Private Parking Tickets discussion

Oopsadaisy

Brightion wrote: »

I wonder if anyone can help me.

This forum often states if you receive a parking charge notice from a private company to ignore it - but the costs threatened are so high I'm worried to do so.

I pulled over for a moment to ask my mechanic where he'd like me to park my car, and had moved it withing a couple of minutes - but over a month later I have received a letter from Sussex Security Solutions explaining I need to pay £75, or if I pay within 9 days - £50. They will not speak about the issue over the phone - i must either pay...or pay and appeal. Trouble is - I only just received the notice because the postman delivered it to the correct address in the wrong area (sent to the same road but in Rottingdean, not Brighton where I live). So they will argue I already owe £75.

The letter also has a digital image of my car stationary on the side of the road outside a building, with a clear warning sign next to it. The image however must have come from a video camera as there was no one around and I was not issued with a ticket at the time.

I'm worried to pay as I believe it would then be very hard to claim the money back - the website lists a load of reasons for appeal that will be immediately rejected...leaving little room for appeal anyway.

Any advice would be gladly welcomed.

Which bit of .....Try reading the sticky called 'Read this sticky before posting on here'. Can't understand how people miss it??
is difficult to read??????

Oopsadaisy

Weelymad wrote: »

Hi Folks, I wish i had seen this web site before I appealed. I am a disabled motorist and there were no places to park at my local Asda, there was ayellow hatched area next to the bays and I looked to see if there were any signs saying no parking - you guessed it there weren't. i disaplayed my blue badge (I use a powered wheelchair) any way after being in the store I had a ticket on my screen when I came out. I appealed and yep they turned it down saying I should have parked in a bay (there weren't any). Do I still have to pay. I know i know I gave them my details. Help!

Which bit of .....Try reading the sticky called 'Read this sticky before posting on here'. Can't understand how people miss it??
is difficult to read??????

taffy056

Weelymad wrote: »

Hi Folks, I wish i had seen this web site before I appealed. I am a disabled motorist and there were no places to park at my local Asda, there was ayellow hatched area next to the bays and I looked to see if there were any signs saying no parking - you guessed it there weren't. i disaplayed my blue badge (I use a powered wheelchair) any way after being in the store I had a ticket on my screen when I came out. I appealed and yep they turned it down saying I should have parked in a bay (there weren't any). Do I still have to pay. I know i know I gave them my details. Help!

No you don't have to pay, so just ignore them as they are trying to scam you , please read some of the stickies on top of this section to learn about the scam and what to expect.

bromsgrovebarry

Heed the advice you have been given and do not be intimidated by the threatening letters that will follow. You will not have bailiffs coming to see you and you will not be taken to court. That I promise.

Driver8

Weelymad wrote: »

Hi Folks, I wish i had seen this web site before I appealed. I am a disabled motorist and there were no places to park at my local Asda, there was ayellow hatched area next to the bays and I looked to see if there were any signs saying no parking - you guessed it there weren't. i disaplayed my blue badge (I use a powered wheelchair) any way after being in the store I had a ticket on my screen when I came out. I appealed and yep they turned it down saying I should have parked in a bay (there weren't any). Do I still have to pay. I know i know I gave them my details. Help!

This is what i stick on hundreds of cars Weelymad in car parks when i park. Takes two minutes to do on your way in to a supermarket.

PRIVATE PARKING TICKETS - DON'T PAY!
IT IS NOT A FINE! YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING ILLEGAL!

This is an information page for the thousands of people who receive "tickets" from private companies in the UK ever day at supermarkets, retail parks, and in any other privately-owned carpark.

We are NOT encouraging anybody to openly flout parking restrictions on private land, or to refuse to pay reasonable charges for parking. Landowners have a right to make reasonable charges for the use of their land.

For advice specific to your case, you should visit the forums at http://forums.pepipoo.com or http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/parking-traffic-offences.

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

1. What you should know about these companies

It is important to remember that private parking companies (or PPCs as they are often called) have NO OFFICIAL POWERS - that's right, none at all! They give out their "tickets" on the basis that you have seen the signs in their car park and that you have therefore agreed to a contract obliging you to pay a certain sum of money.


