Oldham man forced to pay £500 fine in number plate mix up

Steven Ward, 41, was disturbed at his home by workers from debt recovery firm CDER Group, who claimed he owed the money for driving in Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone.

Unlike the scrapped Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone plans, which did not include charging private cars, Birmingham’s class D Clean Air Zone charges a rate of £8 a day for any private cars entering the zone which do not reach Euro 6 diesel standards or Euro 4 petrol standards.

ALSO READ: Burnham: Bikes on trams this year, Clean Air Zone may return.

Debt collectors gave Steven a notice saying if he didn't pay they would take his car, so he paid up – despite the fact he was in Oldham at the time they alleged.

Steven has since got his money back from the debt collectors.

Steven's red car (Image: SWNS)

But Steven, who works as an HGV driver, said: "It's just not right. I had no choice [but to pay].

"It was awful and so degrading, having all the neighbours seeing two people coming to take money I really didn’t owe.

"I’m not at all happy."

Steven first received a letter from Birmingham City Council in June 2022, asking him to pay an £86 Clean Air Zone penalty charge.

Steven then phoned up and sent evidence that his vehicle had been in Oldham, not Birmingham, at the time of the alleged offence.

He says he heard nothing back - so thought the matter was closed.

But Steven got a second letter last December, this time from CDER Group.

The letter, which asked for more money, said it was an extended penalty notice.

Steven then called up and was sent a CCTV image of a Vauxhall Corsa - with plates ending in either AMO or AHO.

The grey Vauxhall pictured by ANPR cameras (Image: SWNS)

He sent back a picture of his car, a red Peugeot 206 - with the number plate AWO.

He says he pointed out the error and claims he was told no further action would be taken.

So Steve was shocked when the bailiffs came to his door on the morning of Friday, January 13 - asking for £499.

Steven said: “I could see them taking photos in my drive so I went down to find the letter.

“Someone or some machine must have just mistaken the registration of the Vauxhall Corsa with my Peugeot registration.

“I had worried this might happen and I checked with them but they said it was all sorted.”

Steven was told if he didn't pay, debt collectors would take his car (Image: SWNS)

Steven claims he was told he had to pay or his second car, a blue Vauxhall Astra, would be taken away within the hour.

The bailiffs also said they’d also take a red and black Citreon belonging to his partner Danielle Clarke, 28, he alleges.

Steve said: “On the phone, I had explained what they told me before and they said I didn’t have to pay.

“But when I told the bailiffs they just said I had to pay or they’d take the cars.

“I even showed them the picture of the car that was actually in Birmingham that day but they weren’t interested.

“They said I’d have to pay the costs of towing the cars as well.

“They said there was nothing they can do because it’s gone through court. I couldn’t let them take that Astra because it’s precious to me.”

Steven says he has since been refunded, and a screenshot of his bank account shows a payment of £499 from CDER Group on Thursday, January 26.

The enforcement firm was approached for comment.

Birmingham City Council said: “The council follows the statutory enforcement process for the issuing and enforcement of penalty charge notices.

“This process provides a number of opportunities to appeal or challenge a penalty charge.

“The opportunities for a challenge are also set out at each stage of the process so that anyone issued with a penalty charge notice understands how they can pay or challenge it.

“ANPR cameras provide a high level of accuracy when capturing vehicle registration numbers, however, misreads do occur on occasions due to dirty, damaged or altered number plates or position of number plate fixings, therefore there are contributory facts that can lead to a possible misread.

“There is a statutory process in place to allow motorists to dispute a Penalty Charge Notice and each case is assessed on its individual merits to decide whether the Notice should be cancelled or not.

“In cases where a vehicle registration number has possibly been misread, motorists should follow the statutory process to allow an investigation to be conducted and if confirmed, the case is cancelled.”

It's understood Birmingham City Council is investigating Steven’s complaint further.