parking fine

cactussoldier

:(I had a parking fine from a private parking company, I wasn't driving at the time so following the advice I replied that I wasn't driving and I wasn't telling then who was. I have not had a letter saying i must tell them or pay up [or they will send in the debt collector or take me to court]. they quote Judge Ackroyd 2008, Oldham court, combined parking solutions versus Mr Stephen Thomas Judge ruled that the balance of probability he was the driver and ordered payment plus costs. Not sure what to do

daveyjp

It's not a fine it's an invoice.

Whoever advised you to conatact them is a bad adviser - advice to ignore all contact from them still stands good. Do some research into the Stephen Thomas case and from now on ignore any more threatograms.

Sir_Roger_deLodger

The Thomas case is well known and many believe it was a set-up.
Do not contact them again. Which PPC is it?

peter_the_piper

They regularly bring this old chesnut up. Small claims courts do not make law and therefore do not set precidents. .The case hinged on whether he knew who the driver was. He had admitted it on a forum and effectively lied to the judge so the case went against him. Continue to ignore and not to contact.

esmerobbo

Audley Harrison had a better defence then Stephen Thomas.:rotfl:

Shows how desperate they are when that's the best they can quote!

bromsgrovebarry

PPCs bring out the Thomas case once in a while to try and add substance to their pseudo-legal tosh. It could have been a set up but it must be balanced by the numerous times that the PPC has had a kicking in court. However, play safe and ignore all communication with the PPC.

bdoylea1

wife was "fined" by private company in car park for being over the line....any advice

HO87

Same applies - ignore, ignore and ignore. Do not write to them - there is no real appeals process worthy of the name. Do not call them. Remember: What she has in not a fine it is a speculative invoice. She may well receive threatening letters from the company and then some from debt collectors and even a solicitor or two. However, the chances of her actually being taken to court are slim in the extreme because the truth is that the whole private parking business model is percentage-based. In other words, they are happy to leave to one side those who ignore their threats because they are making so much profit from those who cave in. The aspect of the law they are using is at best debatable and the frequency with which the companies are roundly spanked at court demonstrates how flimsy their grasp of it is.

By all means come back for further reassurance but do not be fooled. The only time that you would need to act would be in the extremely unlikely circumstances that your wife receives court papers. If she does then come back here for detailed guidance on how to successfully defend the case.

Oh, and don't pay them either.

bromsgrovebarry

I could not agree more with HO87. Once you are convinced nothing is going to happen, get payback by telling everybody not to pay Mickey Mouse private parking 'fines'. This will bring an end to this nasty little business and not a moment too soon.