How To Check My Court Fine Balance in The UK? Links & Guide

Are you trying to find out how to check your court fine balance in the UK? This guide is here to help. Each month, over 4,600 people turn to our website for advice on how to deal with court-related matters.

In this article, we’ll provide clear steps to:

• Know how long you have to pay a court fine.
• Find out if you can pay court fees in instalments.
• Learn if a court fine means a criminal record.

We know you might be concerned about affording your court fine or missing payments, some of us have faced similar situations before.

Don’t worry! We understand what you’re going through, and we’re here to help you figure things out.

How to check your court fine balance?

The way to check your court balance depends on when you’re checking.

Here’s the breakdown below:

1. Before the payment deadline

If you’re still within the payment deadline and need to check your court fine or know your balance, you need to contact the court where you were convicted.

Get the details of the court’s “collection” or “revenue” unit (the department responsible for recording court-ordered debts and payments).

Typically, you will need to supply your case number to help the court locate your case and, subsequently, fine balance.

If you don’t know your number, an alternative way to locate your case will be by supplying other details like your:

• name

• date of birth

• and/or other personal information.

Also, if you received any court papers during the hearing, they will often carry your case number, including the county you were convicted in.

If you’re unsure of the court where you have a conviction and you don’t have any court papers, getting a copy of your RAP sheet can help you figure out the court you have a conviction.

2. After the payment deadline

If you’re checking after the payment deadline, you may need to ask the court clerk about the situation of your case first.

You want to know whether it’s been transferred to a debt collection agency or not.

Overdue fines are often forwarded to debt collection agencies like Lowell, Cabot, and PRA Group for recovery when people fail to pay.

If your case has been sent to a debt collection agency, ask the clerk about the agency’s name and how you can contact them to check your debt. Fines transferred to collection agencies often attract extra fees, so you want to know the total amount due for payment.

It’s worth mentioning that the court can transfer your debts to several different collection agencies.

In this case, you need to contact all the different agencies separately to find out how much you owe in total. This process can be stressful, but that’s the only way to know how much you owe.

Additionally, if you have multiple convictions from different countries, you will have to contact each county to know how much you owe.

We recommend checking out more about fines and appeals if you think the fine has been unfairly imposed.

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How to pay

To pay court fines, you need the following:

• your notice of fine (if you’ve lost it, contact the court that gave you the fine for another copy)

• a debit or credit card

You can choose to:

• pay your court fine online

• pay by phone via 0300 790 9901 (in England) or 0300 790 9980 (in Wales)

• pay to the Enforcement Office listed on the notice of the fine. They offer you other payment options such as direct debit, payment card, or bank transfer.

Can you pay in instalments?

Yes. You can choose a flexible payment option and pay court fines in weekly or monthly instalments if it’s too difficult to pay at once.

You want to ensure you pay your instalments on time to prevent the court from sending bailiffs after you. Not paying on time will damage your credit score and could lead to late fees on your account.

If you think you wouldn’t be able to fulfil your weekly or monthly instalments anymore due to a change in your financial situation, it’s best to communicate with the court and see if you can get any help with debt payment. The court may write off your debt, so you no longer have to worry about it.

Other UK debt solutions people may get include:

• Debt Relief Order (DRO)

• Debt Management Plan

• Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA)

• Administration Order

• Bankruptcy

How long do you have to pay?

The judge is responsible for determining the deadlines and amounts of court fines.

They consider different factors like your financial circumstances, the severity of the offence, and so on.

Nonetheless, you can ask for an extension if you feel you might not be able to pay before the court fine payment deadline to avoid getting charged for delayed payment.

Does a court fine mean a criminal record?

No, court fines do not mean a criminal record unless you are convicted.

You only need to pay your fine, and the liability for your offence will be discharged.

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