Wrong registration number on PCN

Maxnana

My son received a PCN a couple of weeks ago, but noticed the registration was written incorrectly. The PCN states the registration as **50*** when his registration is actually **05***.

I have read on this and other forums that this PCN will not be enforceable due to the incorrect registration, and to just keep the ticket and wait and see if they issue a Notice to Owner.

Well, he has now received a Notice to Owner, but this has his correct registration on it! They say they have photographic evidence so that's probably how they've traced him via DVLA. Can they even search DVLA with just a photo of a registration when it's not the one on the PCN?

Where does he stand now? The NTO says he has to pay the (now increased) parking charge within 14 days or they will pass it on to a debt collection agency.

Does he have to pay the fine, does he appeal it, or ignore it? He doesn't want to ignore it as he doesn't want DCAs coming after him, but what should he do?

Most forums say because of the wrong reg he won't receive a NTO as they can't trace him, but they have! And I can't find any advice on what he should do now he has the NTO.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Ritchie2

I am new to this forum, but my advice is to read the stickied threads.

Pretty soon you'll realise that your sons number plate is irrelevant, none of these idiotic charges can be enforced and you should ignore it.

trisontana

As this appears to be a private parking ticket then it's not a real PCN and it's not a proper NTO. Those terms can only be used by official bodies such as the council or the police. And it's not a FINE, it's an unenforceable invoice.

Coupon-mad

Maxnana wrote: »

My son received a PCN a couple of weeks ago, but noticed the registration was written incorrectly. The PCN states the registration as **50*** when his registration is actually **05***.

I have read on this and other forums that this PCN will not be enforceable due to the incorrect registration, and to just keep the ticket and wait and see if they issue a Notice to Owner.

Well, he has now received a Notice to Owner, but this has his correct registration on it! They say they have photographic evidence so that's probably how they've traced him via DVLA. Can they even search DVLA with just a photo of a registration when it's not the one on the PCN?

Where does he stand now? The NTO says he has to pay the (now increased) parking charge within 14 days or they will pass it on to a debt collection agency.

Does he have to pay the fine, does he appeal it, or ignore it? He doesn't want to ignore it as he doesn't want DCAs coming after him, but what should he do?

Most forums say because of the wrong reg he won't receive a NTO as they can't trace him, but they have! And I can't find any advice on what he should do now he has the NTO.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Important! Who are 'they'? The mention of debt collection does suggest it's a private firm but please let us know who.

Council or private firm?

Parking Charge Notice or Penalty Charge Notice? Big difference.

Maxnana

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Important! Who are 'they'? The mention of debt collection does suggest it's a private firm but please let us know who.

Council or private firm?

Parking Charge Notice or Penalty Charge Notice? Big difference.

Sorry I didn't give enough detail, I didn't know it made a difference.

They are 'UK Parking Patrol Office'

It is a Parking Charge Notice.

Thank you for your advice.

Trebor16

Another bunch of scammers. It is not a fine, they cannot issue you with a penalty and their Notice to Owner has the same legality as me running down the high street on a Saturday afternoon stark naked.

Your friend doesn't have to pay them a penny.

Maxnana

trisontana wrote: »

As this appears to be a private parking ticket then it's not a real PCN and it's not a proper NTO. Those terms can only be used by official bodies such as the council or the police. And it's not a FINE, it's an unenforceable invoice.

It is a private company as Far as I can ascertain. They are called UK Parking Patrol Office.

I don't know how you can tell if it's a real PCN, but it definitely says 'Parking Charge Notice' at the top of the form.

The letter that came says 'NOTICE TO DRIVER/OWNER/HIRER - This requires your immediate attention'. So whether or not they are allowed to use these terms, they certainly are doing.

Use of the word 'fine' was my mistake - neither the letter nor the PCN use that term, they state 'parking charge'.

