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ANDREA Smith and daughter Amy, six, thought they were in for a bad Christmas when bailiffs called round
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'Tram mix-up nearly spoilt our Christmas'
Laura Lynott21/12/2006
A YOUNG mum feared her Christmas would be ruined after bailiffs came knocking demanding £370 worth of goods over a £3.10p tram fare.
Debt collectors told Andrea Smith, 29, they were going to take away her TV, microwave, wardrobes and coffee table to cover the fine she owed.
But Andrea has been able to breathe a sigh of relief after Metrolink officials agreed to call off the bailiffs, saving herself and daughter Amy, six, from a bleak Christmas at their Eccles home.
The mix up happened after Andrea had tried to pay for a ticket at Eccles station with a £20 note and the machine refused to take it.
Andrea said: "I needed to travel and got on to the tram. I was then asked for my ticket by an inspector. I explained what had happened and he asked me to get off the tram and gave me change for my £20 note, so I was able to buy a ticket. I then continued on my journey on the same tram."
But after the incident in January Andrea received a letter from Metrolink demanding payment of a £15 penalty for boarding the tram at the start of her journey without a ticket - plus the £3.10 fare.
She phoned Metrolink who accepted her explanation about the £20 note and said all she had to do was pay the £3.10p.
She said: "I called again and said I did not understand why I had to pay the £3.10p as I had got off the tram and bought a ticket and got back on the same tram. I then got the impression that the payment of the £3.10 was being dropped."
Metrolink bosses say it was made clear to Andrea on June 9 that she had to pay the £3.10p by June 20 or court proceedings would start because she'd started her journey without a ticket.
But Andrea had moved house and letters about the court proceedings never reached her. She was tracked down by bailiffs. Costs, including a court hearing and use of the bailiffs had built up.
She said: "They told me I owed £270 and this had increased to £370 as they had to take a list of what they could take. I was warned that if I didn't pay by 12noon on Wednesday they would return with police to arrest me."
Metrolink has now said that Andrea only has to pay the £3.10 and the court costs. Bailiff expenses will be waived.
Metrolink's Mike Mabey said: "Every effort was made by Serco Metrolink staff to prevent this from progressing so far. Any person who does not purchase a ticket before travelling is liable to a standard fare charge."
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19/01/2007 at 21:25