I have recently received a Parking Contravention Enforcement notice through the post due to overstaying 10 mins in a 1-hour car park. The fine is £45 within 14 days and £90 thereafter and the last day to pay in this instance is Sunday 27 Dec which is a Public Holiday, so I cannot send a cheque and it would seem if I am to pay this fine, it has to be paid tomorrow (24th) by telephone. In the middle of the page in red it states that "failure to pay the amount due within 28 days will (not may) result in Civil Enforcement Ltd. forwarding your account to a Debt Recovery Agency and you will incur additional costs."

My questions are: Is this company acting lawfully? Can they send bailiffs to my home for £45 and if they are acting lawfully, could I offer them £7.50 or £10 as a proportionate amount of the £45 for the 10 mins overstay? I am not normally an anxious person, but feel very threatened by this notification as I am a retired women living alone and the thought of people coming and removing items from my home fills me with dread.