If my son just ignores this letter, will this company carry out their threat to instruct debt collection agencies and bailiffs, and would they be sucessful in light of the fact that the PCN has an incorrect (albeit similar) registration number on it?

Also, is it right that they have traced him (via DLVA the letter states) through a photograph and not through the registration on the PCN (which wouldn't have brought up my son's details, as it was incorrect)? I have read somewhere about data protection regarding this.

However, that's all by the way really, we just need to know what my son should do having now received this letter.

Many thanks.

taffy056

They won't take your son to court , they won't send debt collectors around, bailiffs are court appointed only, they would have to take your son to court first, win the case, your son refuse to pay the judgment within 28 days, and then they go back to court to ask for a bailiff to be appointed. The chances of that happening is as rare as Wigan winning the premier league.

This company likes to use terms that councils use to confuse people their very name suggests that they have an authority, they do not, they are a private company giving out an invoice, it is illegal for them to give out a penalty, this clearly is one, this will never go to court , in fact I am almost certain this bunch of clowns have ever taken anyone to court.


Learn about this scam, read the sticky threads in this section, and watch all the watchdog videos in regards to this, then get your son to do the same.

trisontana

Even the name 'UK Parking Patrol Office' is designed to fool people into thinking that they are some sort of official organisation, instead of a bunch of scammers.

give_them_FA

It is perfectly safe to totally ignore these people. They are not acting under any authority based upon law (though they will do their best to fool you into thinking they are) and are the modern day equivalent of !!!!!! Turpin, except that they rely on a pack of lies, rather than a pistol, to try to separate you from your money. It is a sad reflection on the Government that they haven't got rid of this scam so that these crooks continue to prey on the credulous.

You will get a series of letters threatening this, threatening that, but NOTHING will happen if you totally ignore them except that they will go away and look for an easier target. Don't be tempted to argue/appeal/reason with them. Just IGNORE.

Trebor16

Maxnana wrote: »

I don't know how you can tell if it's a real PCN, but it definitely says 'Parking Charge Notice' at the top of the form.

A deliberate attempt to impersonate authority. If it was a council issued Penalty Charge Notice there would be reference to the legislation being used to issue the PCN (I think it is the Traffic management Act 2004) but the scammers try very hard to make their unlawful demands look official.

Maxnana wrote:

The letter that came says 'NOTICE TO DRIVER/OWNER/HIRER - This requires your immediate attention'. So whether or not they are allowed to use these terms, they certainly are doing.

Yes, all part of the attempt to fleece people by fear.

Maxnana wrote:

Use of the word 'fine' was my mistake - neither the letter nor the PCN use that term, they state 'parking charge'.

It makes a change not to see them saying "fine" or "penalty" but it still amounts to the same, a demand for payment which is not backed up in statute and a company trying it on.

Maxnana wrote:

If my son just ignores this letter, will this company carry out their threat to instruct debt collection agencies and bailiffs, and would they be sucessful in light of the fact that the PCN has an incorrect (albeit similar) registration number on it?

Without going to court they cannot instruct bailliffs as they would have no powers whatsoever to enforce the alleged debt. It would be the same with debt collection agencies. They do not have powers to seize goods or effect entry to properties when they have not taken a case to county court, won, and the money ordered to be paid has not been paid within 28 days.

Maxnana wrote:

Also, is it right that they have traced him (via DLVA the letter states) through a photograph and not through the registration on the PCN (which wouldn't have brought up my son's details, as it was incorrect)? I have read somewhere about data protection regarding this.

It's a red herring to be honest and I wouldn't worry too much about the fact they have realised their mistake and contacted your son.

Maxnana wrote:

However, that's all by the way really, we just need to know what my son should do having now received this letter.

Many thanks.

As advised above, don't contact them and ignore their series of letters. They will becomne ever more threatening but that is the nature of the beast. Hold your nerve and eventually, in the vast majority of cases, they will give up.

Just out of interest, what type of car park was your son allegedly parked on?