Hi Ims,
In June while I was heavily pregnant and stressing about moving, a number of toll notices went unpaid - yes, stupid me! - but life happend. I was trying to work, pack, look after a 15 month old, find a house, then eventually move house. We had the mail redirected, but apparently a good portion of it wasn't, so I never received any other notices to pay.
I've now just received a number of fines in the mail totalling $1200 (!!!) due 5 days after christmas (my sons birthday is also in the next few week), we also have electricity bill due any day for the quarter, daycare fees, rent etc. Now, we wouldn't be able to afford this on a good month, let alone now.
Does anyone know if there is a way to get fines reduced? Extension to pay them? We can't even afford the amount for installments right now as it is.
As it is, christmas for three kids is capped at $50 a child because that's all we can afford.
I'm feeling snowed under. I don't know what to do.
I work my ass off instead of being home with the kids like I would like, and we never seem to get anywhere. :-(
(p.s. I know it is my own absent minded fault for forgetting & not paying, so I don't need reminding, but now I really need some suggestions on what to do)
5 Replies
Can you put it on sper? That way you can pay it off gradually until u might have the money to pay the rest off. Just tell them you haven't got much and need to only pay a little at the moment.
I have a payment plan (damned foster dog kept getting out) All up about $1k fines.
I pay $40 per month. So you can either extend and pay the lot, or work out a payment plan.
I would give them a call and explain the situation to them. They will be happy to know that the money is coming, and would be understanding in your situation and the case of missing mail etc I'm sure. Hopefully you get a lovely person on the phone! Good luck! x
Also ring Australia Post and see if they will provide you a letter to say that there was a re-direction mail issue. We just moved and I noticed I wasn't getting near the amount of mail (ie any) I normally do so I rang them. I also had proof as my property manager had the mail passed on from our tenants. Australia Post said they would fix it, extended my re-direction another month and said they would provide me a letter if needed to provide to bill companies (ie, electricity, water, etc) to say mail went astray, so as to reduce any penalties incurred.
what state are you in?
i used to work at the place that issues fines in melbourne...
get a letter from aust post stating that some mail was not re directed (that may be hard) and you MAY be able to get off some of the costs.
if not, you will need to pay them off...