Get your court fine commuted to unpaid work.
You have the option to request the fines officer to submit an application to the court to convert your fine to unpaid work.
Complete and file form form MC100.
If the application is successful, enforcement is halted, and you are not liable for the bailiffs' £310 fees.
The Law:
Paragraph 2 of Schedule 6 of the Courts Act 2003 (The 2003 Act) states;
2(1)The relevant court may, on the application of a fines officer or of its own motion, make an order under this Schedule (a “work order”) where—
(3)A magistrates' court which is considering the making of a work order may order P to give to the court, within a specified period, such a statement of his assets and other financial circumstances as the court may require.
(a)it appears to the court that in view of P’s financial circumstances all the following methods of enforcing payment of the relevant sum are likely to be impracticable or inappropriate—
(i)a warrant of control under section 76 of the 1980 Act,
(ii)an application to the High Court or county court for enforcement under section 87 of the 1980 Act,
(iii)an order under section 88 of the 1980 Act,
(iv)an attachment of earnings order,
(v)an application for Deductions to be made by virtue of section 24 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (recovery of fines etc. by Deductions from universal credit and income support etc.), and
(vi)a collection order under Schedule 5,
(b)it appears to the court that P is a suitable person to perform unpaid work under this Schedule, and
(c)P consents to the making of the order.
(2)A court which is considering the making of a work order may issue a summons requiring P to appear before the court.(3)A magistrates' court which is considering the making of a work order may order P to give to the court, within a specified period, such a statement of his assets and other financial circumstances as the court may require.
If the application to make a work order, or an attachment of benefits is made, the enforcement of the fine is suspended, cancelling the £310 bailiffs fees.
The Law:
Paragraph 4 of Schedule 6 of the 2003 Act states;
Effect of order on enforcement of payment
(1)Where a work order has been made in respect of the relevant sum, payment of that sum may not be enforced against P unless the order is revoked.
(2)On making a work order, the court must revoke any order relating to the enforcement of the payment of the relevant sum.
(1)Where a work order has been made in respect of the relevant sum, payment of that sum may not be enforced against P unless the order is revoked.
(2)On making a work order, the court must revoke any order relating to the enforcement of the payment of the relevant sum.
Here is a template email to apply to the fines officer to commute a fine to a work order.