Bailiffs order motorist to stump up £500 fine after W on his registration ... trends now
A man was hit with a £500 fine and woken up by bailiffs knocking on his door after a W on his car registration plate was mistaken for an M.
Steven Ward, 41, first received a letter from Birmingham City Council in June 2022, asking him to pay an £86 clean air zone fine.
He phoned up and sent evidence that his vehicle had been in Oldham - not Birmingham - at the time of the alleged offence and as he heard nothing back he presumed the matter was closed.
But Steven got a second letter - an extended penalty notice - last December asking for more money, this time from CDER Group.
He called up and was sent CCTV of a silver Vauxhall Corsa with the number plate ending AMO.
But Steven sent back a picture of his car, a red Peugeot 206 with the number plate AWO and claims he was told no further action would be taken after pointing out the error.
Steven Ward with his car - a red Peugeot 206 with the number plate AWO
The photo evidence sent to Steven Ward - a silver Vauxhall Corsa with the number plate ending AMO
So Steve was shocked when bailiffs came to his door on the morning of January 13 asking for £499.
He says workers from enforcement firm CDER Group disturbed him after a night shift and slapped him with a notice, warning if he didn't pay they'd take his car - so he stumped up.
Steven has since got his money back from the debt collectors.
But the HGV driver, from Oldham, Gtr Manchester, said: 'It's just not right.. I had no choice [but to pay].
'It was awful and so degrading, having all the neighbours seeing two people coming to take money I really didn't owe.
'I'm not at all happy.'
Steve was shocked when bailiffs came to his door on the morning of January 13 asking for £499
Steven had started work at 4pm the day before the incident and finally got to bed at 5am - before being awoken at 9am.
Steven said: 'I could see them taking photos in my drive
