TCP/Smart parking ticket

nervous_newbie

Sorry to bother you guys but am getting very nervous now, have been reading advice on forum since I received parking (fine) thru post demanding £60 for not paying a £30 notice which was never put on car. I had a broken arm and wasn't driving and person who was driving had fortunately kept the valid paid and displayed ticket for time and date concerned so I have ignored all their demanding letters. I now have had a second letter from debt recovery plus demanding £110 within 7 days or they may raise an action against me in local court. Does anyone know if I'll need a lawyer if they take me to court? Any advice would be helpfull, thanks.

trisontana

There is nothing to worry about.That letter has been seen many times on here and it's the usual hollow and meaningless threat. It won't go anywhere near a court and you certainly don't need a lawyer.

What sort of car-park was it, a supermarket or some other sort?

edward123

Debt Recovery Plus? Continue to ignore. Basically that's all you need to do. You will be nearing the end of their threats. Couple more and they should go away. Just do a search of this forum "Debt Recovery Plus" and you'll find that to ignore these works. You are in very very very very very little chance of no more than what will end up being empty threats.
Who was the Parking Company btw?

trisontana

Judging by the title it was Smart/TCP

nervous_newbie

Thanks so much for quick reply, It's just a piece of waste ground taken over by them, used to be an Arnotts department store closed and lying empty for many years and waiting to be redeveloped by local council so I think they will be gettin moved on eventually.

trisontana

So no loss to the landowner then.

nervous_newbie

Thanks, will sit tight, keep ignoring them, try not 2 lose any more sleep over them.

edward123

edward123 wrote: »

Who was the Parking Company btw?

Silly me, It was in the title. :rotfl:

edward123

trisontana wrote: »

Judging by the title it was Smart/TCP

Perhaps best left for the OP to correct me?

Coupon-mad

nervous_newbie wrote: »

Thanks, will sit tight, keep ignoring them, try not 2 lose any more sleep over them.

Losing sleep over the well-known letter chain everyone ignores?! Please don't, just laugh at them! I still keep my debt collector letters to laugh at and show to friends & colleagues, 5 years after ignoring my first fake PCN. I knew it was a scam already though so enjoyed all the rubbishy letters!

Look at this thread and advice already given pretty much every day here and on pepipoo:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=74154

I posted loads of links in my reply there (as SchoolRunMum) showing everyone is advised to carry on ignoring and I'll bet you can also see your letter there and the ones that will come next, shown in those pepipoo threads I linked for that poster.

This is just a standard letter chain from DRP (also Zenith letters, same company). They always mention their CCJs on their website in their letters but seeing as they are a Debt Collector who work for other companies like Mail Order catalogues (where there is an actual credit agreement in default) what they fail to tell you is that none of those CCJs relate to parking issues.

Only the alleged 'creditor' (the originator) could theoretically try a small claim (not a debt collector, they are just pen-pushers in this instance as there is no credit agreement or default to chase).

And look, they have been using a similar version of your letter for YEARS and MSEers have been ignoring this debt collector for YEARS too!:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=2329119

This is predictable drivel - just junk mail - but always keep it all including the P&D ticket your mentioned - just in case a PPC ever did try a small claim (still almost unheard of, and a robust defence can be obtained free from pepipoo to see off any such rubbish. You DO NOT need a Solicitor at all). Worry ye not, Smart Parking/TCP have never tried a small claim and there is so much wrong with their paperwork and signage you'd soon see them off if they broke the habit of a lifetime and tried yours as their first attempt - especially as you actually did pay and display!

nervous_newbie

Hi, thanks for your reply. My husband is losing his nerve now that we've received 2nd letter from Debt Recovery Plus with Notice of Intended Litigation, and wants me to write to both them and Smart Parkng stating that we will not be paying their demand for payment stating the reasons mentioned before, he's worried the baillifs will come, personally I want to follow advice to continue to ignore them, help.