UKPC charge in Scotland - what should I do next?

chickadee13

Hi all

I realise there are many posts about parking charges. Sorry to add to them! I would just like a wee bit of advice regarding what I should do next in this particular situation.

I parked in my usual 2 hours free car park and forgot to get the ticket to show that. I came back from a 20-minute shop to discover the ticket. Sigh, curse, etc. Guilt complex kicked in, even though I'd not even needed to pay to start with.

I realise that the advice here is to ignore it in Scotland, and I should have looked this all up as soon as I got the ticket. But instead my mum advised me to appeal, so I did via the UKPC website. I think apart from anything else I worded the appeal all wrong, going by what I've read here since. I feel really silly for going ahead with that before searching for help - it's not like me to do that. Anyway, fact is, I've done it, and that is what I'd like some advice on. What should I do now that I've appealed and made contact (and identified the driver to boot!)? I haven't heard from them yet but I expect to, and would like to be prepared. The only ticket I have had in the past was from a council so I've never experienced the hassling letters, etc, that parking companies can send and bother you with. I'm one of those boring 'always do right thing' people so I think I'll end up anxious about this!

Do I still have a leg to stand on re ignoring any follow-up contact or have I ruined it all? I am livid about being charged £100 for a free space, it's completely out of balance with what I'm being charged for.

For information: I was parked in retail park car park; I shopped in one of the shops in the retail park; I have sent the receipt from that shopping trip to the UKPC along with my ticket to show the closeness in times (4 minutes); the first 2 hours in the car park are free and after that you have to pay.

If I've forgotten any helpful info, please let me know. I don't know if asking the shop I went to for help would be any use? They don't own the car park but I give them a lot of business and I wondered if they'd have any sway should it come to that.

Many thanks in advance!

Stroma

You shouldn't have appealed as there is no keeper liability in Scotland. Did you admit to being the driver to them? If so they can in theory take you to the sheriffs court if you ignore them.

But that is in theory, in reality this company has not issued any claims in the english courts in the past year, I know that the only time they went to court was when they were sued, they lost!

So don't pay them, just ignore them, debt recovery + when they write, and the pretend zenith collections who are DR+ in disguise, the only time to stop ignoring is if you get a notice before claim. The chances of you being the first they take to court are miniscule

Coupon-mad

Relax. You should not have appealed in Scotland - but this is only UKPC. They haven't the foggiest clue about small claims processes in England, let alone trying a case for the first time ever in Scotland over one disputed fake PCN! Do not even pay if your Mum advises it!

Iceweasel

Hi chickadee,

Best thing to do now is to ignore.

As Stroma says ignore all letters and threats - right up to a letter saying 'letter before claim' which is most unlikely.

You will get several letters, especially as they realise that you are/were unsure about these PCNs.

Definitely do not pay.

Come back on here if a ' letter before claim' shows up.

But don't lose sleep over this.

chickadee13

Stroma wrote: »

You shouldn't have appealed as there is no keeper liability in Scotland. Did you admit to being the driver to them? If so they can in theory take you to the sheriffs court if you ignore them.

But that is in theory, in reality this company has not issued any claims in the english courts in the past year, I know that the only time they went to court was when they were sued, they lost!

So don't pay them, just ignore them, debt recovery + when they write, and the pretend zenith collections who are DR+ in disguise, the only time to stop ignoring is if you get a notice before claim. The chances of you being the first they take to court are miniscule

Thanks for your reply. I wish I hadn't appealed now, I really do regret it. I think I did admit to being the driver, I said 'I' all the time so there's really not much room out of that one. Gutted!

I can't help being worried because of this. I really don't want to be taken to court, although I realise you say it's unlikely! Their website is full of "here's all the people we won against" stuff, which did exactly what I guess it's meant to - worried me into appealing. Ugh.

chickadee13

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Relax. You should not have appealed in Scotland - but this is only UKPC. They haven't the foggiest clue about small claims processes in England, let alone trying a case for the first time ever in Scotland over one disputed fake PCN! Do not even pay if your Mum advises it!

Thanks Coupon-mad, yeah that's the last time I listen to her! Even at 30 I tend to err on the side of mum-knows-best. When clearly she doesn't! Which I will rub in next time I see her.

I wouldn't even know how they'd start, but I have been browsing the forum here a lot to prepare in case they do. Seems as if it's really just not as big a thing up here? If only I hadn't appealed...!

Coupon-mad

Their website is full of "here's all the people we won against" stuff, which
did exactly what I guess it's meant to - worried me into appealing

What?! Nope! :eek:

UKPC's website can't say that, they have never taken anyone to court. No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition from UKPC! (ask your Mum...!).

Are you sure you didn't look at the UKCPS website by mistake, or are you wasting your precious time looking at the debt collection firm's website - which OF COURSE isn't just about fake parking tickets! They (as a general debt collection service) will have been able to pursue SOME real debts such as store cards/catalogue defaults etc. and that's what they have on their website.

UKPC DO NOT DO COURT. EVER. I WILL EAT MY HAT IF THEY START WITH A SINGLE LITTLE FAKE PCN IN SCOTLAND!

chickadee13

Iceweasel wrote: »

Hi chickadee,

Best thing to do now is to ignore.

As Stroma says ignore all letters and threats - right up to a letter saying 'letter before claim' which is most unlikely.

You will get several letters, especially as they realise that you are/were unsure about these PCNs.

Definitely do not pay.

Come back on here if a ' letter before claim' shows up.

But don't lose sleep over this.

Hello Iceweasel, thank you for your reply. I will have to browse further to see what a 'letter before claim' is as I haven't heard of that. I do hope it is unlikely!

I understand the reason behind not paying as I do think the charges are ludicrous. Is there any reason not to pay besides this? I mean, if I did pay them, what would happen? I'm not going to, but I wondered if that would be 'encouraging' them, or just a daft thing to do.

Coupon-mad

I always say to put it in context, if you pay then you are funding the next fake ticket against the next vulnerable, old, poor victim who might be daft enough to also pay...

chickadee13

Coupon-mad wrote: »

What?! Nope! :eek:

UKPC's website can't say that, they have never taken anyone to court. No-one expects the Spanish Inquisition from UKPC! (ask your Mum...!).

Are you sure you didn't look at the UKCPS website by mistake, or are you wasting your precious time looking at the debt collection firm's website - which OF COURSE isn't just about fake parking tickets! They (as a general debt collection service) will have been able to pursue SOME real debts such as store cards/catalogue defaults etc. and that's what they have on their website.

UKPC DO NOT DO COURT. EVER. I WILL EAT MY HAT IF THEY START WITH A SINGLE LITTLE FAKE PCN IN SCOTLAND!

Haha, love the Pythons, that cheered me up

I was referring to this: http://www.ukpcappeals.co.uk/legal - is this the debt colletors' site then? It's the one I used to appeal from. They have a form to submit but no actual email address which I found a bit weird. Is this all fake then?

Stroma

It's lies, read here from the foi request to the ministry of justice, the same was the year before and before that

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4806028