A mum who racked up dozens fines while visiting her son in hospital says it’s 'disgusting' that a handful of £8 fees have risen to over £1,000. Carly Caldwell, aged 43, has already paid around £700 on Clean Air Zone fines, but bailiffs threatened to take her car if she doesn’t foot the £1,027 bill still owed to a council.
Ms Caldwell accumulated the fines when her teenage son was sectioned under the Mental Health Act in July 2021 and placed in a mental health facility. After being discharged in February 2022, he was sectioned again.
Driving to and from the care facilities meant Ms Caldwell was regularly passing through the Clean Air Zone. She acknowledges the fees should have been paid at the time but argues the situation could have been handled with a lot more compassion, Birmingham Live has reported.
She said: “I know I’m at fault. But when you're in a situation where your son is mentally ill and doesn't know what day or what time it is, it’s very difficult. Debt collectors from Bristow & Sutor enforcement agency visited Ms Caldwell’s home on January 17, 2023. They wanted the amount paid in full or else they would come back and take her car away, something she is heavily dependent on with seven kids aged between nine and nineteen.
“I paid about £700 on seven fines, then the debt collector turned up demanding £1,027 for three fines. They had three on their paperwork but I've found another six that I haven't paid for - it's a mess.
“The debt collector wanted to take my car,” she continued. “He basically tried to intimidate me, but I need it to drop my kids at three different schools before 8.30am every day.
“I said it's disgusting, my son had been sectioned. It's not like I was in Birmingham on a shopping trip, he was in a mental health hospital twice in Birmingham and again in Coventry.”
Ms Caldwell suggested a courtesy email from the council asking if there had been an oversight would have been appreciated under the circumstances. Her duties as a carer for her now 17-year-old son and another 13-year-old with autism take up most of her time.
“I just can't understand how they can justify this, I don't have that spare money. There are eight of us living in a three-bedroom house and I sleep in the living room.
“I don't have money coming in. I get £7 a week for four kids in child maintenance, which doesn't even cover a haircut.”
Ken Harris, a friend of Ms Caldwell’s, posted a notice from debt collectors on Twitter last week. It reads in bold capitals: “PAY IN FULL TODAY OR I WILL RETURN AND CAN REMOVE YOUR BELONGINGS TO SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION.”
Mr Harris said the debt collectors play on the fact people aren't always sure of the law and can come across as intimidating. He told the LDRS he wanted to make sure his friend was not being taken advantage of.
“I know Carly doesn’t have the time to look into this,” he said. “There is no dispute about the charges, it’s just that £24 has ended up being over £1,000 - you’d think there’d be some compassion.”
Ms Caldwell said her son has now been discharged from the facility in Coventry but still has weekly blood tests, which are a car journey away from their home.
She said: “Any parent with children that are vulnerable like that, the last thing on your mind is parking fines. I understand it's my fault - I should've paid, but I can't understand how they can justify this.”
Birmingham City Council said in a statement: “Due to data protection, we are unable to comment on individual cases unless we have permission from the registered keeper of a vehicle. However, should there be mitigating circumstances where consideration can be given to the withdrawal of a Penalty Charge Notice, the statutory process is that the keeper of the vehicle must contact the Parking Section direct in order for the matter to be investigated further.”
