Did something so stupid

One warning - it won't be cheap.

One friend ignored a parking ticket (that would have been £40 paid on the day). She ignored the letters. The extras added up and up, including court fees. She ended up having to pay nearly £1000.

Be prepared to have to show your income etc to be able to pay in installments.
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Please don't beat yourself up about it, be very polite and good luck, let's face it no body died -I hope.

I can't believe that people are still posting that the police will decide what happens and they might be lenient. The police don't make the decisions, the courts do. arghhh!

It's aready gone to court, VIOLETTE, if you re-read the OP. That's why the police phoned - because she should have been there!

As others have said ...best advice is to go to the Police station with no excuses ,,explain you did not open the letter at the time (you don't have to say why) and that you would like to apologise for the oversight and what could be seen as wasting Police time. No need to say more. If you are honest with them they may just give you a warning and points on your licence, best case scenario, and maybe a fine, Pay up (or ask for time to pay per week if you cannot afford to pay all at once) Meanwhile, your local CAB may know of a Citizens law centre where legal advice can be given free (my daughter did work placement in one when she was training to be a lawyer ...normally they are staffed by qualified supervisory lawyers) ,,,,but I dont think you should panic into employing a lawyer at this stage. If, and it is very unlikely ...given 'first offence' good character, apology, etc , it does get referred to Court ...don't panic ..but then you can ask CAB for advice ...and take a friend for support !

Good luck !

System here is different ...I had a speeding fine for doing 70 in my own road (50 limit) simply without realising ...letter comes through the post taking three points off my HUSBAND's licence ...and sending a form which you take to the local newsagent (I kid you not !) and buy a special stamp, stick the stamp (90 euros !) onto the paper and send it back, After six monthe another letter is received returning your licence to clean ! ......my husband prompty told my neighbour's daughter (who is an officer in the Gendarmerie) and I said DONT TELL HER THAT I will be placed under Guarde a vu (arrest !) but she just laughed.....luckily !

Bon courage !

Don't fret over it, after all it's a parking fine that you over looked ( lesson learned). You don't need a solicitor, as others have said it will have already have been dealt with and a solicitor is a waste of money. Just go along you will probably get a fine and points on your licence. These things happen, there is a lot worse going on in the world to worry yourself over this.Be brace chin up.

Sorry, it was overlooked, face the music.
No previous convictions then just pay up and hopefully you will not do it again.
Don't go to a solicitor/lawyer they are waiting for folk like you to fund their next holiday.
I wish you luck.

You sound like my daughter - after my ex son in law walked out on her and my grandkiddies for the second time she just couldn't cope and I used to find unopened mail all over the place. I made her sit down and open it, it was very hard for her to do and she said some hurtful things to me at the time but it needed to be done. I wonder if you are in a similar situation possibly?? Go to the Police Station and take your licence and insurance documents etc with you. Find out what the final outcome was - have you been fined (you should be getting letters demanding payment if you have, has your licence been endorsed or withdrawn (if it has been withdrawn (for speeding for example) then you must not drive until the ban expires) or is it something to do with not paying car tax or driving whilst uninsured? Whatever it was you do need to deal with it. Do you have someone who could go along with you? I know it is hard but you must get it sorted out.

You ignored a lot more than the initial ticket if your case has reached court.
Don't waste everyone's time with sob stories. You just need to wrap this up in the quickest, cheapest way possible.

Have to agree just bite the bullet and go to police station....do you have a good friend that would go with you for support?
Most of all keep it in perspective, we all do daft things but this is just a little part of your life......a red light error nearly pushed me into deep paranoia ....I felt criminalised, thought everyone was looking and talking about me, of course they weren't but it wasn't until I read Bill Oddyso account of his breakdown after a speeding ticket that I realised I mirrored his feelings.
Chin up and it's not the end of the world, you are still the wonderful, loving caring person you were before the incident Nt, xxx

After my brother died my sister in law, who had brought up two children on her own, left all post on the kitchen top and did not open it. When I visited I opened it and it was all credit card bills. Putting head in the sand comes to mind.

Good luck. Own up, say sorry, nothing else for it. We all make mistakes and forget things. Not the crime of the century is it.

Just want to reiterate. The case has gone to court. If a not guilty plea was entered in the OP's absence it will now go to trial. If a judgement was made then nothing she says to the police can alter it. The police have some discretion in bringing a case to the courts eg a warning but it's gone beyond this.
People often blame the police for for a judgment or expect them to be able to "give me a break" It doesn't work like that.
OP just take it on the chin. Explaining or pleading now just wastes their time.

Take the advice of Christinefrance. You've had difficulties but now need to face the music. I hope things go well for you - we've all made mistakes!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.