Civil Enforcement LTD

wkd19912

Hi all, new to this website need a little help please!
I was parked on a car park late the other night at 22:06 I left the car park at 22:42 I have received a fine for £70 but halved if I pay within 14 days, this was issued by Civil Enforcement LTD in Liverpool, the car park is no where near this! This used to be a free car park but now is monitored by CCTV and is only free for the first 20 minutes, I never knew this I pulled over to have a chat with friends and use my mobile phone, the question is do I pay this or avoid? I am only 20 and don't want debt collectors coming around my parents house or appearing in court!
Please any tips or help? Many thanks!!!

Tobster86

Much of the advice here would be to ignore them completely as they're unlikely to chase it up. What they've sent you is a speculative invoice, which is for what is arguably a penalty, which is not enforceable under civil law.

I personally in this situation would write to them offering the cost of the pay & display parking as a 'full & final settlement' to cover my back. I would print 'payment enclosed' on the envelope but not stamp it so it costs them to receive it if I felt personal objection towards them

[edit] Sorry, I think you need to clarify something; is this their land or public land and is it a pay & display car park or a free one with a time limit?

peter_the_piper

This used to be a free car park but now is monitored by CCTV and is only free for the first 20 minutes,

Kite2010

At the time of night it could be said that you could easily didn't see the signs if they were poorly lit and the changes hasn't been advertised anywhere (who checks a sign every single time they enter the same car-park?)

I doubt the landowner will lose sleep over not getting paid for the 20 or so minutes of not-paid for parking late at night (and would probably be laughed out of court if they tried claiming it). It is only the landowner whom can claim for losses and not some morally wrong company

Tobster86

Ok, in that case same situation as any other free private car park; ignore them completely. You will get a series of increasingly nasty letters for a time which will eventually cease.

You and other persons at your address WILL NOT be visited by bailiffs and CAN NOT have your credit ratings affected.

If you need to convince your parents (and ultimately, yourself), refer to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAIcdi9niHA

notts_phil

Ignore the letters and expect to receive fake court papers. It's their party trick

Coupon-mad

wkd19912 wrote: »

I am only 20 and don't want debt collectors coming around my parents house or appearing in court!
Please any tips or help? Many thanks!!!

Echoing what everyone else said - don't pay this! :eek:
Private parking companies cannot fine people and nothing will happen. It's an impersonation of authority - a fake PCN.

I am just an ordinary law abiding Mum with a mortgage, a clean credit record and a job that requires an enhanced CRB check (as does my husband's job). I laughed when I got one of these fake PCNs 4 years ago and was very pleased to waste their postage when I got the usual debt collector letters. I would happily collect more.

A private company cannot affect your credit record without a credit agreement (shouldn't think you signed a credit agreement to this bunch of chancers while you were there?!). Without that they would need to achieve the small matter of winning in Court by convincing a judge that you owe them money.

They can't and they won't affect your credit rating and they can't and they won't send the boys round. This will not even make a dent on a penny in your pocket. Do not take it seriously at all; do not respond to the letters in the absence of real sealed Court papers - which will not come. It's all just threats.

NOTHING HAPPENS EXCEPT LETTERS - WE EVEN HAVE PREVIEW PICS OF EACH LETTER IN THE 3RD FROM TOP THREAD 'PPC LETTERS & THREATS'.

THIS IS A SCAM AND IS SOOO EASY FOR YOU TO IGNORE!

Kite2010

The only time you will appear in court is when you are suing the landowner for harassment from his/her agent.

andrew-the-cat

Not a fine. Just an unenforceable civic invoice. You have no legal obligation to pay it.

They could take you to court, but they are only entitled to sue you for their losses and they'd have a difficult time trying to convince a judge that by parking for 16 minutes longer than you should have done, they lost £70.

wkd19912

thanks for the help everyone I think its best to just ignore this then!!

HardWorker2010_2

wkd19912 wrote: »

thanks for the help everyone I think its best to just ignore this then!!

Yes, and also tell everyone of your friends and family about the Private Parking Company scam that is currently being committed by these and other PPC scum bags.

Point them to the youtube video and this forum.

The more people that know about how these parasites operate and how they lie, cheat, bully and repeatedly pretend to have authority that they don't, the better.