Baliffs chased 84-year-old (From Bucks Free Press)

Baliffs chased 84-year-old

8:27am Friday 27th August 2004 in News By Vince Soodin

AN 84-year-old pensioner was threatened with a visit from the bailiffs for a parking offence she said she did not commit.

Eileen Lewis, of London Road, High Wycombe, was told last week bailiffs could swoop on her house to recover a £235 fine from Birmingham City Council.

But Mrs Lewis said she does not own a car and has received a letter from DVLA which said the car was not registered to her. Mrs Lewis said she was shocked to be threatened with a visit from the bailiffs. She said: "I have never had a car. The only thing with wheels I own is a shopping trolley."

The demands are sent to Mrs Lewis's house but addressed to a man. Mrs Lewis says the man has never lived at the house and is fed up with the demands which have plagued her since February this year.

Mrs Lewis added: "I have had to go to the magistrates and tell them it is not me.

This letter could make a lot of people very nervous. A lot of older people would be frightened to death."

When Mrs Lewis spoke to Birmingham City Council in February, she was told the confusion lay with the DVLA. She added: "Everybody seems to be passing the buck and it is very worrying for me."

But the pensioner was baffled by the threat from bailiffs Jacobs as she received a letter from the DVLA in May which said she was not connected to the car.

Birmingham City Council said it was not told the car was not registered to Mrs Lewis. A spokesman said: "Unless we are informed otherwise, we will pursue the fine to its logical conclusion."

Jacobs said it acted on the wishes of the council, but has called off the visit after receiving proof this week that the fine was not connected to Mrs Lewis. A spokesman said: "We have closed the action. For once the bailiff was not to blame."

A DVLA spokesman said: "The agency cannot comment on individual cases for data protection act reasons."