Advice needed on Private Car Park fine

Welsh_Exile

Avs wrote: »

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Everyone, how can I check that LCP Parkinf Services are not linked to the council, etc (to ensure it is a private company and that they cannot win against me in court) ?

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A proper council parking ticket is called a "Penalty Charge Notice" with payment to be made to the council, not to be ignored but often worth appealing.
A private parking invoice is called a "Parking Charge Notice" inviting payment to the parking company which can be safely ignored and is not worth appealing.

SodG24

Avs wrote: »

Everyone who posted a reply, I have the same problem with the same car park, so thank you for your information.

Sayedkadiri,
I assume you ignored the letters that LCP sent you ... how are things now ? (I am about to do the same)

Everyone, how can I check that LCP Parkinf Services are not linked to the council, etc (to ensure it is a private company and that they cannot win against me in court) ?

FYI,
I drove into this car park on 1st Sept, sat in my car for a 20 minute phone call, and then drove out (I did buy some lunch from BK while my wife sat in the car).


Any more tips would be very kindly appreciate.

Cheers
Av

The simplest way is to check the invoice for two things :

1. Who does it say you should pay ? - anything that doesn't name a council will mean it is a private parking company
2. Does it mention the Road Traffic Act ? - if no then it's a private parking company.

Avs_2

Thanks guys. I plan on ignoring them based on all of your helpful advice.

A mate said why dont I contact them and tell them my cousin from abroad was driving on the day and he has gone back home now and I will not pay for him....would that be better than ignoring them ?

Thanks

SodG24

Avs wrote: »

Thanks guys. I plan on ignoring them based on all of your helpful advice.

A mate said why dont I contact them and tell them my cousin from abroad was driving on the day and he has gone back home now and I will not pay for him....would that be better than ignoring them ?

Thanks

They'll still send you the letter chain so I'd save your efforts for something more rewarding such as opening a Friday beer !

Avs_2

Hi Guys,
As suggested, I am ignoring these guys and not paying as it is surely a private car parking firm, as you all described.
One thing I noticed though from the original pictures they took of my license plate entering and leaving the car park is that with this footage, they can easily pull my face from the driver seat also, is if push came to shove, they could technically prove I was the one driving at the time.

I know you all said it wont get to a court, but are you pretty much 100% they wont bother and that they will leave me alone after a few threatening letters ?

Many thanks

taffy056

What difference does that make? They don't have a database with a name to each mug shot, it's completely irrelevant in a civil case like this, just ignore them it won't go to court.

Coupon-mad

Avs wrote: »

Hi Guys,
As suggested, I am ignoring these guys and not paying as it is surely a private car parking firm, as you all described.
One thing I noticed though from the original pictures they took of my license plate entering and leaving the car park is that with this footage, they can easily pull my face from the driver seat also, is if push came to shove, they could technically prove I was the one driving at the time.

I know you all said it wont get to a court, but are you pretty much 100% they wont bother and that they will leave me alone after a few threatening letters ?

Many thanks

Certain.

If you watch the Solicitor Tim Cary in the Watchdog clip linked in the letter chains thread, the example fake PCN he is holding is one with a pretty pic of a car arriving and leaving. Very much like your fake PCN. It means nothing at all, it's not 'evidence' and won't go to Court.

I have ignored 2 fake PCNs for overstaying when shopping (well I am a woman so what do they expect?!). When I arrive at a Supermarket car park, knowing I am going to do a big shop and maybe visit other local shops too, I usually stick my tongue out at the camera as I drive in.

Avs_2

Hi All,
As mentioned, I ignored the first "Parking Charge Notice" for a car park where the payment was due to LCP Parking (and not the council).
Now the second letter has come whith the same pics of my vehicle entering and exiting the car park. The heading of the 2nd letter is "Notice to Owner".
They mention the same info again and also confirm that the DVLA has confirmed me as the registered owener and the discount fine value has not expired.

Is this 2nd "Notice to Owner" letter part of the normal threat letters coming my way and is it safe to carry on ignoring ?

Many thanks
Av

pogofish

Perfectly normal.

BTW photos have no legal meaning whatsoever here.

Keep ignoring and stop worrying!

TrickyWicky

LincolnshireYokel wrote: »

If the landowner has rented the land to a shop, he cannot argue a shops customer is trespassing since the implied function of the tenant is a business, which implies customers parking....................it would be pretty hard to argue the contrary in court.

PPCs don't operate on a trespass basis anyway so your advice is a bit out of scope here. Only council parkings depts operate on the basis of trespass. PPCs operate on the basis of a contractual agreement and nothing more. They cannot 'fine' anyone for trespass as that is technically an offence - something they have no right to dispense punishment for.