Excel pcn - paid - help

Coupon-mad

aisha1992 wrote: »

What confuses me though, this was on my uni campus... why would my uni use a scammy/fake parking company?:s

Oh God so sorry but...why did you pay it???

You only had to Google 'Excel parking charge' to find any forum discussion threads telling you these are fake PCNs. Excel and other private parking firms must laugh their heads off when they get immediate payments from victims who haven't even checked. They cannot fine anyone, it's all a con as any thread here tells you!

Or 'private parking ticket University' as an online search would have told you the same. Or a facebook post about it would have found friends telling you never to pay a fake PCN. What a terrible waste of money for a student. Wise up and spot a scam next time please.

itsanne wrote: »

Why reply just to make someone feel worse?

Because we are astonished that a student - anyone! - would fall for such a scam, then only later find this forum but STILL not have realised it's a scam when posting about it? Even though that's what this forum is all about? We don't want to make anyone feel worse but we do want him/her to know they must never pay one again - and to spread the word.

A bit of simple online research would have been a good plan first before sending a random firm quite a lot of money for zero reason. Lesson learned we hope!

Half_way

Quick question, as theOP said payment was made by card, and its not been processed yet, can it be stopped?


As for parkling companies and uni campuses, PPCs have infected most places, from local social clubs, supermarkets pubs etc etc.

One golden rule that you should follow, before buying anything research it, before paying anything, especialy an unsolicited bill/fine/ whatever 9 ie parking charge notice/iinvoice) research it.

aisha1992

Okay I get what everyone is saying, but I didn't even know stuff like this happened! It was unheard of to me. I get it now. The only reason why I was drawn to pay it so quickly is because we had actually parked where it clearly said not to park. So I was already feeling guilty!

Also you can't blame me for assuming my university would be working with trustworthy companies!

What's the next step for me? Cancel the card? If they say they havent received my payment I'll ignore them, just as everyone has suggested.

Coupon-mad

aisha1992 wrote: »

Okay I get what everyone is saying, but I didn't even know stuff like this happened! It was unheard of to me. I get it now. The only reason why I was drawn to pay it so quickly is because we had actually parked where it clearly said not to park. So I was already feeling guilty!

Also you can't blame me for assuming my university would be working with trustworthy companies!

What's the next step for me? Cancel the card? If they say they havent received my payment I'll ignore them, just as everyone has suggested.

We don't blame you we blame Excel which is owned by a very rich man called Simon Renshaw Smith, who owns a massive Country place in Derbyshire with horses and all, has 3 girls who go/went to private school and who compete in show jumping alongside royalty.

That's who you were up against. That's the pocket you sadly lined.

You cannot cancel a card to stop a payment. Cancelling a card leaves any previously authorised payments still owing.

Is it a credit card? You could try a chargeback - Google it and read the Which? website or Martin Lewis' article explaining it - but I expect you would be refused as you paid, you authorised it. Sorry.

Private parking companies have wheedled their way in everywhere - Universities, Hospitals, almost every Supermarket car park and leisure complex, McDonalds, retail parks, you name it a PPC is scamming there. Read any other thread on the forum if you want to see other examples.

Only ever take seriously a Penalty ticket (this was NOT headed up PENALTY, it was a PARKING Charge Notice) and only when issued by an authority like the Police or Council. Now put it behind you and go and have a nice evening with your friends, spread the word about this scam, it will be your way of getting your own back. Put it on Facebook, everything, tell people about it and show them this link if you want.

aisha1992

Coupon-mad wrote: »

We don't blame you we blame Excel which is owned by a very rich man called Simon Renshaw Smith, who owns a massive Country place in Derbyshire with horses and all, has 3 girls who go/went to private school and who compete in show jumping alongside royalty.

That's who you were up against. That's the pocket you sadly lined.

You cannot cancel a card to stop a payment. Cancelling a card leaves any preciously authorised payments still owing.

Is it a credit card? You could try a chargeback - Google it and read the Which? website or Martin Lewis' article explaining it - but I expect you would be refused as you paid, you authorised it. Sorry.

Private parking companies have wheedled their way in everywhere - Universities, Hospitals, almost every Supermarket car park and leisure complex, McDonalds, retail parks, you name it a PPC is scamming there. Read any other thread on the forum if you want to see other examples.

Only ever take seriously a Penalty ticket (this was NOT headed up PENALTY, it was a PARKING Charge Notice) and only when issued by an authority like the Police or Council. Now put it behind you and go and have a nice evening with your friends, spread the word about this scam, it will be your way of getting your own back. Put it on Facebook, everything, tell people about it and show them this link if you want.

Thank you. And what do you think about the no padlock thing? I guess tons of people get tricked and paid them, its probably safe other than the fact that you paid £30 for something fake right?

Coupon-mad

aisha1992 wrote: »

Thank you. And what do you think about the no padlock thing? I guess tons of people get tricked and paid them, its probably safe other than the fact that you paid £30 for something fake right?

It's OK because we've never heard of issues afterwards - but always check for a padlock when paying and always check a firm online before buying or paying for anything.

Put it behind you and learn from it and spread the word!

realaledrinker

Coupon-mad wrote: »

always check for a padlock when paying and always check a firm online before buying or paying for anything.

A secure website usually but not always shows a padlock - see

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/154621