A father-of-one says a parking ticket for a car he had never driven left his family homeless, in a shocking error. Dzhihan Dzhafer, 29, said that another motorist named him as the driver responsible for picking up a £60 parking charge, with the situation soon spiralling out of control.
Dispute begins over undriven car
Mr Dzhafer explained that the dispute began in April 2024 after he was handed a £60 fine for a car he had never driven. The penalty was later increased, with the family man receiving demands for £170 and then £285.
Dzhihan argued against the charge and obtained written confirmation from the DVLA that he was not the registered keeper. However, the parking dispute continued to rumble on, which led to a CCJ being issued against him. Determined to challenge the decision, he paid another £313 to ask the court to overturn the ruling.
Second CCJ and loss of home
But things soon got worse, with Dzhihan discovering that a second CCJ had been issued relating to another parking charge involving the same vehicle. This came at a time when his tenancy was up for renewal, with the letting agency’s insurer on his house in Stratford choosing not to provide cover because of the CCJ.
Dzhihan said: “You start thinking that all of this began with a £60 parking ticket connected to somebody else, yet somehow my own family was paying the consequences. That was when it really became clear to me that this was no longer just a parking dispute or a credit issue. It was affecting whether my family could have a home.”
Family separated and reunited
With nowhere to stay, Dzhihan’s wife and young son were forced to return to Bulgaria. However, he stayed in London to keep working and his support his family from afar.
Dzhihan added: “That was probably the hardest part of everything. The money and court process were stressful, but being away from my wife and especially my young son made it feel completely different. I was still working in London and trying to sort everything out, but coming back and not having my family there was difficult.”
Dzhihan has since been reunited with his family, but they still do not have a secure home of their own, instead staying with family.
Credit report warning
Dan Aston, Brand and Communications Executive from Checkmyfile, stressed that the case was an extreme example of how a bad credit report can immediately backfire.
Dan added: “Dzhihan’s experience is an extreme example of how information on your credit file can have consequences far beyond simply applying for credit. A CCJ can affect your ability to access financial products, but as this case shows, it can potentially cause problems when trying to rent a home too.
“It’s important to check your credit report regularly and make sure you recognise what’s recorded against your name. If something doesn’t look right, investigate it as early as possible rather than discovering it when you need to apply for credit or pass a rental check.”
The Express has contacted the DVLA for comment.
