Did something so stupid

Do you normally throw letters away without opening them? Seems a very odd thing to do...

I'm afraid you'll just have to bite the bullet and go to the Police station.

Go to the police station, explain your situation and face the music. Immediately. If all genuine, they might be lenient.

Talk to a lawyer and ideally present yourself with the lawyer. Throwing letters away without opening them, knowing you committed a driving offence will be seen as a deliberate act. It's possible an experienced criminal lawyer will be able to,out the least wordy case

Yes, just do as Rinouchka says and face the music.

It's no good hiding your head in the sand; you knew you had a fine which would probably have been £30 if paid promptly, one of the letters probably told you it was now £60 as you didn't pay promptly and now will cost a lot more unfortunately, especially if you do need a lawyer.

Sorry, I do sound very bossy; DH was very annoyed recently because he parked in the car park to go to the bank and overstayed the free time by a few minutes because the bank clerk took so long; he had a fine for £30. The air was a bit blue to say the least but it was £60 if he didn't pay within a certain time limit.

If you were caught speeding then you could have gone on the speed awareness course but I think you have to pay for that.

If you were due in court the magistrates will probably have passed judgement in your absence. The time for explaining yourself is over. so no point spending on a lawyer unless you plan to appeal. The police will tell you what the judgement was but have no power to change it.

www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/magistratescourtfines/magistratescourtdebt.asp
You need to do something about this as a matter of urgency.

Yes, you do pay on the speed awareness course. I did it last month and it cost me £92.50.

If you are going to admit to your offence and face the music I don't see any point in employing a solicitor.
However, if you're nervous about it, you could always go to one who provides a free first interview and ask advice.

Oh Dear
I guess as others have said on here you will have to face the music. I wouldn't go for a Solicitor right away, see what the Police have to say, admit you are wrong, apologise profusely, perhaps say you were not well and couldn't cope with reading letters at the time, I don't know, am clutching at straws here.
You have been neglectful really, but you are not exactly Lizzie Borden so I hope it gets sorted out, and next time try to be more on the ball lol

Sounds like life is a little stressful for you at present, not the end of the world but you need to face the music and then move on.
Keep things in perspective and don't hide your head in the sand regarding mail.
Hope things go ok for you.

I thought the same as Christinefrance , just go to the Police station and explain your situation . You will possibly have a bigger fine than previously but I think you can arrange to pay it off weekly if you can`t afford it all at once . I wouldn`t bother with a solicitor either , just more expense ! You haven't murdered anyone , go tomorrow

deborahlogan, Is the throwing away of letters unopened, a sign that you have wider debt problems? If so visit the Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB) and they will be able to direct you to debt councilling organisations who will, without cost, help you to sort out all your problems, including this one.

In the meanwhile get down to the police station asap. The sooner you do it the sooner the problem is out of the way.

Don't panic it happens all the time. Carry out instructions in letter and resolve to not "ignore" letters in future. This is routine to the police you will deal with and they are following procedures so don't take it personally, these things happen. Pay up and move on.

Yep - You've got to put on your big girls pants and take it all on the chin. Telling them you never opened/or received the letters will not wash with them. Whatever you were due to pay will be much more now. I'm afraid you just going to have to get it all over and done with.

I agree with you Jayanna 94. You don't need a lawyer. You are guilty as charged. They won't be jailing you, but no doubt you will have to pay court costs. I believe they give time to pay. DON'T IGNORE the police. Here is your second chance to fix it.

I know you are scared but the police deal with much worse every day. Just take a deep breath and go to the police station. Find out what you owe, pay it, and learn the lesson. They won't be interested in whether you opened the letters or not. You are just a bit of admin they will be glad to clear up.

Deborah, never never just throw away mail unopened. A gift for the fraudster who searches the council waste bins. And believe me it happens. My son used to chuck his mail, that is until someone took his identity for a fraudulent transaction. Your letter can be used as proof of identity. Always open it even if not your name on it. I learnt this lesson when the bailiffs arrived ready to knock down my front door. My address, wrong people. I also get bank statements to my address but wrong person. (I have an address easily confused). Just had one for Mr Xxx from a DIY shop. It had a return address on it so posted it back with written UNKNOWN in caps on it. You MUST send back the item even if it costs a stamp. Otherwise your credit rating will be rubbish and you will be on other bad buyer/payer, lists. As said above, the Police will understand your situation, other companies will not. A pain I know but I have learnt the hard way.

Deborah, never never just throw away mail unopened. A gift for the fraudster who searches the council waste bins. And believe me it happens. My son used to chuck his mail, that is until someone took his identity for a fraudulent transaction. Your letter can be used as proof of identity. Always open it even if not your name on it. I learnt this lesson when the bailiffs arrived ready to knock down my front door. My address, wrong people. I also get bank statements to my address but wrong person. (I have an address easily confused). Just had one for Mr Xxx from a DIY shop. It had a return address on it so posted it back with written UNKNOWN in caps on it. You MUST send back the item even if it costs a stamp. Otherwise your credit rating will be rubbish and you will be on other bad buyer/payer, lists. As said above, the Police will understand your situation, other companies will not. A pain I know but I have learnt the hard way.

Just to say I hope things work out for you, whatever happens. Do let us know.?

Police/Courts deal with 100's of these every week so don't lose sleep over it. Just go in, apologise and have it dealt with asap.

All good advice above. Eat humble pie and you will find that it is possible to pay week by week some fixed amount. You can talk this all over with the Citizens Advice if it helps as they have plenty of experience of helping people.

Next time, if there is a next time, you get an official letter like this ring the phone number on it or the email and say what your problem is and ask for advice. If it is a fine always pay a minimum sum even if you can't afford the full amount. Accompany a minim sum with a letter saying why etc. seeking to extend ways of paying.

All the very best. AS horrible position to find yourself in.

Face it and sort it out, it won't be anywhere near as bad as you think. The police are humans and have much more pressing things to deal with they will want it resolved promptly and amicably.

Don't beat yourself up over this. We all do daft things.
Just learn from it, and check things more carefully in future. Good luck with facing the music!