Can I go to prison for not paying my fine?
It’s possible to be sent to prison if you don’t pay a court fine, but this is usually a last resort for people who are ignoring or trying to avoid payment.
If you don’t co-operate with the court and all other means of getting you to pay have failed, the court could decide to give you suspended committal to prison, giving you one last chance to pay the fine and avoid prison.
This is why it’s very important to let the court know if you’re struggling to afford the payments. If it’s clear that you’re not ignoring the fine, and you’re making every effort to pay what you can, it’s very unlikely you’ll be sent to prison.
If you need help working out what you can realistically offer to pay, get in touch by calling us for free, impartial advice. You can also use our online debt advice tool which offers practical advice and debt solutions to help you deal with your debts.