Vinci Car Park & ZZPS

Coyledinho

Hi guys! New to this due to circumstances so hopefully someone can help.

I added my younger brother (currently a university of sheffield student) to my insurance policy so he could use my car whilst back from uni. Unfortunately he received a parking ticket from Vinci car park at the Shopping Centre MK.

Now at this point i should point out i didnt know anything about all this until this morning!

He has told me that at the time he got the ticket he read an old thread (mistakenly) telling to ignore it. Whilst he was still home he proceeded to bin intercept any mail regarding the ticket and binning it before i could see to avoid me finding out. He is now back at university of course and i opened a letter this morning from ZZPS stating that a fine that was apparently £35 initially is now £120 and i must pay immediately or face further action.

Obviously i dont have a leg to stand on in terms of proving i wasnt driving and i 'personally' never received the ticket or letter(s). But is there any options i can take to get this resolved before i have to bail my brother (who cant pay) out of trouble?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Coupon-mad

Why do you think there's trouble? Why do you wrongly think either of you must pay this? You are just at 'debt collector letter stage' (a daft waste of time) so read post #4 of the NEWBIES thread near the top of the forum. Stop worrying, he should have appealed but didn't - so what?!

Coyledinho

Thanks Coupon-mad. I did have a read before of that thread before posting but to be completely honest it was a lot to take in and personally a lot went over my head so thought i should just come out and ask.

As i only saw this letter from the debt collection company and had to rely on what my brother has said was on the original ticket and following letters i was just unsure as to what might happen despite seeing a lot of info about this ZZPS being toothless.

i do have a couple of other questions if you (or someone else would be so kind..

1) should i (at this point in time) contact anyone like ZZPS or VInci etc etc, to help my case or carry on ignoring everything?

2) what is the absolute worse case scenario for my particular case, going off the facts ive provided above?

Many thanks in advance

wiogs

Have you read the post which Coupon-mad suggested you do?

The info is in there.

Umkomaas

Not much you can do but weather this out. As it seems this was a windscreen ticket, the driver has had the chance to appeal, so the option for the keeper to 'name the driver' has passed.

What you can expect is a stream of debt collector letters, some in red ink, some threatening to recommend to the PPC that they should start legal proceedings. In 99.9999% of cases we've seen, nothing further develops.

In the 0.0001% case of receiving real court papers, come back for more advice. Whether or not you're a betting man, the odds are most definitely in your favour!

There's really no need to come back to tell us that yet another debt collector letter has arrived (even if it's in red ink); we've seen them all before. They'll go on for a few months, then dry up, but they may chance a last throw of the dice one a few years on (6 years available to pursue an alleged debt), but that should be it. Retain safely any paperwork from anyone alleging you owe them money - for 6 years

Coyledinho

I Just had another read and followed all the links attached to get all the info...l so i will just send a couple of letters to both disputing the charges and see what happens.

That is a big relief that these letters seem to be a load of hot air.

Apologies for starting another thread - really unsure as a newbie how to navigate the site and the protocol. Fingers crossed it doenst get to that court stage but if it does i know where to come. Thanks for your quick responses

Umkomaas

l so i will just send a couple of letters to both disputing the charges and see what happens

What will happen is they will see you as worthy of singling out for further letters. Writing to them will have no positive beneficial outcome for you.

What are you expecting from your letters? Serious question.

Coupon-mad

I agree with Umkomaas and my view is to ignore.

Coyledinho

Received another letter from ZZPS this morning saying that they will be passing the debt onto their solicitors to chase. Because of this there will be another £10 added to the charge.

Is this just more scare tactics? should i continue to ignore?

daniels102

I have also had vinci pass the debt onto ZZPS - and have just received a letter from Wright Hassal solicitors, starting to worry now, its been bumped up to £98 and they're saying they may obtain a CCJ. Should i be worried at this stage?

nicechap

daniels102, you need to start your own thread.

No need to worry unless you get actual court papers, and even then the regulars here will help you defeat this bogus invoice.

I see they've got a sense of humour -now sending letters from right hassle solicitors :-)