Parking Fine

Mr_Grumpy_7

It sounds like a con. The problem is that the current government seem to think it acceptable for private company's not only to enforce the law, but also to profit from the fines they impose.

I believe it is now the responsibility of the local council to enforce parking infringments so I would suggest you pay them a visit first off. You could also pay a visit to the local police station, they should be able to advise if the parking ticket is genuine. If it is, not likely, I would ask how they can impose such scandalous fines. It might also be worth paying a visit to your local citizen's advice, I suspect that you won't be the first.

Good Luck!!!

newlywed

I thought that if it is a private company then there HAD to be signs put up detailing that it's no parking and there would be a fine.

go back and double check where he parked.

jambojen_2

Hi!!!
thanks for all your responses.......he was parked outside a shop. this shop is by some offices which must own these spaces i guess, but like i said, it must be a new thing as he has been parking there on lunch time while he goes to the shop for the past 6 months. Since going back he has seen that there is a sign saying that you will be fined for parking there, so im guessing that these offices have employed a private company.
They got his address ect from the DVLA.
Another thing that makes this seem dodgy is that when my b/f phoned up this bloke, my b/f asked for his comapny reference so he could check them out on the internet and see if they were legit and licenced, but he would give this information out.
The letter from the solicitors is threatening all sorts, they have said that they are going to send debt collectors round, and that they also have someway of taking this money directly out of his pay from his work?!?!?!?!?!?
surely they cannot do this, wether they are legit or not?!
I think the company who are trying to fine him are called `DLM` but thats off the top of my head i will confirm when i go home.
Anxious to get this sorted out before the fine gets even higher!!! Plus we are going thailand in November for 6 months so need this sorted out now!!!
Jen
x

waster_2

jambojen wrote:

Hi!!!
thanks for all your responses.......he was parked outside a shop. this shop is by some offices which must own these spaces i guess, but like i said, it must be a new thing as he has been parking there on lunch time while he goes to the shop for the past 6 months. Since going back he has seen that there is a sign saying that you will be fined for parking there, so im guessing that these offices have employed a private company.
They got his address ect from the DVLA.
Another thing that makes this seem dodgy is that when my b/f phoned up this bloke, my b/f asked for his comapny reference so he could check them out on the internet and see if they were legit and licenced, but he would give this information out.
The letter from the solicitors is threatening all sorts, they have said that they are going to send debt collectors round, and that they also have someway of taking this money directly out of his pay from his work?!?!?!?!?!?
surely they cannot do this, wether they are legit or not?!
I think the company who are trying to fine him are called `DLM` but thats off the top of my head i will confirm when i go home.
Anxious to get this sorted out before the fine gets even higher!!! Plus we are going thailand in November for 6 months so need this sorted out now!!!
Jen
x

Firstly private companies and/or individuals cannot fine anyone. That is the job of the Courts for a Criminal Offence. At the worse this is a civil offence. They can try and impose a fee or a penalty charge. Debt collectors can only act lawfully if they have a Court Judgement that they are enforcing. People calling themselves debt collectors may turn up on your boyfriend's door step as bully boys. But he has no obligation to pay them anything and certainly should never ever let them in the house. If they do arrive then tell them you are calling the police if they do not leave your property immediatley as they are not invited and are tresspassers. Tell them the fee for remaining is twice what they are trying to extort from your boyfriend.

The only way they can enforce any payment is by going to Court and getting a judgement against your boyfriend in the County Court. I do not think there is a cat in hells chance of them doing that. They would not want to test their "legal" ability to extort money from motorists. Even if they did go they would have to justify what they were charging and also demonstrate that it was reasonable. Thern they would have to prove your boyfriend was actually parked there. Ask them for evidence that he was parked there. And then ask them to show that your boyfriend should reasonably have been aware he should not park there because there were visible and legible signs displayed.

Thisa is a method to extort money. Tell them to f*ck off and to try their luck through the courts. All they are presently doing is using their neanderthal bully boy tactics to try and scare you. Do not be intimidated they will back off if you face them out.

Good luck.

jambojen_2

Excellent! thanks, we were losing our faith with this and might of ended up paying this just to get them off our case but i am gonna fight this all the way now.
We have asked them for proof that he was there...and they havent sent it.
Will keep u posted as to what happens next..........

Optimist

It is legal for private landlords to employ firms to ticket or clamp your car. Only if the firm clamps must they be registered with the Security Industry Authority https://www.the-sia.org.uk. You can check on that site if they are register although this doesn't really affect you as your boyfriend was not clamped

Its reasonable to ask for proof that they have permission from the landowner or occupier to charge

If you get a parking ticket then there must be a sign showing and should be legible and you have said that this is the case. Your boyfriend has legally accepted these charges by the fact he parked there! The charge should also be reasonable I don't consider £135/£240 to be reasonable but it would come down to what a court would think.

They should however work in accordance with the DVLAs code of practice and from what you say they would seem to be in dereliction of section 3.2 of said code

3.2. Notices giving full details of the parking contravention and the proposed course of action to be taken by the enforcer should be placed in a prominent position on the ‘offending’ vehicle without causing it damage. Vehicle keepers should be made aware that their name and address will be requested from DVLA.

You could try that avenue. .

Your asking for a quick fix and I am afraid I don't believe your going to get one. I suggest trying Citizens advice they should have a list of solicitors that give a free half hour or so.

Good luck

Bossyboots

Can you post the name of the solicitors or PM it to me and I will check it out for your.

jambojen_2

Hi....just checked with my b/f and the name of the parking fine company is LDK Security, and it turns out that the company chasing this is not a solicitor its a debt recovery firm called `Daniels Silverman Commercial Debt Recovery & Investigations` who are saying that LDK are their client.
Im guessing that the fine has jumped up in cost as these debt recovery people have got involved and are now adding there own fee?
Still no proof in the post today, was sposed to be arriving last wednesday!
i will check LDK out with the website suggested above by Optimist.
Thanks
will keep you posted.........

Cumbrian_Male

MrSmartprice wrote:

Don't parking control firms need to be licensed now?

Yes

They are regulated by the SIA

They must display signs.

They must wear badges.

burbs_2

LDK Security are authorised by the SIA. They enforce parking regulations for various private clients. They operate under another name as well which off the top of my head i cannot remember.

They normally take photos of all cars that are parked illegally and they will provide copies if asked so i would assume they will provide you with a copy. They will not let up on this and they will come after you for this money.

If the signs are up and they have proof of the car parked there then i think you may have a slight problem here. I would get straight round to CAB with all information and everything i have from these companies and speak to them.