. where I only visit once a year anyway


The point of the story for those travelling long term from their home in the U.K. is to be aware in case you have any fines appear on your doorstep whilst you’re away
Doesn’t worry me unduly as being FT, I’m kinda hard to find

 

[wasp]

Have you seen the film Taken, I will find you

 

[EX51SSS]

 

[Feltwell]

Don't worry, years ago it took the Met nearly 18 months to find me as part of a murder enquiry (*) - and I have an extremely unusual surname and I was living in the UK, and on the electoral role!

* - Not quite as dramatic as it sounds - I was one of 999 people with a car with a registration number that matched a partial one taken by a witness. Anyway, I got away with it

 

[ABZSteve]

Don't worry, years ago it took the Met nearly 18 months to find me as part of a murder enquiry (*) - and I have an extremely unusual surname and I was living in the UK, and on the electoral role!

* - Not quite as dramatic as it sounds - I was one of 999 people with a car with a registration number that matched a partial one taken by a witness. Anyway, I got away with it

999 people, really

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[Katja]

Only cause you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't after you !!!

Good luck !

 

[Mikey RV]

Got a small tent here you can borrow when they take your motorhome away.

 

[Paul an Jane MK]

A few years ago we had a knock at the door, two Policemen wanting to speak to our son “Christopher James” I advised while we shared the same surname our son was “James Christopher” and on further discussion there was a significant difference in height, build and hair colour. They left seemingly satisfied.

Four days later at 6pm more Policemen saying Police Intelligence had sent them to my address, I explained again and they again left. At 11 pm as we were going to bed yet another knock at the door and explained again.

2.30 pm a Riot van, lots of Policeman and blue flashing lights and I politely explained the relevant department was not as intelligent as they thought.

After they left I drove to local Police Station and demanded to see inspector and invited her to visit my house but she declined and thankfully not had a knock at the door since.

All that wasted Police time knocking on the door of a random Person with a similar name.

No hope of finding you

 

[monzer]

So @BreweryDave is a fugitive on the run abroad, @Feltwell has escaped justice after committing a murder and @Paul an Jane MK are harbouring know villains.

And I thought you were a boring bunch on here.

I can't speak I once stole a jar of sweets from the sweetie shop in Inverurie. Felt bad ever since.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Ho ho
Going thru crew immigration at JFK, usually a painless experience, done a 100 times before but this time, lots of scratching of head, tapping of keyboard, rescanning of fingerprints, checking of passport, glasses on, glasses off - have I ever been to Cuba, no...
Was patiently waiting when supervisor walked up behind the guy... wassup, this guy has the same name as a drug warrant guy !!!.
Erm, that guy is black, this guy is white and has multiple entries... welcome to the USA sir...
One immigration officer back to school for observation training.

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[Feltwell]

@Feltwell[/USER] has escaped justice after committing a murder

You know what, I was very lucky in one respect, when the Met finally found me. "Where were you on date XYZ?" - Which was about 18 months previous - how the hell should I know, I struggle to remember where I was last week, let alone last year.

"It was the date of the solar eclipse" What were the chances of that!! Ahhh, I remember straight away, I was interviewing potential staff with a colleague in Swindon all day, I remember it well because we went outside in a break to see the eclipse. Phew!

 

[Northernraider]

999 people, really

Only 998 now the murderers got crushed

 

[pappajohn]

Don't worry, years ago it took the Met nearly 18 months to find me as part of a murder enquiry (*) - and I have an extremely unusual surname and I was living in the UK, and on the electoral role!

* - Not quite as dramatic as it sounds - I was one of 999 people with a car with a registration number that matched a partial one taken by a witness. Anyway, I got away with it

So they weren't sure of the number but the letters matched.

 

[Northernraider]

Ho ho
Going thru crew immigration at JFK, usually a painless experience, done a 100 times before but this time, lots of scratching of head, tapping of keyboard, rescanning of fingerprints, checking of passport, glasses on, glasses off - have I ever been to Cuba, no...
Was patiently waiting when supervisor walked up behind the guy... wassup, this guy has the same name as a drug warrant guy !!!.
Erm, that guy is black, this guy is white and has multiple entries... welcome to the USA sir...
One immigration officer back to school for observation training.

It's amazing what you can get away with using a tub of oil of olay

 

[Camdoon]

Thanks for the reminder = crossing next week so will have to check my account

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[Langtoftlad]

It's amazing what you can get away with using a tub of oil of olay

Wanna to buy a K of H

 

[Wildbill]

Walking through Paris International Airport suddenly grabbed by two big lumps dragged away by the back of my hare.
By this time trying to put up a good fight.
Draged in to this room thrown on the floor.
Siting thare on the floor way the f,,,, k going on.
You are a deserter frome the foregen legon there's me was hapely heading to Nigeria to a oil rig and now find my self on the way to sume rundown and Fort in Algeria
Any way in walks the huge c
Takes one look at me and says sumthing hi in firench points to my right arm indicating for me to remove my shirt
Cheks my right arm then walks out shaking his head
There's me wondering wtf five min later this gezzer comes in with a cup of coffee
Verry sorry meture mistaken identity same name difrant person
Asked my name and address
Missed my flight apology and grovelling
Put in to a Verry good hotel unlimited bar food tab and handed 1000 franks
My company was in formed of the mix up
I got a warning letter for missing my crew change
The rig manger did not think I put up a good enough fight
Abut a month later I got a letter of apology with a cheque for £600 pounds for my days lost earnings at the time it was abut £125 aday
Bill

 

[Feltwell]

So they weren't sure of the number but the letters matched.

I believe so. They told me they caught the perpetrator almost straight away, but some poor junior Detective Constable then had the job of tracing everyone else who's car it could possible have been and taking a statement to say where they had been on that day and if they had a witness to that - to counter any possible defence argument. I lived in Hampshire, it was a company car so not registered directly to me, something happened in communication between the Met and Hampshire forces and I wasn't spoken to when I should have been.

The DC ended up checking the electoral register for the whole country, there were only 2 people with my name - and they finally found me. The DC was rather relieved, she told me I was the last person on the list to be found! At least I wasn't called John Smith......

 

[ymfb]

@BreweryDave when next you visit Blighty don’t use a credit card or the Dartford Crosding, otherwise assume the position and wait for the snap of the latex glove

 

[BreweryDave]

the snap of the latex glove

Oh, such fond memories.............

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[PP Bear]

I'm a master of disguise, I can blend in to any environment or surroundings.

I've popped these in the post for you, good luck agent @BreweryDave.

This message will self destruct in 10 seconds.......

 

[Gellyneck]

So @BreweryDave is a fugitive on the run abroad, @Feltwell has escaped justice after committing a murder and @Paul an Jane MK are harbouring know villains.

And I thought you were a boring bunch on here.

I can't speak I once stole a jar of sweets from the sweetie shop in Inverurie. Felt bad ever since.

That was from my cousins best pal's shop! Expect a knock on your door sometime soon!

 

[Grianan]

A few years ago we had a knock at the door, two Policemen wanting to speak to our son “Christopher James” I advised while we shared the same surname our son was “James Christopher” and on further discussion there was a significant difference in height, build and hair colour. They left seemingly satisfied.

Four days later at 6pm more Policemen saying Police Intelligence had sent them to my address, I explained again and they again left. At 11 pm as we were going to bed yet another knock at the door and explained again.

2.30 pm a Riot van, lots of Policeman and blue flashing lights and I politely explained the relevant department was not as intelligent as they thought.

After they left I drove to local Police Station and demanded to see inspector and invited her to visit my house but she declined and thankfully not had a knock at the door since.

All that wasted Police time knocking on the door of a random Person with a similar name.

No hope of finding you

I am not surprised. Years ago we were woken up at 3am by blue flashing lights outside shortly followed by heavy knocking.
Bleary eyed we explained to to Policemen that yes, we did live at 19 Top Road but in a different village from the one they were looking for.

 

[Tigertom]

Dave, I had a similar experience with the dart crossing and the £200 fine waiting for me when I returned home ( after a couple of months).
I emailed an explanation to them and after a few weeks received a bill for the £2.50 I owed and a warning. Good luck.

 

[bobandjanie]

I put our Spanish van on our Dartford crossing account , when we sold the English van and tried to delete it, I had problems it kept telling me you need one vehicle registered got there in the end.

Just remember Dave.

Bob.

Ps Just checked our account £4.97 and at £2.00 a crossing now I'm never going to get my 97p back.

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[Teuchter]

My Daughter Valerie & her family were going to USA and at Gatwick they were taken into an "interrogation" room and told to wait while they were "double" checked - after a few minutes they were told that James Wilson (their son) could not board the plane as he had a prior conviction for a drug offence the last time he visited the USA

Much wailing and gnashing of teeth on my daughter and Alex's (her husband) part as they explained that James had never been to America before only to be told that they were sure he had and had a felony drug charge against him!

Then James started to get upset and Valerie put her arms round him and said it's alright James we will sort it out at this there was a silence from the cocksure border pair - you see at the time James was only ten years old!!

Yes there was a man called James Wilson who was on their list as a convicted felon but for a ten year old to be "suspected" of being him - Bizarre!!

 

[cruiser]

Oh dear I know where @BreweryDave is I have just been speaking to him. I will ask him to buy me a drink. Or I will tell them where he is. And he told me that he did not have a drink yesterday And was going for his first today. I will join him soon.

 

[martin2603]

Well that now leaves only 52,999,800.00 in outstanding crossing fees to collect ! (Government Stats)

 

[BreweryDave]

Oh dear I know where @BreweryDave is I have just been speaking to him. I will ask him to buy me a drink. Or I will tell them where he is. And he told me that he did not have a drink yesterday And was going for his first today. I will join him soon.

Too late!

 

[bigtree]

The Dartford crossing has my van as a Vauxhall Cavalier

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