2. What happens to people who don't pay?

In 99.9% of cases, absolutely NOTHING! The company pays the DVLA £2.50 to get your address, and then sends lots of threatening letters. In the main, these letters can be safely IGNORED. The only way the company can actually force you to pay is by taking you to the small claims court, which costs them even more money. And they are by no means guaranteed to win! And they practically never do.

The two main reasons for this (among others) are the following:

- Only the person DRIVING the car could ever have agreed to any such parking contract. The company can only get the Registered Keeper's address from the DVLA: you don't have to tell them who was driving.

-Many of these charges are so extortionately high that they constitute a penalty, which is unenforceable in a consumer contract.


3. Can they affect my credit rating?

NO! The only way your credit rating could be affected by ignoring private parking companies is if you were taken to court, lost, and then still refused to pay. But they will not take you to court.


IN SHORT

The vast majority of the time, you can safely IGNORE tickets from private parking companies, they are not official fines.

The vast majority of the time, you can safely IGNORE the threatening letters, including those from debt collection agencies.

You DO NOT have to pay a penny of your hard-earned money to these companies. Remember that the chances of being taken to court are very slim indeed.

DO NOT IGNORE COURT PAPERS!
If you receive real court papers from a private parking company (very rare) then you should go to http://forums.pepipoo.com or http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/parking-traffic-offences for help defending the claim. Do not be afraid to sign up and ask questions regarding any paperwork you are not sure about.



Don’t believe the above? Watch a solicitor on Watchdog advising you what to do with the scam invoices.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAIcdi9niHA

THEY ARE NOT FINES

Only the Police, Courts or Council’s can fine you. NOT a private company, please remember that.

Now if i send threatening e mails to you demanding payment for reading that would you pay it?

No, thought not.

Rest easy. nothing will happen to you or your kids or your credit file no one banging on your door.......... nothing.

torontoboy45

Oopsadaisy wrote: »

Which bit of .....Try reading the sticky called 'Read this sticky before posting on here'. Can't understand how people miss it??
is difficult to read??????

have you got a stutter?

torontoboy45

Oopsadaisy wrote: »

Which bit of .....Try reading the sticky called 'Read this sticky before posting on here'. Can't understand how people miss it??
is difficult to read??????

have you got a stutter?

oh...it looks like I've got a stutter; I just posted twice.

go easy on newbies. parking charges can get a bit emotive. not everyone thinks clearly.

Coupon-mad

Brightion wrote: »

I know I have clicked the thanks button - but thank you all very much for your advice.

Now if only I could charge them for all the calls I made before I came here ;-)

All the advice you have been given is correct.

If you are really worried tell them Coupon-mad was driving:p, I am quite local to you and I would happily collect more PPC tickets!

Up the Seagulls!

Hemichromis

Just would like you all to know about my experience i was searching for similar and found it on this website.

I received a parking ticket but believed i was parked incorrectly. the ticket had only a postal address for contact and was from APCOA. I tried to contact APCOA but only the Irish one responded so i just left it.

I recieved a letter from ROXBOURGHE Debt Collectors asking for £95, ignored this too.
I then received a NOTICE OF INTENDED LEGAL ACTION letter from Graham White solicitors. was very threatening saying it would cost me alot of money and affect my credit rating, again i did nothing.

I then received a FINAL NOTICE letter from Graham White solicitors implying that if i did not settle in 7 days they wold commence legal action.

here i am a month later and my good friends at Graham White are no longer mailing me!


I think we should collect peoples success stories in one thread so noone will pay these people again.

Incidently i have had one from the council before which i paid, why the difference?

my infringment was obvious (although signposting was sporadic)
A courteous note.
Multiple ways of appealng including a phone line.
a low fine of £20

peter_the_piper

Because there are regs which give a maximum a council may charge and the ppc's just make it up as they go along. Unfortunately the Brits are a law abiding lot and most just pay. They assume that because the firm ask then they must be right. If you were to get some reg numbers in a private car park and sent them an invoice, most would just pay. (I'm not saying do this, its an illustration)