Private Parking Tickets discussion

trisontana

Checksnbalances wrote: »

Myself and a friend were driving hire vans which were too long for the regular parking bays at South Mimms Service Area so I parked in the extended bay of 'Caravans only' and told my friend to join me there as his parking with cars had taken up too much space, but returned after refreshments to find illegal parking notices stuck to each vehicle, that we had parked in the 'caravans only' bay. I'm tempted to question what happens with all the other vehicles forced to use these extended bays e.g. for the cars needed to tow the 'caravans only', plus cars and trailers which need that space together with mobile caravans etc. I have read there is a case to ignore these 'invoices' but I would welcome some assurance.

See the post immediately above yours.

sondos

Hi,
More than a year ago I parked in a car park in Lytham St Annes that was public and free. Recently, I parked again in the same car park, but failed to see the quite modest parking information. I came back to my car to find a parking ticket from a private parking company.
However, the registration number shown on the ticket was wrong eg:MM08H?? as the last 2 letters were indecipherable and I telephoned the company to ask (not tell) them what reg. number they had & a young lady (whose name I recorded) told me the reg. was MM08HJD.
This is not my car registration and I sent a recorded delivery letter telling them that I had spoken to Consumer Direct & they advised me that the details on the ticket must match the details on the car.
They wrote back and in their letter they again quoted the incorrect, but different, registration number ie: MM08HJO, but with some photos of my car inc. the correct reg. no.
I have again written back to the company now asking for a copy of the original parking doc. showing the first incorrect no. as well as a copy of the original doc. showing the second incorrect reg. no., in order that I may compare the copy docs.I have, and basically stating that neither of the cars they show registrations for are now not, nor ever have been owned by me.

What comments does anyone have please for this incorrect and extremely sloppy admin?

bargepole

sondos wrote: »

... What comments does anyone have please for this incorrect and extremely sloppy admin?

It makes not a jot of difference whether the reg. no. is correct or not, this is an unenforceable invoice not a fine.

Consumer Direct, as usual, are a bunch of clueless muppets giving out completely wrong info - there is no legislation applicable to private tickets.

Why on earth would you keep writing to these PPC scamsters, the sooner you start ignoring them the sooner they will give up trying to con you out of money.

Coupon-mad

sondos wrote: »

Hi,
More than a year ago I parked in a car park in Lytham St Annes that was public and free. Recently, I parked again in the same car park, but failed to see the quite modest parking information. I came back to my car to find a parking ticket from a private parking company.
However, the registration number shown on the ticket was wrong eg:MM08H?? as the last 2 letters were indecipherable and I telephoned the company to ask (not tell) them what reg. number they had & a young lady (whose name I recorded) told me the reg. was MM08HJD.
This is not my car registration and I sent a recorded delivery letter telling them that I had spoken to Consumer Direct & they advised me that the details on the ticket must match the details on the car.
They wrote back and in their letter they again quoted the incorrect, but different, registration number ie: MM08HJO, but with some photos of my car inc. the correct reg. no.
I have again written back to the company now asking for a copy of the original parking doc. showing the first incorrect no. as well as a copy of the original doc. showing the second incorrect reg. no., in order that I may compare the copy docs.I have, and basically stating that neither of the cars they show registrations for are now not, nor ever have been owned by me.

What comments does anyone have please for this incorrect and extremely sloppy admin?

Nothing to say about their admin, as bargepole says it doesn't matter. But you have wasted a fair amount of time and postage costs (in bold, above) when you didn't need to!

You can now reclaim your life, forget the whole thing and stop responding at all. Ignore it all and any threatening letters (read other posts to see that NOTHING will happen, they can't appoint bailliffs and they won't take you to Court).

In fact why not go back and park there again, some people find it vaguely amusing to collect these tickets once you know they are just pieces of rubbish!

This applies to your case, jame5hill and Checksnbalances. IT'S JUST A SCAM.

sondos

Thanks Bargepole.
Surprise, surprise, in this morning's post I receieved a letter stating that although they believe they are correct they will not be pursuing the money and, heavens above they actually apologised for the trouble I had to go to.
Sondos

peter_the_piper

sondos wrote: »

Thanks Bargepole.
Surprise, surprise, in this morning's post I receieved a letter stating that although they believe they are correct they will not be pursuing the money and, heavens above they actually apologised for the trouble I had to go to.
Sondos

That needs to be framed and sold on ebay as a very rare item.

MissHongKong

Hello,

This is my first post so please be nice! I have read quite a bit of the information about private parking tickets but just needed some advice. I parked at a train station in Bristol in June, it was very busy as it was the weekend of Glastonbury and there were about 3 spaces left. Because of the angle of the row of cars, it was impossible to reverse into the space so I had to go in forwards, between two cars who were parked very tightly. I therefore ended up parking slightly over the white line (half of my tire was on the line, half over). I wasn't obstructing anyone from parking but when I came back, I found a ticket from APCOA Parking. I wrote to them using one of Martin's sample letters and they wrote back (2 months after I wrote to them) saying the fine is upheld as I had parked illegally and that I have to pay the £80 within 7 days. Is it best to completely ignore it and hope nothing comes of it? Wasn't sure if anyone had any experience with APCOA Parking??

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you

bargepole

MissHongKong wrote: »

... and they wrote back (2 months after I wrote to them) saying the fine is upheld as I had parked illegally and that I have to pay the £80 within 7 days. ...

Exactly what law do they believe you have broken? APCOA won't go near a court with their fraudulent paperwork, safe to ignore this bunch of chancers.

pinkpinkfizz

Hi,

I've been reading through this forum since I received a parking charge last week. I wondered if the same laws apply in Scotland, that allow me to disregard this charge?

It was me that parked but its my husbands car, and he's received the charge letter. Our plan is to ignore it and if need be reply with the letter template about not being the driver, that Martin has on the info page on this topic.

Thanks in advance,

janebrown_2

I have been reading everyone's advice on this and have followed everything as instructed. I was driving a vehicle registered in my daughter's name and have refused to pay a parking enforcement ticket from UK Parking Controls because they claim I left a retail site when in fact I didn't, but occupants of my vehicle did.
I have today received a letter back stating that they are now passing this to their debt recovery agents. They have told me that the reason I have given for not paying is not a good enough reason for an appeal and it has been refused.
I am now seriously worried that debt collectors are going to turn up on my doorstep. What do I do and what are my legal rights?