A MOTHER-of-two has been forced to pay hundreds of pounds to bailiffs for parking fines accumulated after she sold her car.

Lynda McAffee, of Lincoln Avenue in Springbourne, found herself liable for £1,300 in parking penalties after she sold her Rover car to a man who gave her false details.

The year-long saga finally resulted in a terrifying early-morning visit by bailiffs who gave her three days to make a payment.

"It's been an absolutely terrible nightmare that has affected my whole family," she said.

"I just want to warn others not to make the same mistake I did."

Lynda, 40, ran into problems when she sold her car last July. She said she filled out the vehicle registration form but this was never received by the DVLA.

Shortly afterwards, she started receiving parking tickets in the post and was also summoned to appear in court to explain why she had not renewed the car tax.

Magistrates dismissed her case after accepting that she had sold the car but she remains liable for the parking tickets issued by the Borough of Poole.

Lynda, who has a pregnant daughter and eight-year-old son, said she was horrified when the bailiffs came round.

"I gave them £350 to stave them off, which is money I would normally use for my mortgage.

"I have been ringing family and friends to try and find the rest of the money. I've got no choice but to pay it because I just want this to be over. The stress we have been under has been terrible."

Ray Hatchard, Poole's principle officer for parking administration, said that when parking fines are not paid, they get the details of the car's owner from the DVLA.

He added: "If anyone receives fixed penalties involving a vehicle that has been sold prior to the date of contravention, we advise you to contact the council immediately to try and resolve the issue.

"Not responding to such correspondence can result in escalating fines. In this particular case, five penalty notices were issued resulting in a total of 15 letters being sent over a period of months by the Borough of Poole to the registered owner of the vehicle. At no stage did the registered owner contact us to discuss the situation."

A spokesperson for the DVLA said anyone selling their car should send the vehicle's registration certificate, complete with the new keeper's details, to them as soon as possible.

First published: September 22