advice on ppc ticket (disabled badge)

vix2000

Today I parked with my blue badge and timer on double yellow lines with no kerb markings on a road. I have since checked at the road entrance and taken photos, and there are no signs or indications that it is anything other then a normal side road, no private road signs, or signs that it is a car park. Down the right hand side is the entrance to a private car park with signs at intervals saying that it is private property with 24 hour parking restrictions etc etc. On the left hand side at the end of the road is the entrance to flats with private residents parking and at the entrance is the same notice, private property. The whole road before this entrance has double yellow lines but none of the above notices. None of the notices state that it is a private road. I was parked there for about 20 minutes and returned to a ticket from Vehicle control services ltd on the grounds that I had parked in a restricted area in a car park. I was on a road, it was definately not a car park.

I have been reading up on the PPC threads, and some advocate ignoring them and some to respond. It says I have 7 days to contest the ticket, but apparantly people say this is a waste of time. I have photos of the whole area, and the notices on the other side of the road.

Can someone advise me whether to ignore or respond, and can they affect your credit rating, please?

anewman

I wonder what Mobilise would have to say about this :eek:

The only tickets you need to pay are Council and Police ones. If yours is neither of these then you can ignore it. Do not bother appealing, you'll just get a standard "the charge stands" reply and they'll hassle you all the more for the money.

Your credit rating can only be affected if they take you to court (highly unlikely), win a case against you (near impossible if defended properly), and you decide not to pay.

Sit tight and ignore the threatening letters, they may be particularly worrying when they talk about seizing property and credit ratings, but they're just bully boys trying to steal your pocket money.

Ignore, ignore, and ignore

Coupon-mad

Seconded, you are safe to ignore but need to familiarise yourself with the debt collector letters.

vix2000

Thank you.

I'm sure Vehicle Control Services Ltd is a private parking company. The ticket states I was parked in a restricted area of a car park. I believe that if it was a council ticket they would have said I was causing an obstruction as there were no markings on the kerb edge, just the double yellow lines.

How do I familiarise myself with debt collectors letters?. I have done bank charges claims, is it similar to their letters? As long as I know they cannot affect my credit rating it will not phase me.

Coupon-mad

vix2000 wrote: »

Thank you.

I'm sure Vehicle Control Services Ltd is a private parking company. The ticket states I was parked in a restricted area of a car park. I believe that if it was a council ticket they would have said I was causing an obstruction as there were no markings on the kerb edge, just the double yellow lines.

How do I familiarise myself with debt collectors letters?. I have done bank charges claims, is it similar to their letters? As long as I know they cannot affect my credit rating it will not phase me.

VCS are a private company; we have heard of them and their modus operandi for this scam is the same as all other PPCs. They send out threatening letters and then after a few months they just go away. End of scam if you ignore them, no effect on your credit rating as it isn't a fine or a real debt at all. It's seriously nothing to panic about whatsoever and collecting the threatograms is quite a hobby for some people here!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2214803

See typical PPC (private parking co) debt collector letters on the sticky above.

HTH

vix2000

Thanks for that. Was psyching myself up for a lengthy letter but will just ignore it and save some time and stress.

AlexisV

The amount they are demanding has to be a genuine pre-estimate of actual loss caused.

They have not suffered any losses. You owe them no money.

vix2000

OK, so I did as suggested and ignored it. I have, today, recieved a letter from them, again saying I had parked in a privately operated car park. Can someone have a look at my photos as give me your opinion please.

Photo 1 this is the entrance from the main road to the so called 'car park' there are no signs at either side of the road entrance to say that it is not a road and is a car park, so basically you are just driving onto a side road????? also note the notices on the wall down the rh side of the road only.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/breezeblock/Private%20Parking%20Company/IMG_0284.jpg

picture 2 is the side of the road where I was parked on double yellow lines with my disabled badge displayed correctly. There are no notices on the wall at all.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/breezeblock/Private%20Parking%20Company/IMG_0281.jpg

picture 3 is the opposite side of the road with an entrance to an underground car park
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/breezeblock/Private%20Parking%20Company/IMG_0280.jpg

Picture 4 the wording on the notices - private property, not private road.
http://i382.photobucket.com/albums/oo268/breezeblock/Private%20Parking%20Company/IMG_0283.jpg

I dont know if I'm being stupid here, but how would anyone know when you pull onto that road that it isn't a road but a car park?

peter_the_piper

You are worrying far to much about all this. Relax and look at how much money they are wasting writing to you. they will give up soon. File the junk mail away and get it out at xmas to laugh at with all the friends and rellies.

vix2000

I know you're right but I can't help it. I had forgotten about it until I opened the post, now its reared its head again!!!

AlexisV

Once you get into the mindset of having a good laugh at their comedy junkmail, you'll soon be looking forward to the next bit of exciting toilet paper.

Relax and don't worry.