Disputing a Lidl Parking Ticket - SURPRISE OUTCOME

Sirdan

MGolden wrote: »

Sit tight - the letter doesn't say that if you don't pay it will be passed onto a debt collection company - it says the debt may be passed on. They won't pass it on. And don't worry - I've kept the one they sent me with the picture of my car magically driving itself!!:)

Well even if they did pass it on to a Debt Collection Company ...so what ??????

These Debt Collectors have no powers all they can do is write you more threatening bluff letters which should also be ignored !

Often they threaten a home visit ...more utter bull..not worth their while and if they did show up you are perfectly entitled to tell them to go forth..remember they are private citizens with NO POWERS !

MGolden

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Yes they will pass it on to a debt collector (aka pointless pen-pusher). That's what the top thread is all about!

Oopps - missed that bit, I sort of skipped to near the end! Oh well - I still wouldn't worry. Actually, they did send mine to a debt collection company who then wrote to me - I've just dug the letter out! I ignored it and completely forgot about it until just now.

Coupon-mad

MGolden wrote: »

Oopps - missed that bit, I sort of skipped to near the end! Oh well - I still wouldn't worry. Actually, they did send mine to a debt collection company who then wrote to me - I've just dug the letter out! I ignored it and completely forgot about it until just now.

You've got it. And nice to hear it confirmed again that the threats were so laughable and pointless you've forgotten about them now. Me too, although I am happy to collect more fake PCNs if a PPC wants to waste their time and money on writing to me!

Anthorn

To start with, when you enter a private car park and that is exactly what the car parks at supermarkets are, you are entering into a private contract with the owner of the car park the conditions of which should be clearly displayed for all to see.

If you breach the conditions then the owner of the car park may issue an invoice for payment of the costs they have incurred as a result of you breaching the conditions. That invoice is not a "fine" and in fact has no basis in law!

Then you must decide whether the amount payable on the invoice is reasonable in the circumstances. If you decide that it is unreasonable but decide that a different amount is reasonable then pay them that stating in writing that it is in full and final settlement. If you decide that payment of anything is unreasonable then tell them that in writing.

If you are contacted by a collections agency tell them that the charge is in dispute and they will then refer the matter back to the company that issued the invoice in the first place. If they contact you again that possibly comes under the Protection From Harassment Act 1997 and you may be able to sue them for damages such as (according to Wikipedia) anxiety.

The company which issued the invoice then may take you to the civil court to obtain an order forcing you to pay. At that point you can decide to clear the matter by paying up or fight the case.

What you never, ever do is ignore the invoice. What you also never ever do is enter into any dialogue beyond stating what you consider to be reasonable as above.

esmerobbo

Anthorn wrote: »

What you never, ever do is ignore the invoice. What you also never ever do is enter into any dialogue beyond stating what you consider to be reasonable as above.

I doubt you will get many who agree with you, including me. The problem is this is not about anything other then trying to extract money from people!
If you enter into any sort of correspondence with them you get bombarded with total crap!

Ignoring them is the best option!:D

Kite2010

If you make contact it puts a little flag by your file that someone is reading the letters and is silly enough to "appeal" so they will add on more letters to the letter chain.

Ignore everything apart in the very unlikely event you receive genuine court papers

real1314

Anthorn wrote: »

To start with, when you enter a private car park and that is exactly what the car parks at supermarkets are, you are entering into a private contract with the owner of the car park the conditions of which should be clearly displayed for all to see.

If you breach the conditions then the owner of the car park may issue an invoice for payment of the costs they have incurred as a result of you breaching the conditions. That invoice is not a "fine" and in fact has no basis in law!

Then you must decide whether the amount payable on the invoice is reasonable in the circumstances. If you decide that it is unreasonable but decide that a different amount is reasonable then pay them that stating in writing that it is in full and final settlement. If you decide that payment of anything is unreasonable then tell them that in writing.

If you are contacted by a collections agency tell them that the charge is in dispute and they will then refer the matter back to the company that issued the invoice in the first place. If they contact you again that possibly comes under the Protection From Harassment Act 1997 and you may be able to sue them for damages such as (according to Wikipedia) anxiety.

The company which issued the invoice then may take you to the civil court to obtain an order forcing you to pay. At that point you can decide to clear the matter by paying up or fight the case.

What you never, ever do is ignore the invoice. What you also never ever do is enter into any dialogue beyond stating what you consider to be reasonable as above.

And what do you do if you "decide" that what is reasonable is £0.00?

And what do you do if the registered keeper is not the person who was driving?

And what do you do if the car park in question is subject to planning restrictions that do not allow a charge?

You're a bit new to this, and have probably read Honest John's old articles I'd guess. :cool:

Oopsadaisy

Anthorn wrote: »

To start with, when you enter a private car park and that is exactly what the car parks at supermarkets are, you are entering into a private contract with the owner of the car park the conditions of which should be clearly displayed for all to see.

If you breach the conditions then the owner of the car park may issue an invoice for payment of the costs they have incurred as a result of you breaching the conditions. That invoice is not a "fine" and in fact has no basis in law!

Then you must decide whether the amount payable on the invoice is reasonable in the circumstances. If you decide that it is unreasonable but decide that a different amount is reasonable then pay them that stating in writing that it is in full and final settlement. If you decide that payment of anything is unreasonable then tell them that in writing.

If you are contacted by a collections agency tell them that the charge is in dispute and they will then refer the matter back to the company that issued the invoice in the first place. If they contact you again that possibly comes under the Protection From Harassment Act 1997 and you may be able to sue them for damages such as (according to Wikipedia) anxiety.

The company which issued the invoice then may take you to the civil court to obtain an order forcing you to pay. At that point you can decide to clear the matter by paying up or fight the case.

What you never, ever do is ignore the invoice. What you also never ever do is enter into any dialogue beyond stating what you consider to be reasonable as above.

Close, but no cigar.

Sirdan

Anthorn wrote: »

To start with, when you enter a private car park and that is exactly what the car parks at supermarkets are, you are entering into a private contract with the owner of the car park the conditions of which should be clearly displayed for all to see.

If you breach the conditions then the owner of the car park may issue an invoice for payment of the costs they have incurred as a result of you breaching the conditions. That invoice is not a "fine" and in fact has no basis in law!

Then you must decide whether the amount payable on the invoice is reasonable in the circumstances. If you decide that it is unreasonable but decide that a different amount is reasonable then pay them that stating in writing that it is in full and final settlement. If you decide that payment of anything is unreasonable then tell them that in writing.

If you are contacted by a collections agency tell them that the charge is in dispute and they will then refer the matter back to the company that issued the invoice in the first place. If they contact you again that possibly comes under the Protection From Harassment Act 1997 and you may be able to sue them for damages such as (according to Wikipedia) anxiety.

The company which issued the invoice then may take you to the civil court to obtain an order forcing you to pay. At that point you can decide to clear the matter by paying up or fight the case.

What you never, ever do is ignore the invoice. What you also never ever do is enter into any dialogue beyond stating what you consider to be reasonable as above.

Sorry but you are wrong, if you are not required to pay (and there is plenty of law to back the fact you are not) then ignoring is the best option by far.
So far 5-0 to me , same company ,same place 4 on my car and one on a hire car ...all ignored as they are unlawful penalties ...and all gone no further than a few meaningless bluff letters.
Thanks to this forum I have saved not only cost of the unlawful penalty but also a great deal of my time by simply ignoring..it is the best option in 99.9999999999999999999999999% of cases.

AlexisV

The problem is that you are dealing with a computer that churns out templated letters. Success in stopping the computer once it's in motion is very hit and miss.