Review left by Nilton
I contacted John Ruane after receiving a Notice of Intended Prosecution that could lead to 6 to 8 penalty points in my driving licence plus a fine of up to £5,000. The notice was issued because I allegedly let someone drive my car without adequate insurance.
When I received the letter, I did my research, and the outcome was simple: the coming days would be devastating, and my savings were to be withdrawn. Though I was able to make peace with the fact that I would have to withdraw my savings, nothing could calm me down regarding the painful days to come, not to mention the frustration I would carry with me for the next few years.
During my conversations with John, I was anticipating a discussion about the fee for the service, but to my surprise, John was more concerned about finding the best way to assist and support me. This made a great impression on me, and I will explain why: I had contacted other firms as well, and their approach was opposite to John's.
Once I explained the issue to John, he quickly broke down the Law in plain English for me and went beyond my initial research and explained the options we had and how we would approach the situation if I had to be prosecuted.
John provided me with clear instructions on how to proceed after receiving a letter from the police. His guidance gave me the confidence and tools I needed to first insist on approaching the named driver and then respond to the police letter effectively. Despite the named driver not cooperating and the repercussions of the offence falling on me, the outcome of the situation was unexpected. The police issued a statement stating that “… the matter had been dealt with through caution, a record would be kept, and the notice was sent as a warning…”. When I shared this letter with John, he explained that it was good news since there would be no prosecution, no points on my license, and no fine.
After learning from John about Caution Letters, I was confused about the wording "...a record would be kept". Technically, if I accepted the Caution Letter, this offence (6 points plus a fine) would appear in my criminal record. Moreover, it might also be disclosed in my BDS check. Alternatively, if I did not accept the Caution Letter, the police would decide to charge me and take me to court. Subsequently, if found guilty, I would likely receive a conviction, which could have more severe implications than a caution.
To prevent any unexpected issues in the future, I contacted the police department in charge of the case. The interpretation of the letter made by John confirmed that it was a warning only, with no points or fines imposed. Through this letter, I was advised to ensure that in the future if I lend my vehicle to someone, it should be done by the Law (ensure that appropriate insurance is in place). No further action was required on my part.
For those who find themselves in a situation similar to mine, please be advised that many details are not mentioned in the above lines, and each case has its particularities. Therefore, I strongly advise against representing yourself or arguing with those who enforce the Law based solely on this information or anything else you may find online. By all I mean, pure and simple, make sure to keep in contact with John.
If you find yourself scrolling down, you may notice that I was unable to rate or comment on anything John's fee-related for a simple reason: JOHN'S PROFESSIONALISM IS INVALUABLE.
