We are continuing our efforts to enforce Winnipeg’s by-laws and collect unpaid fines.
As of this month, our collections agency, CBV Collection Services Ltd., is reporting people with unpaid parking and non-parking tickets to credit bureaus. This can affect your credit score, and impact your ability to take out loans or apply for credit cards.
Credit bureaus will be notified if your fines remain unpaid one month after the agency contacts you.
“We currently have over $12 million in unpaid parking and non-parking fines,” said Lioubov Gavrilova-Crozier, Manager of Finance at Winnipeg Parking Authority.
We are using as many tools as possible to collect this money for Winnipeggers and ensure the rules are applied fairly to everyone.
Our collections agency will also now send text message reminders to pay your fines. These texts may contain links for payment.
“With the rise in phishing attempts, it’s important that people know we are now using text messages to contact them about unpaid tickets,” said Gavrilova-Crozier.
“Anyone who receives a text and is unsure if it's valid should contact 311.”
Reporting unpaid fines to credit bureaus is just one step we’re taking. We currently tow and impound your vehicle if you have three or more unpaid parking tickets and you are caught committing another parking offence. Starting this summer, that policy will apply to anyone with two or more unpaid tickets.
“We may also place a lien on your vehicle, which would allow it to be seized and sold at auction through our contract with River City Bailiffs,” added Gavrilova-Crozier.
You can pay tickets online, by calling 311, in person, or by mail.