Killed by my debt (7 Viewers)

[Nick]

I think access to funds is so much easier as well as false information on how it works on the net. Back in the day (even up to 10-15yrs) there wasn’t the pay day loan sharking issue which was widely advertised, of course there was always ‘that guy’ who did it but young kids would hardly fall into that trap so there needs to be better regulations on this.

I think the pressure has increased on youth of today particularly with having the latest stuff I.e. technology and fashion. Wasn’t really massive when I was growing up or at least not in your face as much

Yeah exactly, same with cars and mobile phones. Most people I know weren't as desperate to have stuff like kids do now

Don't get me wrong people wanted nice things but wouldn't start getting payday loans for them.

Not many people under 20 would be driving around in decent cars like they do now when they get them on finance.

 

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[Liquid Gold]

I can empathise with this situation completely. When I finished uni in London and was looking for work my rent was killing me but I was just surviving on pasta with no money left over after bills/rent. A friend of mine passed away in tragic circumstances at 23 years old and there was no way I was going to miss his funeral so I skipped the train and a ticket inspector caught me and issued a £20 fine. In the emotion of the day I forgot all about it (my fault) and then a few days later got a job in a different part of London so moved over that way. Fast forward about 9 months and I got a letter through the door from a bailiff company demanding £1,200 immediate payment or they would be coming to repossess. Luckily I was then in a situation where I could set up a payment plan with them to get it paid off but found it completely outrageous that a £20 fine could spiral into 12 hundred quid.

 

[Nick]

I can empathise with this situation completely. When I finished uni in London and was looking for work my rent was killing me but I was just surviving on pasta with no money left over after bills/rent. A friend of mine passed away in tragic circumstances at 23 years old and there was no way I was going to miss his funeral so I skipped the train and a ticket inspector caught me and issued a £20 fine. In the emotion of the day I forgot all about it (my fault) and then a few days later got a job in a different part of London so moved over that way. Fast forward about 9 months and I got a letter through the door from a bailiff company demanding £1,200 immediate payment or they would be coming to repossess. Luckily I was then in a situation where I could set up a payment plan with them to get it paid off but found it completely outrageous that a £20 fine could spiral into 12 hundred quid.

There really should be a cap on just how far it can spiral for a one off fine. If somebody is offending day in, day out then it's different but for a one off parking, bus lane or fine like you had it's madness that it can end up costing thousands.

Yes there should be a bit of a fine to put people off it, £1200 is a bit extreme though unless you had been doing return journeys for a couple of years.

 

[Liquid Gold]

There really should be a cap on just how far it can spiral for a one off fine. If somebody is offending day in, day out then it's different but for a one off parking, bus lane or fine like you had it's madness that it can end up costing thousands.

Yes there should be a bit of a fine to put people off it, £1200 is a bit extreme though unless you had been doing return journeys for a couple of years.

If I remember correctly it was a £20 fine that went up to £70 if not paid within 2 weeks. The train company then added various charges on it up to about £400 when they decided they wouldn't get the money back so sold it on to bailiffs on the cheap as bad debt. They added about £250 on as soon as they took it on as an admin fee another £300 as a call out fee for a bailiff apparently visiting me while I was at work a £100 holding fee after a while then finally a £150 letter. When I got the letter it said if I didn't pay immediately they would visit within a week and add another £300. All completely legal.

 

[Grendel]

I can empathise with this situation completely. When I finished uni in London and was looking for work my rent was killing me but I was just surviving on pasta with no money left over after bills/rent. A friend of mine passed away in tragic circumstances at 23 years old and there was no way I was going to miss his funeral so I skipped the train and a ticket inspector caught me and issued a £20 fine. In the emotion of the day I forgot all about it (my fault) and then a few days later got a job in a different part of London so moved over that way. Fast forward about 9 months and I got a letter through the door from a bailiff company demanding £1,200 immediate payment or they would be coming to repossess. Luckily I was then in a situation where I could set up a payment plan with them to get it paid off but found it completely outrageous that a £20 fine could spiral into 12 hundred quid.

I think you are saying you boarded a train illegally as had not paid the fare. Non payment drives fares up. I am amazed the fine was low in the first place. It should be £500 to start with as people do this all the time and it is unacceptable.

 

[Nick]

I think you are saying you boarded a train illegally as had not paid the fare. Non payment drives fares up. I am amazed the fine was low in the first place. It should be £500 to start with as people do this all the time and it is unacceptable.

It should go up for repeat offenders to get to 500 and more. Not for a first time, slap on the wrist and pay double the fee or something.

 

[Sick Boy]

I think you are saying you boarded a train illegally as had not paid the fare. Non payment drives fares up. I am amazed the fine was low in the first place. It should be £500 to start with as people do this all the time and it is unacceptable.

Have some empathy, ffs. Losing a close friend at any age in tragic circumstances is tough, even more so when you are young. I did as well and 16 years later it's still tough.

 

[Grendel]

Have some empathy, ffs. Losing a close friend at any age in tragic circumstances is tough, even more so when you are young. I did as well and 16 years later it's still tough.

23 isn’t young and I’d have never flounced the law and avoided a fee anyone could pay in the first place. It’s something generations ago people would have not done - they’d have respected the law sacrificed and paid the fee.

The programme highlighted different issues - blatantly trying to break the law is not defendable and this I can’t be bothered to pay a train fee as it’s expensive soon develops into I can’t pay my car insurance but need my car.

Symptom of attitude

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

23 isn’t young and I’d have never flounced the law and avoided a fee anyone could pay in the first place. It’s something generations ago people would have not done - they’d have respected the law sacrificed and paid the fee.

The programme highlighted different issues - blatantly trying to break the law is not defendable and this I can’t be bothered to pay a train fee as it’s expensive soon develops into I can’t pay my car insurance but need my car.

Symptom of attitude

Crime did exist generations ago no matter how much you wish to present OAPs as infalliable bastions of morality

 

[Deleted member 5849]

23 isn’t young

It's not old.

 

[Nick]

It's not old.

Especially not in terms of dying.

 

[Grendel]

Especially not in terms of dying.

I’m talking about in terms of not skipping train fares

 

[Grendel]

I’ve just received a £50 fine for parking in a pub car park and I had a drink in the pub.

 

[Sick Boy]

I’ve just received a £50 fine for parking in a pub car park and I had a drink in the pub.

I hope it was non-alcoholic, after all, generations ago drinking and driving was unheard of amongst those bastions of morality.

 

[Grendel]

I hope it was non-alcoholic, after all, generations ago drinking and driving was unheard of amongst those bastions of morality.

Not actually illegal to have one drink and drive

 

[Sick Boy]

Not actually illegal to have one drink and drive

Technically a stronger pint could end up putting some people over limit.

 

[Grendel]

Technically a stronger pint could end up putting some people over limit.

There’s nothing strong in the pub in question other than the absurd parking fine.

 

[Nick]

There’s nothing strong in the pub in question other than the absurd parking fine.

Didn't even know club release had parking