Private Parking Fine, Vehicle Control Services Ltd

lreeson

I received a car parking notice last Thursday at a cark park in Newcastle upon Tyne near St. James’s Park which is monitored by ‘Vehicle Control Support Services Ltd’. I usually park in a council ran car park opposite it every Thursday at about 6.15pm where I collect my son from after school classes where it is free after 6.00pm. However yesterday the car park I usually use was full so I ventured across to the next car park which I thought to be the same (council ran). I usually wait in the car for my son as he knows I park in virtually the same bay every week.

Yesterday when I was in this private car park (which I thought was council ran as the one adjacent), my son was waiting in the incorrect place opposite so I left the car for 10 minutes unattended as he was left waiting by himself. I eventually found him and got back to the car 10 minutes later. I was then astonished to find a parking charge notice on my car windscreen and seen the patrol officer walking away in the distance. Then did I realise that the car park was privately ran but I didn’t stop to check the sign which was rather far away as I presumed it was council ran and I new I would only be away from the car for 10 minutes plus my son was stood waiting by himself.

When I eventually arrived home I opened the notice to be even more taken aback by the unreasonable parking fine of £80! Plus having to pay within seven days! (or increasing to £120) Being a single parent I think this is extremely unreasonable as I was literally away from the car for 10 minutes and wouldn’t usually leave the car.

I acknowledge that I was wrong for leaving that car without walking and checking the sign however I am disgusted at how large the fine is. I would have just had to accept this if it was just the usual £30 (council fee) and just learn from the experience but I really believe that the sum that they are requesting is extortionate given the circumstances and I really can’t afford to pay.
Does anyone have any advice? Do I pay or not?

Any advice would be appreciated.

notts_phil

1. Its not a fine.
2. It's a scam invoice
3. Don't pay
4. Ignore the 5 or so threatening letters that will follow!

That's it. End of:)

The_Slithy_Tove

Don't pay. Ignore all the letters you'll receive relating to it. For the background reasoning why this approach should be taken, read the sticky threads on this forum, and watch the linked Watchdog clip.

Coupon-mad

The_Slithy_Tove wrote: »

Don't pay. Ignore all the letters you'll receive relating to it. For the background reasoning why this approach should be taken, read the sticky threads on this forum, and watch the linked Watchdog clip.

Seconded, that's what the sticky threads are for and that's why the one with the Watchdog clip is called 'welcome, please read before posting'.

Kite2010

Ignore Vehicle Control Servicies, all they can sue you for is the damages suffered by the landowner, which will likely be zero, or a matter of a few pence if it was a pay & display car-park.

lreeson

Thanks for all the advice! Have any of you recieved one of these parking charges before from this company and have experience? Do they eventually stop sending letters and do I reply to them? I've sent an apeal via email basically saying what my original post said.

Whats the chances of them going ahead with court action?

I have until this Thursday to pay the standard £80.00? So i'm just deciding what to do

Thanks

Sir_Roger_deLodger

lreeson wrote: »

I have until this Thursday to pay the standard £80.00? So i'm just deciding what to do

Thanks

Take the advice given in the four posts above. It's that easy.

The_Slithy_Tove

lreeson wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice!

...

So i'm just deciding what to do

If you're still unsure, try reading the advice again, as it's quite clear. How can you possibly be in any doubt, particularly if you've followed the advice and checked out the stickies on the forum, and looked at some other threads of people in similar circumstances.

If you want to ignore everything that's been said, then that's your privilege, for which you could end up throwing your hard-earned cash at a bunch of scammers.

Coupon-mad

lreeson wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice! Have any of you recieved one of these parking charges before from this company and have experience? Do they eventually stop sending letters and do I reply to them? I've sent an apeal via email basically saying what my original post said.

Whats the chances of them going ahead with court action?

I have until this Thursday to pay the standard £80.00? So i'm just deciding what to do

Thanks

Loads of people have had these, that's why we have so much info and pictures on our sticky threads. Once you have read them and seen the letters to ignore, watched the Watchdog solicitor, then what's left to worry about - NOTHING.

'Ignore it all' does not mean 'reply' or 'appeal' and you don't have until Thursday to 'pay a standard amount, you have until infinity to IGNORE thair extortion attempt. It's not a 'standard' amount. Nor is it a fine. IT IS A SCAM.

Please read the stickies & watch the Watchdog clip.

alibx11

Don't worry about it Ireeson, i got one of their nice £80 greeting cards last July and haven't heard a thing from them.

Was sort of looking forward to all the junk mail arriving too, made me feel a bit dejected.

notts_phil

lreeson wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice! Have any of you recieved one of these parking charges before from this company and have experience? Do they eventually stop sending letters and do I reply to them? I've sent an apeal via email basically saying what my original post said.

Whats the chances of them going ahead with court action?

I have until this Thursday to pay the standard £80.00? So i'm just deciding what to do

Thanks

It seems you havent listened

Would you reply to one of those emails that was from one of those pesky nigerians