Well, today I have been offered to settle out of court for £35, which although out of principle I really don't want to do, they don't work out of Colchester Magistrates so I would have to drive to Ipswich or Chelmsford and ask for a day off work. It's an absolute joke that they can just use the court system to bully and extort people for their cock up, something which I have told them.

It also annoys me that they claim to have sent me a letter saying about the fine which apparently I ignored which is why they have taken court action. I received no such letter and when I phoned them the fine had gone from £35 to £55 for late payment and I couldn't talk to anyone about the problem or put my point across, either pay the fine or go to court. I had to ring the court and send DVLA correspondence through them!

I have to admit, the chap who I have been dealing with has actually been surprisingly helpful now that I have actually managed to talk to someoen but won't drop the case. Seems they like to turn up at court and take their chances.

I think to save the bother of court I may just pay up, but I can't help feel victimised. I definitely want to get in touch with some regulatory body/ombudsmen etc and put a complaint in, though.