Will UKPC really take me to court?

JCalver

Hi there,

I could really use some advice on this one!!

About 18 months ago I was living in a complex of flats and townhouses. The place I was renting was a shared house, with a driveway, for which I paid for a parking space on. After coming home one evening and finding someone else parked in my space, I parked just behind them - technically not on the driveway, but where I parked caused no obstruction to any other cars or people, as it was at the end of a cul-de-sac.

Anyway, an inspector from UKPC clearly thought I had contravened the rules and gave me a parking fine.

After unsuccessfully appealing, they chased me with letters for a while, and following the advice of this forum I just ignored the letters. After about a year, they stopped coming.

However I had another letter this week from Debt Recovery Plus, after a 6 month gap of having nothing, saying that they are going to take me to court if I don't pay up within 14 days. I have to say I am slightly losing my bottle now, and am tempted to pay-up to just get them off my back.

What's the current advice? Have parking firms recently begun to take people to court more or not? If they do issue court papers, what happens then, and what am I liable for if I lose?

Thanks so much for your advice,

James

Umkomaas

One or two similar cases of 'dormant' PCNs being resurrected by DR+ some many months after going quiet. This could well be a last-ditch fishing expedition. Who knows, only time will tell.

However DR+ can't take you to court! only UKPC, the landowner or the solicitors of either. This is a list of those PPCs who have done court in the past 12 months. If you find UKPC on that, let me know.

https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/179544/response/444525/attach/3/A%20FINAL%20REPLY%20TO%20LEWIS%2085865.doc

Of course, past performance is no guarantee for the future, but there's no indication that UKPC (as opposed to DR+) are making any litigious moves.

If you get a LBCCC or court papers, come back, do not ignore either of those - but at face value, neither seem likely to me.

JCalver

Umkomaas, thank you very much for your reply.

You're right, rereading the letter they have sent, they actually say that if they receive no response they will "report back to UKPC with a recommendation to pass your case to our client's solicitor, LPC Law, to consider commencing court proceedings against you. Our client will also request that the court passes judgment for all legal expenses incurred".

Neither UKPC, LPC Law or DR+ appear on the list in your document (many thanks for that), so based on previous experience, it looks like I'll be OK to continue ignoring them.

I have also contacted the property management service for the complex, outlining the case and requesting they call off the dogs.

Thanks again for your advice, it's very much appreciated!

Coupon-mad

Please search the forum for 'LPC' or 'UKPC' as a keyword (or look back a few pages at thread titles) as this was discussed on about 5 threads only yesterday and earlier this week, with advice given to those in the same boat. The Parking Prankster has blogged about it too, and we shall see!

Trebor16

I just got a letter from DR + for one of their invoices going back to the summer of 2012 so they are clearly going for one last push to see if they can scare monger.

4consumerrights

However I had another letter this week from Debt Recovery Plus, after a 6 month gap of having nothing, saying that they are going to take me to court if I don't pay up within 14 days. I have to say I am slightly losing my bottle now, and am tempted to pay-up to just get them off my back.

Don't lose your bottle - but do come back if you should receive a solicitors letter - wonder which one UKPC will pick now

JMW rent a debt
BP Collins or the new speculuation is
LPC Law

Place your bets now!