Unfair airport parking charges at Humberside

Angryme

I went on holiday in September last year and my cousin kindly drop me of she pulled up out the terminal I got out and went on holiday. She then picked me up a week later parking in the same spot. She then received a letter from Vehicle control services saying that she had to pay a fine of £60 within 14 days or pay £100 it had taken almost the 14 day to get to her and then I had to send them a cheque as I was responsible for her being there. They cashed the cheque and the several days later they sent another letter saying that it had not been received in time so now had to pay an extra amount. In the meantime she also received a letter about parking for when I returned. Again not giving enough time to pay the lower amount. So I sent a letter complaining about their impossible timescales. This cheque was also so cashed before the letter was sent saying that it was still outstanding. We have now received letters from a debt recovery company asking for a further £272. I cannot afford to pay this ridiculous amount and they have said that it is up to my cousin as it is in her name. What can I do, as I know she cannot afford to pay it either? They have already had £120 for absolutely nothing this is absolutely unfair. The debt company say it up Vehicle recovery and they say its with the debt collects so I can't get any sense out of either!

Stroma

So you paid these scamming scumbags twice, really you should have asked here before paying! They see you as a cash cow as you have sent them money, this is what these scum do, come back for more!

Basically I would tell them to !!!! off, this will never go to court as you've paid them, just ignore DR+ they are powerless vermin debt collectors. Respond only to a letter before claim. But come here first

trisontana

Why on earth did she pay this? It's not a "fine", it's an invoice and VCS are not entitled to a penny. Please read the "newbies" thread on here. That will give you lots of information about this scam.

bazster

Have you still got the notices VCS sent you, and do those notices mention the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and/or state that the registered keeper of the vehicle is liable to pay?

If so, then if I were you I would send VCS a letter before claim demanding your £120 back on the grounds that they have committed the tort of deceit by threatening you with a statute which does not apply, and I would also be fully prepared to follow it up with a money claim through the courts if necessary.

If you are interested in pursuing this route please say so, I'm sure people here would be happy to help with the detail of it (I know I would).

Redx

I would see if the parking prankster wishes to look into this and issue some sort of MCOL to get this paid back due to the fact he mentioned these airports etc recently

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4883608

I wouldnt have paid a penny either, I would have appealed and gone to popla and paid nothing

this tells you about what you should have done https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822

Angryme

I paid them because I had asked my cousin to drop me off and pick me up so didn't want her getting trouble. But after the further letters I told them they had had enough and that i would pay any more but they said they would make my cousin pay the outstanding amount. So as I don't have that kind of money I thought I needed help! So can I tell her to ignore any further threats?

Redx

you dont get "into trouble" as these are not fines, just parking charge invoices, what you should have done is come here for guidance like you have done now

if you ignore DR+ (I would) then it may end up with court papers in the future , from VCS on behalf of the landowner

clearly you missed or ignored my advice in my previous post about going on the offensive by having a word with parking prankster seeing as you have not mentioned it, you need to tell your cousin what is being said here due to the fact that your cousin is liable as driver (or as keeper, or both)

Angryme

RedX I didn't ignore your previous message and have now read the material you said. I am totally new to all this and feel totally out of my depth, yes I should probably come on here first but I was so upset that I had cause so much trouble for my cousin that I told her I would pay as it was at my request she dropped me off! I will now do the letter and send it to them in her name in the hope they back off! Thanks for your help.

Redx

we all appreciate how complicated and difficult this is, you dont need to tell me or anyone else as we were all new once and "wet behind the ears"

but we have to tell you how it should have been done as well as what should be done now never mind what we think about these issues you have had

so although you or your cousin need to go on the offensive against VCS or against DR+ then I was offering you a link to somebody that regularly deals with these issues and has offered help in fighting these shysters and getting people their money back , especially as you are not liable for a single penny and I think yours would be an excellent case to fight back with , hence my answer previously

everyone who replies will try to help, but we also feel "if only they had come here when it all started so we could help them fight it easily and pay nothing at all"

Coupon-mad

Angryme wrote: »

RedX I didn't ignore your previous message and have now read the material you said. I am totally new to all this and feel totally out of my depth, yes I should probably come on here first but I was so upset that I had cause so much trouble for my cousin that I told her I would pay as it was at my request she dropped me off! I will now do the letter and send it to them in her name in the hope they back off! Thanks for your help.

You appear to have missed the point about reclaiming it via help from the Parking Prankster, as linked above.

Can't believe I just read that you paid them money without even Googling them. Do you pay money to phishing emailers too? I am shocked and I hope you now realise you've been 'had' by a fake PCN (a private invoice) and will never make this sort of naïve mistake again (you are the first one on there in months who has posted they fell for it hook, line and sinker). Oh dear - but at least there is a glimmer of hope.

Please follow the info to the PP to see if he can help you to reclaim this. The registered keeper wasn't even liable at all!

Angryme wrote: »

I paid them because I had asked my cousin to drop me off and pick me up so didn't want her getting trouble.

I take it you are quite young? A bit of 'life experienced' advice from a wise older relative and a bit of Googling would have helped you. Can't believe you paid - please be more alert to scams in life! Makes my blood boil that they have got away with your money and you still didn't realise until now that you need never have paid at all.

Angryme

I may be naive when it comes to these sort of things and only googled it when this final threatening letter came as I knew I could not afford to pay anymore. I had gone on holiday as I had been ill for sometime and it was suppose to be a relaxing break just as the doctor had ordered but with all this it was far from it. So another of lifes lessons learnt. But thank you all for your help and patients I really appreciate it.

I have been to Parking Prankster and put in my details so hopefully he will be able to help me now.