Britannia Parking Charge Notice

thereis

4 weeks ago I parked in a car park, purchased my ticket and went shopping. I came back to the car to find a PCN attatched to the windscreen. I got to the car and realised that my proof of parking wasnt on display (I assume that when my child closed the passanger door its blown off onto the floor).

I found the warden and explained to him, and he said to write to the address on the notice and that it would basically be dismissed. I did this, including the ticket which showed what time I paid for my parking.

I got a letter saying my appeal had been received, and that if I hadnt heard back within 30 days then the charge was upheld. Needless to say the 30 days have now elapsed. Should I just send the cheque for £30 or just ignore all the letters I will get saying they will take me to court?

Im a honest person, and have never been in trouble with the law before, I have no driving offences, so Im pretty upset about this whole situation, and I dont want a criminal record, or have legal fees to pay. What should I do?

Stroma

Well you haven't broken any laws here, this is a civil matter not criminal! So don't confuse the two. These companies rely on people like you who are upstanding and very British to just cough up their money at any sign of authority, these companies have no authority they cannot fine you or give penalties.

You've appealed if this is England or Wales they were obliged to reply to you within 14 days to acknowledge the appeal, and I believe 35 days to nay or yay it, if they fail on both they time themselves out. So don't do anything certainly don't pay them anything, and if they do come back to you demanding money come back here for further advice.

Though ignoring works as these people do not for the most part do court

thereis

Thanks Stroma. It actually occured in Scotland, so I dont know if the law differs here from England and Wales? The letter certainly said if I hadnt heard back within 30 days of the original charge date that the appeal was upheld, thats what worried me as the 30 days have now passed, and I didnt want letters coming saying the fine is now £60 as opposed to £30. My partner wanted me to pay the charge outright, if he knows that letters will be coming threatning court action he will be beside himself with worry that I might be hauled into court. SHould I just ignore any further letters I will get?

Coupon-mad

thereis wrote: »

Thanks Stroma. It actually occured in Scotland, so I dont know if the law differs here from England and Wales? The letter certainly said if I hadnt heard back within 30 days of the original charge date that the appeal was upheld, thats what worried me as the 30 days have now passed, and I didnt want letters coming saying the fine is now £60 as opposed to £30. My partner wanted me to pay the charge outright, if he knows that letters will be coming threatning court action he will be beside himself with worry that I might be hauled into court.

NONONONONONO!!!!!!!

OMG you have taken this too seriously, do not even think about sending them 30p let alone £30!

Britannia do NOT do Court, just the usual letters - and as this is in Scotland there is no appeals procedure to bother with at all. You should have just ignored them from the outset, this is not a real fine at all - but you MUST IGNORE THEM NOW.

Please educate your partner because this is a well-known scam with well-known letters which have been discussed several times on Watchdog!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4458671

It's late and I must get some sleep, but show him my reply on there and all the links I gave that poster in post #14. Read the links and you'll soon see this for what it really is - and it's not a fine nor a parking ticket at all.

IF YOU PAY THIS YOU HAVE BEEN MUGGED. YOU MAY AS WELL PAY PHISHING EMAILERS. CAN'T MAKE IT MUCH CLEARER THAN THAT THAT THIS IS A SCAM!

thereis wrote: »

Should I just ignore any further letters I will get?

YESYESYESYESYESYES!!!!!!!!! That is the option in Scotland as you must NEVER pay the things and should just ignore them. You still can, no harm done. It does not affect your credit rating, cannot just result in a CCJ without Court (won't happen) and they cannot send the bailiffs in either, it's ONLY about ignoring some letters:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=24362


HTH, easy to ignore. I have ignored Britannia myself.

Stroma

As this is Scotland then ignore them , this will never get to the sherrifs court ever, these companies are so stupid they threaten the Scottish with a small claim, which is only for people in England and Wales .

This company should now be ignored, you mention after 30 days of no contact that the appeal will be upheld, well that means accepted. If that is the case they should not write to you now. But even if they do you should not take junk mail seriously, if this a Nigerian Prince asking for your bank account details would you or your husband take that letter seriously ?

thereis

Thanks Coupon-mad, your advice was very helpful! Thanks again Stroma for more help

I had another look at the letter and it states "You will be advised of our decision in writing within 35 working days.." Then goes on to say "If you have not heard from us within 35 days then you must assume that your appeal has been upheld"

Looking at the date on the letter it seems that I still have another few days to wait until the 35 days have elapsed

Coupon-mad

If you 'must assume that your appeal is upheld' that means they'll have accepted it of course! They have to let you know within 35 days of when they received your appeal.

thereis

Im increadibly dense, I thought it being upheld meant the "fine" must stand. I assume that they will write back and say that I have to pay the £30 and my appeal was unsuccessful

Coupon-mad

Yep they may do but you won't be paying it now will you? If they reject then it's POPLA next, with our help, to get it cancelled after all.

thereis

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Yep they may do but you won't be paying it now will you? If they reject then it's POPLA next, with our help, to get it cancelled after all.

I have a feeling that if a rejection letter comes in my partner will go behind my back and pay it. I showed him the post you made and the replies on the link but he still said he would feel more content paying the fine if need be. He is such an over dramatic actor at times! I'll have to research POPLA as I dont know what that is. Cheers again for the help

Coupon-mad

Did he watch the Watchdog clips, particularly the one with the paper aeroplane?

He cannot want to pay this surely, it is NOT a fine, does NOT affect credit rating and is just like a phishing email! Does he also feel 'more content' sending money to Nigeria by Western Union when 'Prince Ruwonowoko' emails and says he needs cash to free up his lost millions and will share the money? Or does your partner snort with laughter and delete such rubbish? SAME SCAM.

Oops, POPLA doesn't apply to you as you said this was in Scotland...so if it gets rejected you just IGNORE THEM after that.

NO ONE PAYS THESE SCAMMERS!

Chances are your appeal might be upheld (= allowed!) anyway if it's already close to 35 days since they would have received your appeal. Britannia are VERY TAME, do allow some appeals and do NOT use small claims Court - it's only a case of ignoring a few letters even if you hadn't appealed. Easy to ignore, I did.