A mother-of-five fears she will lose her home after her daughter ignored a fine imposed for not buying a £4 train ticket for three years – and the penalty spiralled to £650.
Aisha Khan, 21, was caught travelling in the Birmingham area without a ticket, but initially ignored, then forgot about the penalty notice.
Although she no longer lives at the family home, the court papers list her mother’s address and bailiffs visited on Tuesday.
Ms Khan, a part-time waitress, admitted: ‘I’ve been stupid. I was scared so I ignored the letters.
‘I do feel guilty. I’ve always been the baby of the family and just didn’t know what to do.’
Her mother, Sharon Brown, has contacted a Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, and has offered to pay the £653 bill in installments.
Unless the cash is handed over by the end of the month, items will be removed from the property.
Ms Khan’s recollections of the incident that sparked the hefty fine are hazy.
She can’t remember where she boarded the train to Birmingham New Street, but thinks the fare was £4 and the initial fine was between £30 and £40.
‘I had the money, but I don’t think there was anyone on the desk at the station,’ she said. ‘The ticket collector said I’d get a fine.
‘It came to the house and I hid the letter – I was scared what mum would say – then forgot about it. I was young, scared and ignored it.
‘When I moved out, more and more letters came to the house and the fine got bigger and bigger.’
