Helppppp... I'm pooping myself

copthis1

On the 1/7/2012, I pulled in to a Mecca Bingo car park in Wandsworth, it was 7.14 in the morning. I had stopped, engine running, for probably 2-3 minutes, checked my phone and glanced up to find a Mecca employee taking a picture of my car. I asked him what he was doing and was told he had taken my picture as I was parked illegally. I said I was not intending to stop, but he said 'tough, i've already taken the picture'. I did not receive a ticket.

Today (October 8th) I have received a letter from Parking Collection Services, stating that I have to pay £115 because I ignored a parking charge sent to me by post, I have never received a parking charge by post. This means I have lost the right to pay the lesser sum.

What should I do?

Panicing a bit, any advice gratefully received.

P.S The letter was addressed to my wife, but she wasn't driving.

trisontana

You weren't doing anything illegal as you were not breaking any law. As for that stupid letter, you can safely ignore it. You don't owe them a penny. For further reassurance pleas read other threads on here that deal with private parking matters.

The_Slithy_Tove

Your wife doesn't have to tell them who was driving, and without knowing that, they can do nothing. So don't communicate with them in any way, and ignore all the letters you'll receive concerning it, even though they'll seem increasingly hysterical and threatening - it's all meaningless.

copthis1

Many thanks for comments.

RENEGADE_2

Don't worry Copthis, it seems you are just another would-be target for what is a certified scam operation. Mr.Mecca Bingo has suffered £0.00 losses as a result of your action and therefore may only seek to pursue that same amount, with the inclusion of his VAT and other taxes, which are a specific percentage of what you owe - let's say it's 30%, then you owe £0+ 30% - Grand total: £0.00.

If he or that arrogant imbecile who photographed your car feel that you or your wife owe them their demand, tell them to take the matter to adjudication (ie. County Court). Given they know they'd lose without you moving a muscle, they won't even try.

trisontana

Probably another example of a "self ticketing" operation that pays a bounty for every ticket issued.

Coupon-mad

copthis1 wrote: »

On the 1/7/2012, I pulled in to a Mecca Bingo car park in Wandsworth, it was 7.14 in the morning. I had stopped, engine running, for probably 2-3 minutes, checked my phone and glanced up to find a Mecca employee taking a picture of my car. I asked him what he was doing and was told he had taken my picture as I was parked illegally. I said I was not intending to stop, but he said 'tough, i've already taken the picture'. I did not receive a ticket.

Today (October 8th) I have received a letter from Parking Collection Services, stating that I have to pay £115 because I ignored a parking charge sent to me by post, I have never received a parking charge by post. This means I have lost the right to pay the lesser sum.

What should I do?

Panicing a bit, any advice gratefully received.

P.S The letter was addressed to my wife, but she wasn't driving.

Wow, pooping yourself over a scam fake PCN?! Calm down!

As far as private parking ticket scams are concerned, for a vehicle where you or family are the registered keeper*:

Any fake PCN issued for an incident up until 30th Sept 2012 = IGNORE IT.

Any fake PCN issued for an incident from 1st October 2012 onwards:

- if you were parked in Scotland or NI = IGNORE IT.

- if your 'ticket' is from a firm who are NOT members of the BPA AOS = IGNORE IT.

- if your 'ticket' is from an AOS member in England/Wales, there are 2 choices:

a) IGNORE IT, as ever, playing snap with the threatograms that match our sticky thread 'PPC letter chains' (near the top of this parking forum),

or

b) Appeal it with help from here in how to word it, and insist on a referral to the POPLA appeals service if it's not cancelled. Costs the PPC £32 plus, costs you nothing, it's not binding on you but it is binding on the PPC. IF you do not win your appeal then revert to ignore mode. This option is for those who want to fight back, cost the PPC money and test the POPLA system whilst also getting their PPC's tactics scrutinised; start by reading threads about POPLA.

Finally, if anyone gets any fake PCN anywhere in the UK in a retail, cinema, fast food or Supermarket car park then COMPLAIN IN WRITING to the CEO of the company on site if you were a customer. Do not appeal to them, complain about this protection racket against their paying ex-customers.

HTH





* it is different for hire/lease/company cars as you could find the fake PCN paid for you! Here is a thread about what to do (whether AOS scheme member or not, you need to appeal to hook the PPC in your direction).

tospig

and don't forget to tell all your friends, family and colleagues that private parking tickets are completely meaningless and can safely be ignored!

taffy056

Ignore PCS they have never issued proceedings ever, looking at the list of those companies within the AOS who have in 2011, and PCS are not there.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4070423

bondy_lad

poop yourself no more, you have recieved a FAKE invoice,use it only,may i add to clean up your poop, then simply, press flush and ignore,there you go ,jobs a belter then.worry not anymore.

trets77

So someone in a Mecca bingo uniform claims you parked and now you owe £150.

I would like see that stand up in court.

Ignore the letters and worry no more.