Private parking ticket - Read countless posts & the FAQ's..still unsure.

kpvmfm1690

Hello all,

As the title says, I have read through countless posts and FAQ's but I am still unsure as to what to do, at my current stage.

I received a parking ticket about 3 months ago on some private spaces opposite a friends flat, who has parked there plenty of times (he got a ticket on the same evening also). The parking bays belong to a company whose offices are next door, although it was after working hours (around 7:30 pm) and there were no other cars parked there apart from ours.

I sent an appeal letter immediately using a standard template stating their monetary claim was unjustifiable etc etc (£60 if paid within 14 days, £100 if paid within 28). I then receive nothing until yesterday where I receive a letter from good old Debt Recovery Plus (Red letter, bold writing) saying they want £149 within 7 days or they WILL recommend court action to recover what I owe.

I decided to phone the car parking company. They said they didn't receive my appeal letter and they said they sent me a letter in December reminding me of the payment. I have proof I sent the appeal letter as I put it through my works post, where we keep a record of everything sent. I have now moved address (away from parents) but asked them to check the post from the last 2 months again...nothing there. I asked the guy at the car parking company to email me the letter from December over..nothing received although he gave a very specific time and date when it was sent out (even gave it to the second!). The guy also said it is nothing to do with them now and I would have to deal with the debt agency.

I am unsure as to what my next step should be. Do I put all my evidence together and send it off to both the debt agency and the car parking firm and say I have been unfairly dealt with? Or do I just ignore it from now?

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Coupon-mad

They said they didn't receive my appeal letter and they said they sent me a letter in December reminding me of the payment. I have proof I sent the appeal letter as I put it through my works post, where we keep a record of everything sent.

Send an email complaint to Steve Clark at the BPA Ltd (email is in the NEWBIES FAQs sticky) to say that you appealed and can prove it, explain how, and attach a copy of the wording you used so they can look at it. Also attach the only letter you have got (from DRP) and say the PPC has not given you a rejection letter from the appeal you can prove was sent.

Which PPC are we talking about? Could be one of the notorious liars...there are a few like that...naming no names.

kpvmfm1690

Thanks for the swift response. I wouldn't like to say their name.

They have just emailed me the letter they supposedly sent in December.

Really confused by this now. Do I have any grounds?

pogofish

Naming the PPC is ok and a great help to us as we know which ones will or will not take it further - just don't give any details that will identify you personally.

You have all the grounds you like - stop taking them seriously and read the NEWBIES sticky!

HO87

+1

And to make it a little easier clicking on this link will take you straight to the Newbies thread.

Really, the vast majority of these companies are chancers and keep in mind that absolutely no private company can fine you - only the police, the courts and the local councils can do that.

BTW - As a general note, debt collectors are the bottom-feeders of the chancers world and they only get paid if and when you pay up because they do not have any more power than you or I to enforce payment. In essence all they can do is simply to ask that you pay but that is the last thing they want you to know so they dress their requests up in all sorts of threatening and aggressive language. There must always come a point where they invest too much in chasing a debt and stop on the basis of the law of diminishing returns. Ignore them and the will go away. You could, of course, simply tell them - in measured tones - to FRO. I do not used measured tones but its a personal choice.

kpvmfm1690

Thank you for all of your advise.

Company is Car Park Management Services.

Coupon-mad

Yep I would report them to the BPA for not responding to your appeal which you can prove was posted on a certain date. The BPA will need to see the letters you did get, and a copy of your proof that you did appeal in time. The BPA WILL investigate. If you are lucky they may tell the PPC to send you a rejection letter & POPLA code - if so do NOT send the same appeal, read the NEWBIES thread for how to win at POPLA.

In your first appeal that they lost, did you say who was driving/parked the car?

kpvmfm1690

Hello all,

Sorry to bring this thread up again.

I wrote to Steve Clark over 10 days ago and haven't received a response. I explained all my points and attached all the proof.

In the meantime I have received the attached letter. It is slightly more serious than the previous letter. Suggesting that the full amount must be paid by 12/02 and if not paid they will pass to a solicitor. Also suggesting that I would have to pay court fees and solicitors costs.

Is this just another scare tactic? Should I consider writing to the debt company outlining my points and refuse to pay?

Many thanks.

Redx

ignore debt recovery and chase up s clark telling him you are receiving DC letters

bazster

CPMS Manchester? For the umpteenth time, there is no such company. Suspected to be a sole trader who may be breaking the law by not declaring his true identity.

Shares its 'phone number with a Manchester security company, Dropzone Ltd., and also with former clamper (and also non-existent company) Car Park Policing Services.

You can make you own decisions about the likelihood of such a shady operation going within a mile of a court room.

Half_way

You can tell the debt company to go forth and multiply with the all debt is denied letter/email