Help req private parking fee

SUNSHINE_SMILES

HI, im just after some advice really, i have recd a private parking charge in a supermarket car park (didnt manage to get all my shopping done in allocated time), having read through the advice notes on the forum im now unsure as to wether i should "ignore" completely or to write to the company & enclose my receipts etc as they are a member of the BPA, the letter i recd says that you can appeal with supporting documents. Also failure to pay can result in the amount being forwarded to a debt collection agency?? i really dont know what route to take, can anyone one offer advice as to what is the "best" option, thanks:question::think:

Coupon-mad

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

Watchdog covered this a couple of months ago, and their legal bod helpfully confirmed just what we tell everyone to do with fake parking tickets(whether they have pretty pictures 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, but so what once you know they are just bog roll! Do not panic, do not believe the lies on the letters about Court/CCJs/dire consequences!

Debt Collectors have no powers at all, and bailiffs can only be appointed by a Court (if you lost a Court case and then you still refused to pay - can you see that actually happening?).

They cannot just 'apply for' a CCJ, that's not how things work at all.

See examples here of what sort of letters to ignore and be prepared for. Don't bother to actually read their threats when you get the matching threats, instead look at them now so you are ready to laugh when you get the whole predictable set:

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'.

But don't pay it! Spread the word. This ticket is a scam and the letters must be ignored.

SUNSHINE_SMILES

many thanks for this, it has put my mind at rest as never have recd one before its so easy to be intimerdated by these types of letters.

Sir_Roger_deLodger

SUNSHINE_SMILES wrote: »

having read through the advice notes on the forum im now unsure as to wether i should "ignore" completely or to write to the company & enclose my receipts etc as they are a member of the BPA

The BPA is just a club run by, and for the benefit of, the parking companies. They are not an official regulatory body, as much as they would like you to think they are. As Coupon-mad says, IGNORE!

muckybutt

Take as long as you like in a free car park !

Did you personally have any say in their "contract to park" if not then the Unfair Trading Regulations come into play http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/legResults.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&title=The+Consumer+Protection+from+Unfair+Trading+Regulations&Year=2008&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&TYPE=QS&NavFrom=0&activeTextDocId=3480871&PageNumber=1&SortAlpha=0

trisontana

Sir_Roger_deLodger wrote: »

The BPA is just a club run by, and for the benefit of, the parking companies. They are not an official regulatory body, as much as they would like you to think they are. As Coupon-mad says, IGNORE!

As I have said before on this forum. The BPA is the equivalent of the Thieves or Assassins Guilds in the Terry Pratchett books.

Lurking_Enforcer

If you exceeded the time limit, then you should pay the agreed fee.

peter_the_piper

The comedians back, just ignore him. His mummy has just let him use the computer.

trisontana

Lurking_Enforcer wrote: »

If you exceeded the time limit, then you should pay the agreed fee.

Define "agreed". No contract is signed, nor is any verbal contract is entered into. Just by driving past a sign does not entitle a PPC to assume that the motorist has agreed to those charges.

By the way, you still haven't told us which PPC you work for. Why the shyness. Are you ashamed to admit that you work for such an organization?

trisontana

peter_the_piper wrote: »

The comedians back, just ignore him. His mummy has just let him use the computer.

I can just see him, wearing a tatty tee-shirt with the words "Lurking Enforcer" crudely written on it. I wonder if he is also wearing his underpants over his trousers!

adouglasmhor

Wittering_Carpspouter wrote: »

If you exceeded the time limit, then you should pay the agreed fee.

Correct and OP agreed to nothing and that is what he should pay :silenced: