ads_j
Oct 24, 2011, 10:04 PM
Hello,
In 2005-2006, I lived in Delaware for a year on a work visa. At the end of my work term (and visa), I returned home having had a great time and no real problems.
Five years on I have had a big surprise. I attempted to get my drivers license record and was informed that my license was suspended in 2007 as a result of a hit and run that I was apparently involved in. There are several things to mention here:
1. Apparently I was summoned to appear in court as a result of this accident. The summons was received by the individual who moved into my apartment and followed up as an intern. I hardly knew this person. From speaking to Geico (my insurer) and the individual's lawyer, because I did not change my address or send back my license, they assumed that that was still my address... I wasn't even legally allowed to be in the country then!
Because I did not appear in court, the lawyer proceeded to suspend my license and place a fine against my name. Is it even possible to summon a person through another individual (or does the individual himself need to receive the summons for it to be effective). Don't they need to serve papers at an address I actually live at?
2. I believe the date they said the accident occurred, the car was in the shop getting regular maintenance (nothing to do with any accident etc). I have contacted the shop (Pep Boys) and they no longer have a record of when the car was in due to the time that has elapsed. I am going to attempt to contact the head office and see if I can get any proof from them.
The location of this accident was in an area that I don't believe I ever went during the entire time I lived there - let alone that night. I would not have felt safe if nothing else. I don't know if Pep Boys crashed my car and never told me (and just fixed it?) or if this person is making it up entirely.
3. I have not been able to get a police report. Geico has no record of it and the other person's lawyer will not tell me. Can I get this from the police (if it even exists? ). Wouldn't this have been a criminal offence if it had occurred?
4. During the time I lived there, it was clear that someone was trying to commit a fraud against me. After going to NYC for a weekend, I received a letter on questionable paper looking very amateur saying that during the weekend I was there, I murdered someone and if I paid exactly $3487 (or something like that) it would all be forgotten about. It was clear that this was complete garbage (after all, I never murdered anyone! And the fact that I could pay a certain amount to forget about it? ). The individuals knew the weekend I was in NYC, so I guessed it must have been someone dodgy who worked at the hotel where I stayed or someone who worked for the tolls or something similar.
Because of this, I question whether this must be a fraud too.. It just is too much of a coincidence to be blamed for two different crimes I did not commit.
Anyway, apparently I cannot obtain a drivers license in the US in the future because of this. I expect there is a good possibility that I will live there again and I cannot have this hanging over me. Furthermore, they are saying that I just need to pay this fee (that I've calculated is at an interest rate of about 20%!) to forget about it. Other than the fact that I do not want to pay this money, I feel very strongly about not paying because I don't want this person to achieve their fraud and for it to look as though I am guilty.
If anyone can help, I really appreciate it. Being a foreigner, I am uncertain of the exact laws in the US regarding this kind of thing and the differences between civil and criminal charges.
Thanks so much for any help. Cheers.
In 2005-2006, I lived in Delaware for a year on a work visa. At the end of my work term (and visa), I returned home having had a great time and no real problems.
Five years on I have had a big surprise. I attempted to get my drivers license record and was informed that my license was suspended in 2007 as a result of a hit and run that I was apparently involved in. There are several things to mention here:
1. Apparently I was summoned to appear in court as a result of this accident. The summons was received by the individual who moved into my apartment and followed up as an intern. I hardly knew this person. From speaking to Geico (my insurer) and the individual's lawyer, because I did not change my address or send back my license, they assumed that that was still my address... I wasn't even legally allowed to be in the country then!
Because I did not appear in court, the lawyer proceeded to suspend my license and place a fine against my name. Is it even possible to summon a person through another individual (or does the individual himself need to receive the summons for it to be effective). Don't they need to serve papers at an address I actually live at?
2. I believe the date they said the accident occurred, the car was in the shop getting regular maintenance (nothing to do with any accident etc). I have contacted the shop (Pep Boys) and they no longer have a record of when the car was in due to the time that has elapsed. I am going to attempt to contact the head office and see if I can get any proof from them.
The location of this accident was in an area that I don't believe I ever went during the entire time I lived there - let alone that night. I would not have felt safe if nothing else. I don't know if Pep Boys crashed my car and never told me (and just fixed it?) or if this person is making it up entirely.
3. I have not been able to get a police report. Geico has no record of it and the other person's lawyer will not tell me. Can I get this from the police (if it even exists? ). Wouldn't this have been a criminal offence if it had occurred?
4. During the time I lived there, it was clear that someone was trying to commit a fraud against me. After going to NYC for a weekend, I received a letter on questionable paper looking very amateur saying that during the weekend I was there, I murdered someone and if I paid exactly $3487 (or something like that) it would all be forgotten about. It was clear that this was complete garbage (after all, I never murdered anyone! And the fact that I could pay a certain amount to forget about it? ). The individuals knew the weekend I was in NYC, so I guessed it must have been someone dodgy who worked at the hotel where I stayed or someone who worked for the tolls or something similar.
Because of this, I question whether this must be a fraud too.. It just is too much of a coincidence to be blamed for two different crimes I did not commit.
Anyway, apparently I cannot obtain a drivers license in the US in the future because of this. I expect there is a good possibility that I will live there again and I cannot have this hanging over me. Furthermore, they are saying that I just need to pay this fee (that I've calculated is at an interest rate of about 20%!) to forget about it. Other than the fact that I do not want to pay this money, I feel very strongly about not paying because I don't want this person to achieve their fraud and for it to look as though I am guilty.
If anyone can help, I really appreciate it. Being a foreigner, I am uncertain of the exact laws in the US regarding this kind of thing and the differences between civil and criminal charges.
Thanks so much for any help. Cheers.