BAILIFFS are hounding a motorist over an unpaid parking fine – even though she claims never to have owned the car in question.

Paula Griffiths, 58, of Little Wakering Road, Rochford, received a £75 fine from Rochford District Council at the beginning of the year.

The car was registered in her name, but the DVLA has confirmed her signature on the registered keeper form had been forged.

Ms Griffiths says the council is still pursuing her even though she handed over the letter from the DVLA.

She said: “Rochford Council sent the bailiffs round to me and the amount had gone up to £185. They said if I didn’t pay some of it, they were going to clamp my actual car.

“I gave them £100 and they said they would be back to get the £85 by the end of the month.

“I got the DVLA to send me a letter to say I have never owned this car and I sent a copy to the bailiffs and one to the council.

“I have spoken to the bailiffs and they say it’s down to the council and the council says it’s down to the bailiffs. I don’t know what I’m going to do.

“The bailiffs are going to carry on regardless, but I’m not paying for something that’s not mine.”

The problem came about when someone forged Ms Griffiths’s signature and used her details to buy a car. When she informed the DVLA of the problem she was removed as the registered keeper of the vehicle.

The DVLA told Ms Griffiths she should return any parking tickets or fines to the council that issued them, along with its letter to clear her name.

She returned the ticket Rochford Council and one to Westminister Council which had also issued a fine. Westminster has dropped the fine, but Rochford has not.

Shaun Scrutton, head of planning and transportation at Rochford, said: “The council issued this penalty charge notice in September 2008. At the time of issuing, the DVLA confirmed the person to whom the notice was issued was the registered keeper of the vehicle.

“Since then, we have contacted the person to whom the notice was issued on several occasions as they are liable for the fine.

“The issue has progressed to the bailiffs.”