Ashworth Law Offers To Assist Councils Recover Millions Of Pounds In Unpaid Parking Fines

Online, January 17, 2011 (Newswire.com) - A Harrogate law firm is offering its expertise to assist councils across the UK recover millions of pounds in unpaid parking fines issued to drivers of foreign vehicles.

So successful is Ashworth Law that, since its launch just under two years ago, it has recouped just under £20 million for its clients by targeting both individuals and organisations in the UK and Europe.

A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that 20 local authorities were looking to write-off thousands of parking fines issued to cars and wagons registered to foreign drivers. Westminster City Council admitted that more than 45,000 tickets had already been scrapped because the drivers could not be traced - with £3.2 million still owed.

The Ashworth Law team use technology that is able to track people all over the continent, under their own names as well as aliases.

Co-founder Mathew Cobley said: "This is one area where local authorities certainly need to call in the help of companies like us.

"It's a scandal to think these fines - which run into millions-of-pounds - are being written off because the drivers cannot be traced.

"All councils are being asked to make huge savings and this money, which is owed to them, could be used to stop local services being pared back, or at least pay the wages of the traffic wardens who issue them.

"At Ashworth Law we have the technology and tenacity to find people wherever they might be. It's not always easy, but we usually get our man or woman. It also sends out a strong message that it doesn't matter where the driver comes from, they can - and will - be found.

"We recently traced one 'debtor', who owed £8,000, to Cyprus. We successfully recovered the money from him. Because of our success we are now handling in excess of 4,000 new instructions a month."

Portsmouth City Council said between April 2008 and October 31 2010, £110,965 was written off in parking fines for foreign-registered vehicles, while Newcastle City Council said that £84,470 had been written off in unpaid tickets between April 2008 and December 6 last year.

Mr Cobley added: "Only 20 councils and police forces responded to the Freedom of Information request. I shudder to think what the total amount outstanding adds up to?"

Ashworth Law operates two distinct areas of work - 'Ashworth For You' specialises in civil litigation, family law and personal injury.

'Ashworth for Business' is dedicated to debt management, debt collection, financial claims and corporate benefits. It is now using its skills to investigate mortgage misdemeanours.

Further information about Ashworth Law services are available by calling the Ashworth Law LDP team on on 0871 288 7020, or by visiting the Ashworth Law website at www.ashworthlaw.co.uk