Can Fines Be Transferred

[nailit]

My son has fines and court costs outstanding. I am also paying off my own fines and costs at the rate of 5 pound per week.
My son has no income so hasnt been able to pay. He now has letters threatening bailifs, imprisonment etc. for non payment.
Can his fines be added to my account? I dont want him to end up in a YOI and its no use threatening him with bailifs, he lives with his mother and has no possessions of his own to speak off. He's learnt his lesson with the law but simply cannot pay the fines. Im willing to pay if they can be added to my account...and I continue paying 5 pound a week until all is cleared....but I cannot pay BOTH simutaneously (10 pound p/w)
Thanks.

[bednobs]

may i ask what he has been doing since he left school? has he ever worked?

[Mamyalynne]

Sounds rather like he has given up - accepting no income by blaming sanctions etc - can you help him see that only he can move his life forward.


If he gets back in the system , actively job seeking to earn his JSA and get the fines paid off,he will have something to focus on.

[nailit]

kvalidir and EDDIE, thank you for replies.
EDDIE, i thought 21 was the age for 'grown up' prison. Am I wrong?
Has it changed or something? Thought 21 and under was YO?

[bednobs]

according to wiki YOI is up to 17 but if for example you got a 3 year sentence when you were 17 you could stay there till it was over

[anneasquith]

nailit, im all for assisting anyone in trouble, but if he is fit and healthy he needs a kick up the bum and find employment ( anything ) and it's maybe you who should be telling him this .

[nailit]

Anne and Dive, keep your opinions to yourself please. You no NOTHING of my sons personal circumstances.

[anneasquith]

nailit . your right, that's why I said '' IF he is fit and healthy ''

[nailit]

Divebuddy.///I just queried the idea that fines can/should be paid directly out
of benefits./// What part of 'he doesnt claim benefits' dont you understand?
Anne, he is fit and healthy but thats no requirment for claiming benefits.

[boxtops]

nailit, don't be rattled, it does sometimes help to have a bit of background info - but nonetheless, your OP was "can I pay my son's fines", not about the circumstances.

[anneasquith]

your right boxy, I should not have made any comment about the boy, I'd not wish to upset nailit .

[nailit]

thanks boxy, I do get rattled easily, lol.

[bednobs]

but would probably mean he could get a job. If you really want to help him, and do your best for him, you need to encourage him:
1) to get a job
2) to claim benefits
3) to do what is required so he doesn't get sanctioned

I'm sure you don't want him to follow you into a life behind bars, and then having even more blocks to getting employment, feeling down and suicidal and so on, and you clearly want what's best for him, but as a man, he needs to man up. and it's you job to encourage him /help him sort out his situation for himself - not sort it all out for him

[Obiter]

I'm not sure what the law is on this point, but is it the case that if you are imprisoned for non-payment of fines for a nominal period it then cancels out the fine? 28 days (of which 14 would be served) with free board and lodging would suit me fine.

[nailit]

anne, I know you wouldnt want to upset me, :-)
bednobs...ive tried to encourage him in all 3 off your suggestions and im pretty sure hes not going to follow me in a life behind bars. just want to save him from this one.

[nailit]

if you want to do 14 days free board and lodging, orbiter, at her maj's expense, feel free. You might then realise that its not the holiday camp that you believe it to be.

[bednobs]

ha, it's really easy to make suggestions isn't it, but much harder to do. i remember thinking that all chldren SHOULD eat veg, and that their silly parents just weren't trying hard enough. Cut to 5 years later, and i have a 2 year old who can spot veg at 60 paces and will just scream. Not so easy now!

[kvalidir]

Can I ask nailit, how much his total fines are amount to? I appreciate he's skint because he's not recieving any income either form work or benefits but if it's not an extraordinary amount perhaps it would be possible for him to raise the money to pay the whole amount in one go by either selling something on Ebay or doing carboot sales, or doing self employed jobs which need no outlay until he has enough to pay them off. It's usually possible to get casual work for pretty much anyone and it would only take a few days of that to clear what he owes unless it's a huge amount.

[nailit]

*Chortlesplutters* bednobs, could tell you some stories about kids and veg.