Given a fine instead of a criminal record but unable to pay?

KnowYourEnemy

I'll cut a long story short. I made a very stupid mistake selling on a concert ticket and got arrested. Taking into consideration I had zero previous convictions and am in college at the moment the judge gave me a 400 euro fine instead of a criminal record.

I'm back in court tomorrow when I'm due to pay the fine but I don't have the money, and my solicitor has told me to beg or borrow it otherwise I'm getting a conviction.

Do I just go to court tomorrow morning and tell them I couldn't get the money together? And if so, then what is likely to happen to me?

Any help greatly appreciated as I'm very worried

zuroph

how long did you have to come up with the money?

KnowYourEnemy

zuroph wrote: »

how long did you have to come up with the money?

6 weeks

chopser

Take your solicitors advice. Ask your family, last thing anyone wants is a criminal conviction.

WHat did you do? simple as selling on a ticket for markup?

KnowYourEnemy

chopser wrote: »

Take your solicitors advice. Ask your family, last thing anyone wants is a criminal conviction.

WHat did you do? simple as selling on a ticket for markup?

There's no where I can get the money I'm afraid. I should have put something aside each week. I'm just going to have to take the conviction

Sempai

ask for an extension to pay the fine, i've seen many judges allowing extensions where people have difficulty getting money. try have some of the money there tomorrow if possible.

K.Flyer

KnowYourEnemy wrote: »

I made a very stupid mistake selling on a concert ticket and got arrested.

I know that it is frowned upon by Ticketmaster et al for selling on a ticket and that technically they are non transferable, but it happens all the time especially on E-Bay. But under which Irish Law were you convicted for selling on a concert ticket? Or were you selling outside the venue and got done for selling without a traders licence? Sorry to ask but very curious.

Officer Giggles

Sempai wrote: »

ask for an extension to pay the fine, i've seen many judges allowing extensions where people have difficulty getting money. try have some of the money there tomorrow if possible.

after being given 6 weeks to pay the fine the judge would want to see that some sort of effort was made to put the money together, unless you have a couple of hundred quid at least with you i couldnt see a judge taking you serious

faw1tytowers

Are you unemployed? Can you even bring 50 with you. courts are more than willing to stretch things if you show effort. Some take installments etc. Very foolish of you to leave it until now. I am very suprised you got done for selling one ticket. I wasnt aware it was so serious!

Officer Giggles

everyone is thinking it so im just gonna come out and say it, OP what actually happend you no more got done for selling one ticket

Gillington

Never heard of anything like this for selling a ticket unless you're a proper tout that got caught once and they are making example.

faw1tytowers

me finks there's more to this story.... Eagerly awaits more input!

zuroph

we'll be waiting two months til he gets out anyway

Oh_Noes

If I was you I would go out, find the community welfare office, ask them for the money. Go to the local county council offices, ask them for the money.
Go to citizens advice, ask them for advice, hell even ask them for money.

Bank Loan, overdraft, credit union, credit card?
Do you own a car? Can you sell your computer fast?

If that doesn't work, try St Vincent de Paul or the various other poverty charities.

Sounds like you've dragged your heels up until now and don't realise how lucky you are in to have this position where you can avoid the criminal record.

Do not take the conviction, it will be a lot more damaging to you than €600 out of your pocket

Officer Giggles

zuroph wrote: »

we'll be waiting two months til he gets out anyway

Yea right, he'd be well out by now