Help me hold firm against CP Plus

crafty*kate

I got a 'Charge Notice' from CP Plus for parking in a disabled bay at the local hospital without displaying a blue badge - we simply forgot. (I was on my way to chemotherapy). I tried to talk nicely to the parking attendant guys but they weren't having it. I got the chemo unit to call them as soon as we remembered, but they had already put the ticket on the car.

Part of me wants to pay the 'reduced within 14 days' amount - it's £35, otherwise it goes up to £60. I am not sure I can handle the hassle. On the other hand, I am on benefits at the moment and could really do without having to pay at all.

I have read the threads and *think* that these are unenforceable? Especially as it wasn't me driving? Am I right? Please give me the courage to hold out!

Kate x

taffy056

Don't pay them a penny, the ticket is not enforceable and part of a scam, they will not take you to court, they will not do anything except send you fake debt collectors letters.

Please concentrate on getting over what you have, I wish you all the best in that regard.

crafty*kate

Thanks Taffy. I hate confrontation at the best of times, but when you're feeling ill it's even worse. My mum, bless her, has even given me the money for the ticket because she doesn't want me to worry - but she can't afford it either.

I shall stand firm!

taffy056

Good on you really there is nothing to stress yourself over this ticket, these people are a blight on hospitals and the sick, read some of the threads on here and understand its a scam, please pass this onto everyone you know.

And as I said put your thoughts on getting better , its much more important.

booter

Hi Kate - i hope you've read through some of the threads on the subject - the more you read, the more you'll realise that all that a ppc does is destroy trees! Try this thread:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2214803
Hopefully, it should give you some reassurance - it did for me (and my Mum)!
There will be no confrontation if you ignore - don't even think of responding, cause if you do, then they think they've got you, and destroy even more trees - which is more stressful for you.

On a slightly different note - check with your hospital to see if they offer free parking anyway because of your condition, as I think our local hospital does. Then you won't have any hassle.

Sorry just re-read your op - with the badge, you shouldn't need to pay - blame my oversight on the hormones/age/eyesight/laziness whatever you like!

Stay strong, think positive and get well soon!

crafty*kate

Thank you booter. I have read the threads (well, maybe not every single one!) and I will be ok...I shall come back and read this thread when I start getting nervous!

AlexisV

All your thoughts are exactly what they want. The charge is spurious - it can't go up just because they decide it should be so. Early payment discount? £35 is a lot of money considering you owe them zero and CP Plus have never ever taken anyone to court (where they'd lose) and they never will do.

It's a mail scam. Relax and ignore.

stone_king

Hi all,

Shamefully I haven't posted on this site in a long time, & haven't got a clue of my old details, so here I am as a newb! It's good to be back!!

I also got a letter from CP Plus for parking at xxxx Services. It states in the letter I was illegally parked for xx hrs & xx mins. The letter tells me that in accordance with the T's & C's CLEARLY & PROMINENTLY displayed - which is a crock!! I've never seen a single sign when I was last there, which incidentally was only a couple of weeks prior when I popped in to use the loo (too much info!!).

I was actually on a plane to Spain at the time in question & was not even driving the car at the time they reckon, although it is registered to me.

I just wanted to check - On my letter it states that they are ''Operating in accordance with the British Parking Association's code of practice''.

Does this mean anything legally at all? I have read quite a few forum pages, but these were several months ago since they were posted & I just wanted to make sure that they have not changed any type of legalities as I definitely don't want to get a huge bill.

Can I ask the originator of this post, what was your outcome?

Thanks in advance,

SK

trisontana

The BPA is just a trade association, and not an official regulator like Ofcom or Ofgem. Regarding your main question, nothing has changed at all, and you can ignore the company, do not contact them.

stone_king

Thanks very much!

How can they be allowed to do this? I understand from next yr (I think) there's going to be some changes regarding this organised crime!!

Coupon-mad

stone_king wrote: »

Thanks very much!

How can they be allowed to do this? I understand from next yr (I think) there's going to be some changes regarding this organised crime!!

The changes at the end of the year will only outlaw private clamping (an even worse scam as you either have to pay up then sue them, or cut the clamp off and risk a charge of criminal damage).

Sadly at the moment there's nowt stopping these people claiming you owe them money for some spurious reason. Anyone can ask for money (I could 'charge' you for this reply but you wouldn't actually pay me would you?).

It's a well-known scam and retailers, landowners and Motorway Services allow it to be played out on their land. Shocking I know, I liken it to a protection racket but it really is safe to ignore. I have ignored a PPC ticket myself and it's amusing to read their sad threats once you know it's all a standard letter-chain that leads nowhere.

So just ignore them now, as other posts on this thread have said.

For a pictorial preview of the letters that PPCs send, do look at our sticky thread at the top of the board here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...play.php?f=163

Then read other sticky thread and info and as many current threads about private parking co's (PPCs) on that link as it takes until you understand that this is just a scam. AFAIK CP Plus don't 'do' Court, they just threaten to in order to scare you (if they followed it through with Court they'd lose anyway so it's nowt to worry about).

Relax and ignore this con just as you would ignore a series of phishing emails telling you that you've won the Nigerian Lottery.

If you read the threads I have linked above you'll also find a link to a Watchdog programme earlier this year which had a legal expert tell viewers to make a paper aeroplane out of any private parking tickets. Enough to reassure you completely I hope?

And according to a recent post by trisontana, Watchdog are preparing another programme about PPC scammers next week as well!

HTH