Private Car Park Parking ticket

yucca

Hi,

I arrived at an unmanned car park at 6pm 23/4/10 and read the signage, opted for a 24hr ticket but the machine would only take £2 which was for less. On return to my car the following morning at 9.35am a ticket was stuck to the windscreen.
I read the guidance provided on this website and ignored it. However today an invoice arrived for more money with a warning that if I do not pay the £80 in 7days this will increase to £130.

I'm not sure on the position of a CCTV camera that is mounted on a nearby building and am going back to check angles and views acquired.

However if it views my car with me in it then I'm scuppered on that avenue.

I feel that it's worth my day in court though am concerned that the magistrate may impose a more severe penalty than 80 or 130 pounds if they don't believe that I tried to put more money in the darn machine. I wonder if you have any experience or guidance?

Thanks

trisontana

For a start this is a civil matter and will not go to a magistrates court if, as you say, the demand is from a private company and not from a council. So you can safely ignore it. Do not contact them and do not respond to any letters they send to you. That's all you need to do.

Which parking company was it? We like to name and shame on this forum.

taffy056

Completely ignore them and their bogus debt collector letters, also ignore the solicitors letters you will get as they are bogus as well, don't respond to anything they say, and certainly don't pay them a penny, their so called tickets are not enforceable at all. Only deal with council and police tickets.

Coupon-mad

Short answer: As the others have rightly said, ignore it till the cows come home, you are NOT 'scuppered' at all, it's nothing to worry about one bit! (regular posters need read no further).


Long answer with links for newbies:

There's tons on the internet about this issue, look for forum posts on here, pepipoo.com, consumer action group, all of which will tell you that such tickets are unenforceable trash.

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 rules' or not, and whether they have a pretty picture of your car 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. Look specifically for 'your' letter you just received, and you can see which letter will be next:

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

Relax, even if you get more letters (as per our examples, we can predict you'll get the same).

But 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. Spread the word.

yucca

My you're quick to respond... The company in question are CMS UK Ltd based in Lytham St Annes

So, what you're both suggesting is ignore them and they'll go away? Will they definitely? I was considering a 2 hour round trip to check the position of a cctv camera which views the car park, checking the make and model of it and checking the specification to check the image they may/may not have. But if you consider it not a waste of time I may not bother..
Thanks

trisontana

yucca wrote: »

My you're quick to respond... The company in question are CMS UK Ltd based in Lytham St Annes

So, what you're both suggesting is ignore them and they'll go away? Will they definitely? I was considering a 2 hour round trip to check the position of a cctv camera which views the car park, checking the make and model of it and checking the specification to check the image they may/may not have. But if you consider it not a waste of time I may not bother..
Thanks

You are taking this too seriously what the cameras are supposed to show is of no consequence. Please follow the advice of the people on this forum and you will be OK. Please don't fall into the trap of believing that these people are somehow "official". they are not, they are just a bunch of private citizens with no more power than you or I to demand money off people.

trisontana

Oh yes CMS who's favourite word is "solutions" . It's website is full of that overused word.

That website also has this gem:-

Lodging an appeal is not a delay of payment. If the initial fine is not paid within 14 days the fee will rise. You should complete payment as soon as possible by post. If your appeal is successful you will be reimbursed in full.

Of course, being a private company they cannot "fine" anyone.

peter_the_piper

What a surprise, your appeal failed. Ooops we keep the money, sorry.

yucca

Hi, sorry for the delay, minor emergency - patio door fell off, all secure'ish again now... Thanks for all of your helpful advice. I intend to ignore the letters etc and if anything comes of this I'll let you know.

Regards
Paul

AlexisV

CMS use the same letterchain as NCP. These are the letters you will be ignoring: NCP Letterchain