Parking ticket from 2008

ianbeale_steeplecocque

In 2008, I was working at Domino's pizza as a driver, and where we have to park at the back was patrolled up to about 5pm. I did one shift in the day time but they never gave me a parking pass, and a few months later I had a parking ticket from AS Security. I told my boss and they said they'd sort it out, and I never heard back again.
Then today I got a letter from VP Parking Solutions (almost exactly 4 years to the day) for the same original amount of £117.50.


I'm really suspicious about this given how long it's been. Apparently AS Security were dissolved and taken over by VP Parking and there are quite a few threads here about them. I also never had a notice put on my car (the letter they sent today says there was), the first I knew of it at the time was when I got the original letter 4 years ago. Anybody have any advice? Should I just ignore them?

Stephen_Leak

Yes, ignore. Fines or penalties can still only be imposed by councils, police or Transport for London. It's still a legally unforceable, speculative invoice. Hopefully, it won't take them another 4 years to figure out that they're throwing good money after bad.

taffy056

Pmsl 4 years later ! They got absolutely no chance of winning in court if it ever went there, the bpa has guidelines of an invoice getting to the registered keeper in 4 weeks (not that the bpa should be taken seriously) not wait 4 years.

The answer to the question is to ignore the scammers completely!

Half_way

you have a few options, do you still have the origanal notice, if so does it mention any of the following key words: fine, or penalty.
if it does then it may make it easier for you to claim something off them for harrasment, if it doesnt its still an un enforcable attempt at a fine/penalty, £117.50 is a riduclous random amount.

Ok, so option 1 ignore, and you will get letters saying that you may be threatened with balifs, CCJs and so on, ignore them they mean nothing.
I may also win the lottery tonight

option 2 send a letter telling them to sod off, or more politly point out that the charge is ridiculous, and represents a fine/penalty charge, and as such you wont pay any further contact about this, other than to acknowledge the receipt of this letter, and that the matter is now closed will be treated as harrasment, from which the authorities may be informed and legal action could be started against VP parking and their agents and whover contracted them.

ianbeale_steeplecocque

I don't have the original letter anymore, I gave it to my boss when he said he'd deal with it, and I don't think I would've kept it all these years anyway.

I also read that AS were dissolved and that VP has the same owner, but he didn't buy the assets of AS and therefore can't take up unpaid fines from the old company? If that's true then it's even more straightforward and they don't have a leg to stand on, right?

Stephen_Leak

They didn't have a leg to stand on 4 years ago.

Coupon-mad

ianbeale_steeplecocque wrote: »

I don't have the original letter anymore, I gave it to my boss when he said he'd deal with it, and I don't think I would've kept it all these years anyway.

I also read that AS were dissolved and that VP has the same owner, but he didn't buy the assets of AS and therefore can't take up unpaid fines from the old company? If that's true then it's even more straightforward and they don't have a leg to stand on, right?

What 'fines'?

Doesn't matter even it was the same old company writing to you - it's still not a fine and never was.

Ignore the chancers or think about suing them for harassment.

give_them_FA

Unbelievable. It was totally unenforceable four years ago. Now it's unenforceable in spades. Collect the asinine letters and sue the idiots.

ManxRed

You are correct in that any contract formed would have been with the original company which is no longer trading. Without informing you that they had sold the 'alleged' debt on (its not even a real debt without a court judgement), then you cannot be pursued by some other company whom you have never had a contract with.

As others have stated, its all unenforceable tripe anyway, but just thought I'd address your point about the different companies.

ianbeale_steeplecocque

The letter was sent to my mom (car was in her name at the time) so I think she's more worried about it than me. I'm happy to ignore them but I just wanted to make sure.

give_them_FA

Sending them a letter telling them to go forth and multiply in an envelope without a stamp on it usually conveys the idea that you are not going to fall for it and sees them off. If all you want to do is save Mum some worry.