Help - ukpc parking fine

PCoxy

Hi: This is my 1st time on a forum site so apologies if its double dutch.
I am in receipt of a "Notice of Intended Litigation" from the Debt Recovery Plus Ltd for a parking fine received on 18th December 2009. My car was over the white line, in the next parking bay, in a virtual empty Matalan carpark. I was actually in the shop literally 6 mins, having made a purchase, and the car parking attendant has obviously observed me and applied the charge.
My questions are "what should I do now", having ignored all previous correspondance. Can they actually issue a court order? Can they send in balliffs, which they threatened in previous letter.
I am a single mum of two and couldn't afford the initial charge of £48, let alone the £253.75 charge they are asking for now.:eek:

Orford

PCoxy wrote: »

My questions are "what should I do now", having ignored all previous correspondance.
Carry om ignoring
Can they actually issue a court order?
Anyone can issue a court claim, if they're so inclined. The real question is will they? Answer: 0.000001% chance.
Can they send in balliffs, which they threatened in previous letter.
No, not until they issue a claim, win the case and you don't pay within 28 days. see previous answer

I am a single mum of two and couldn't afford the initial charge of £48, let alone the £253.75 charge they are asking for now.:eek:

Don't worry, your money's safe.

Coupon-mad

Easy one to answer, ignore it. They won't go to Court, threatograms are all they use.

Easy one to tell you what happens next in terms of letters, read carefully the first post here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2214803

Look closely, you are near the end of their letters. After the 'special offer - pay us a bit less' final attempt letter from Debt Recovery Plus, you might get the 'added bonus' letter from PCS. See the thread above, it says some rubbish about 'debt purchased'.

But there is no debt, so nothing for you to worry about. Scam nearly over.

bromsgrovebarry

You have been given sound advice by people who know what they are talking about. Do not allow yourself to be robbed by this scum.

propaintballa

Don't pay, ignore EVERYTHING, don't even contact them throughany means!

I know this sounds weird, but i came to this forum when the same thing happened to me and i couldn't believe what i was hearing when people said to ignore it!

But trust us, so it, and all will be good! You might get a couple more threats, but it will be fine!

Sir_Roger_deLodger

All the above posts offer sound advice. The scam relies on people not understanding how the small claims court works, and not knowing the difference between a debt collector and a bailiff.
Now you understand it is a scam, spread the word among all your friends, relatives, colleagues etc. It is the only way to destroy these parasites!

DaveF327

PCoxy wrote: »

"Notice of Intended Litigation"

It makes me laugh how much these private parking idiots try to feign official terms in their correspondence. It's clear they're trying to make it look like a "notice of intended prosecution" that speeding drivers get.

What's next? Will they send round debt collectors wearing police helmets from a fancy dress shop? :idea:

ScottishSapper

DaveF327 wrote: »

What's next? Will they send round debt collectors wearing police helmets from a fancy dress shop? :idea:

Oh go on, give them an idea whey don't you :rotfl:

somerlea

I just got issued with a ticket for missing a bay marking because the truck in the next bay was hanging into my bay
I appealed and got the same letter everyone gets (obviously they had not read my appeal) that I had not complied with the notices
I was in the shop for 20 minutes and was parked in an area of 12 bays that were al empty apart from the truck and me
Having appealed can I get away with just ignoring the next horrible threats that I will get
This really is a !!!!! type way of making money
Any advise would be appreciated
Thanks

trisontana

Of course you can ignore them. You do realise that the "appeal" process is a sham. It's not independently run, and it's in the parking company's interest to turn down all "appeals".

Coupon-mad

somerlea wrote: »

I just got issued with a ticket for missing a bay marking because the truck in the next bay was hanging into my bay
I appealed and got the same letter everyone gets (obviously they had not read my appeal) that I had not complied with the notices
I was in the shop for 20 minutes and was parked in an area of 12 bays that were al empty apart from the truck and me
Having appealed can I get away with just ignoring the next horrible threats that I will get
This really is a !!!!! type way of making money
Any advise would be appreciated
Thanks

Got to agree with trisontana, you have nothing to worry about at all, it's a scam.

There's tons on the internet about this issue, Google 'private parking scam' and look for forum posts on here, pepipoo.com, consumer action group, all of which will tell you that such tickets are unenforceable trash, whether or not you've appealed already.

Watchdog covered this last month, and their legal bod helpfully confirmed just what we tell everyone to do with fake parking tickets (whether you have 'contravened their pathetic rules' or not):

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

:T:rotfl:

The registered keeper will receive a few debt collector letters telling you to pay.

Do not panic, do not believe the lies on the letters about Court/CCJs/dire consequences! See examples here of what to ignore and be prepared for. Don't bother to actually read their threats:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=2214803

To be proactive, if the scam letters get tiresome you may like to also report the company and their debt collectors for harassment:

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/en...=03_harassment

But don't forget this is NOT a debt, NOT a fine, just a mickey mouse ticket.

Nothing happens, your credit record is NOT affected, so don't fall for this con.

Be angry about their illegal scary letters, tell your friends never to pay a private parking ticket, even if they have broken the car park's spurious 'rules'. Spread the word.