Private Parking Tickets discussion

trisontana

rudikrol wrote: »

Hello, I've taken great comfort from reading this forum and replies from a previous posting. I have, however, just received a letter from debt collectors (CCS debt collectors - Re: private parking ticket) saying that they will visit my home in the next 72 hours to "Obtain payment or agree a payment with you/ Investigate your home situation prior to recommending court action". Is this normal threatening practice that I've read about on this forum or do you think I should be worried?

The usual threatogram. In the very unlikely event that they do visit your home, what can they do? Shout "boo" through your letter-box? Don't forget they are just private citzens with no special powers. Just tell them to go away or you will call the police.

Orford

Is this normal threatening practice that I've read about on this forum

Yes

or do you think I should be worried?

No, continue ignoring.

Sir_Roger_deLodger

rudikrol wrote: »

Hello, I've taken great comfort from reading this forum and replies from a previous posting. I have, however, just received a letter from debt collectors (CCS debt collectors - Re: private parking ticket) saying that they will visit my home in the next 72 hours to "Obtain payment or agree a payment with you/ Investigate your home situation prior to recommending court action". Is this normal threatening practice that I've read about on this forum or do you think I should be worried?

Dont be worried. Its just another standard scare tactic. Remember the scam is mail based.

Coblcris

"aying that they will visit my home in the next 72 hours to "Obtain payment or agree a payment with you/ Investigate your home situation prior to recommending court action""

Does it say will or does its say may visit ?

If it says 'will' I would consider that letter to be the source of serious complaints to be lodged against the company with the OFT.

rudikrol

It says "We are making arrangements for one of our collectors to visit you at home". Why do you say that I could complain to the OFT?

Coupon-mad

rudikrol wrote: »

It says "We are making arrangements for one of our collectors to visit you at home". Why do you say that I could complain to the OFT?

Because the debt collector is saying they have powers they don't have. They are not a bailiff, they have no power to 'investigate your home situation'. By the way, they'll never come!

Take great comfort from seeing examples of your letters, on the first thread here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=163

Click on the links in the first post by Crabman and you'll find your letter-chain, or one very similar to it. You can also see a preview of the letter you'll most likely receive next - they are not scary at all when you are expecting them and know that they will just fizzle out! It's a standard series of threatograms they send out to everyone - you haven't been singled out and they are not actually going to send the boys round.

Then take further comfort from reading as many of the other threads on this sub-board
(I linked the whole lot). Look for other people who have got non-Council tickets - there are thousands of threads, all posters being rightly told they can safely ignore the whole scam.

It's not a fine, you've committed no offence, they cannot enforce payment and they won't take you to Court. They use these letters to scare a percentage of uninformed victims into paying, that's how the scam works. Don't be a victim.

rudikrol

Thank you for that. I feel better now.

Coblcris

Even a bona fide collector can only attend with a prior appointment.
See the OFT guidance and guidelines.

berrym123

I was wondering if anyone could answer this hypothetical question on behalf of a friend????
Now this friend has received the usual letter from a private company, then letters from a debt collecting agency and also alledgedly from a solicitors. Now so far the letters have been ignored but this friend has received numerous threatening phone calls so would like some clarification. If it was to go as far as court action and the friend lost what kind of costs would be incurred and how much would they be looking at paying for a £60 fine?? All replies gratefully received!!

Coblcris

In what manner threatening ?

Recording the calls should be considered.

It is not a fine.