Last year I parked my car on the road near to the entrance to where I work. I'd previously discussed this location with a parking enforcement officer for Warrington Council who had verbally clarified with me and with his boss via a two way radio that they were no longer enforcing in that specific part of that road and that my parking there would not be an issue.

When I later received a parking ticket I was shocked and a little annoyed so I, obviously, challenged the ticket via email and started to take photographs of all of the cars that parked at this particular spot who did not receive tickets ready for my day in court which I'd specified in my email that I would be looking forward to.

Almost 12 months passed with only a single letter sent to me by the council about the unpaid ticket, dated October 2016. I wrongly assumed that they were not pursuing the matter until I received a letter from a debt collection agency in June of this year (2017) stating that I now owed them £188 for the unpaid ticket. I contacted the council again and explained the complete lack of contact over the 12 months about my challenge to the original ticket and they advised me that they agreed there was a dire lack of communication from them but that I must take it up with the 'Traffic Enforcement Centre' in Northampton, which I did, only to be told I needed to complete some forms which they would send to me. Those forms were finally sent to on 30th July and returned to them on 31st July. Today I've returned home from work to a letter which states I know owe £423 for the £35 parking ticket and failure to do so will result in them taking goods to the value.

I'm still trying to get my day in court and I find suitable legal council but it's been a nightmare trying to find a solicitor who can help. The TEC in Northampton DOES NOT answer the phone and my email to them on 20th June this year was only answered on July 30th so paying in full seems like my only recourse but my family and I can't afford to pay this and still feel like we shouldn't have to.

You shouldn't either but I'm reaching out through desperation.

Help?