Find out about how court can help you if you are having trouble paying and how to add a new fine to a payment plan. If you have overpaid your fines find out how to get a refund. You can also find out about alternative sentences.
The court may give you more time or allow a payment plan
If you can’t pay your fine all at once or need more time to pay, call us on 0800 4 FINES to talk to the court about your options.
We may be able to extend the due date or offer you a payment plan (called a time to pay arrangement). The court decides whether to give you these options.
You may be able to:
pay directly from your wages or benefit
pay by automatic payment from your bank account
pay over the counter at a district court, PostShop or Westpac Bank using your notice of fine.
You need agreement from the court to start a payment plan.
Court staff may ask you about your finances to make sure you need the extra time. To help with this process you can download a statement of means form. You can fill out the form and either call us to tell us the information or email it to us.
The court can take enforcement action if you stop paying
If any payment is missed, or payment stops early, the court can take enforcement action against you. If you are having trouble meeting your payments or know you are going to miss a payment call us on 0800 4 FINES first to let us know.
If you receive a new fine and you cannot pay by the due date, contact us on 0800 4 FINES. You need to talk to us so that the court can add the new fines to your payment plan.
New fines will not be added to your payment plan automatically. Infringements need to be sent to the court before they can be added to your payment plan.
An alternative sentence is an enforcement action that the court can take. Usually, the court only considers an alternative sentence when all other options have not worked.
Before the court considers an alternative sentence, they will look at your finances and property to find out if you can pay. An alternative sentence may include:
community work
home or community detention
prison.
If you would like to ask about an alternative sentence, go in to your local district court with financial information, such as a budget from a budget advisor or a bank statement, that shows why you cannot pay your fines.
