Outstanding Parking Fine Debt

mowen81

I think this is the best place for this, if not please feel free to move it.

I have an outstanding parking fine debt with Marstons for £200. I phoned them yesterday to see if i could start a payment plan with them. I don't have any money until i get paid on the 27th. I tried asking if i could pay part of it off then but he wouldn't have it and said i needed to pay 30% (approximately £60) within 7 days.

Is there anything i can do to delay it until the 27th? I am happy with paying it, but right now i barely have enough money for food and petrol.

Is it worth writing to them at all? If i absolutely have to then i will find a way to raise the money, but it would be much less stressful if i could pay the initial 30% on the 27th.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Westminster

Firstly - my knowledge of this is slim at best.

However, my loose understanding is that the only 'legitimate' parking fines that MUST be paid are issued by local authorities (and possibly the police). So if this related to parking in any other kind of car park - then I suspect you may be able to see help on here (or elsewhere) about how to deal with it - basically I think a private parking company can only 'ask' you to pay - they cannot compel you or take any legal actions.

I do stand to be corrected though - so maybe see if there is a parking advice section on here - if not then google is your friend.

mowen81

Thanks, it was issued by a local authority unfortunately, so it does have to be paid. I just need to delay it a bit.

redpete

Westminster wrote: »

Firstly - my knowledge of this is slim at best.

However, my loose understanding is that the only 'legitimate' parking fines that MUST be paid are issued by local authorities (and possibly the police). So if this related to parking in any other kind of car park - then I suspect you may be able to see help on here (or elsewhere) about how to deal with it - basically I think a private parking company can only 'ask' you to pay - they cannot compel you or take any legal actions.

I do stand to be corrected though - so maybe see if there is a parking advice section on here - if not then google is your friend.

The advice to ignore private fines / invoices hasn't been correct for some time.

Google will probably bring up plenty of hits to say you can do this but it is either old advice or plain wring.

zaax

http://www.parking-prankster.com/ will tell you what to do

Gaz83

redpete wrote: »

The advice to ignore private fines / invoices hasn't been correct for some time.

Google will probably bring up plenty of hits to say you can do this but it is either old advice or plain wring.

Unless you're in Scotland

National_Debtline

Hi Mowen

If it is a council issued PCN (Penalty Charge Notice) the enforcement officers don’t have any powers to force entry into your home providing they aren’t allowed in by peaceable means first, so don’t let them in and keep your home secure. Keep your vehicle in a garage or well out of the way too as they may try to take control if it’s on the road or your drive.

There are no rules in terms of you having to pay 30% within 7 days and I suspect that’s an arbitrary timescale designed to put pressure on you.

You can complete a statement of affairs and offer affordable instalments. Providing the enforcement officers aren’t able to access any of your belongings you’ll be in a much stronger position to negotiate, and you can save up your instalments if the enforcement officer will not accept them from you. You could then attempt to pay the council directly.

We have a factsheet which covers PCN advice in more detail which you may find useful. This version is for if you live in England or Wales:

www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/33%20EW%20Penalty%20charge%20notices%20(PCNs)%20for%20parking/Default.aspx

James
@natdebtline

Westminster

The advice to ignore private fines / invoices hasn't been correct for some time.

Google will probably bring up plenty of hits to say you can do this but it is either old advice or plain wring.

I knew there must be a downside to keeping my nose clean and not getting any tickets

mowen81

Thank you for your help. I will take a look at that link. I have had this once before and they clamped my car because it was parked on the road. I don't have a garage but there is a school opposite me with a car park. If I leave it in the car park, it's open air, can they clamp it there? If they can then i may just leave it on a nearby road until i have got it sorted. I may write to them with a statement of affairs and see what they say then.

National_Debtline

mowen81 wrote: »

I don't have a garage but there is a school opposite me with a car park. If I leave it in the car park, it's open air, can they clamp it there?

For a PCN enforcement officers should not clamp on private car parks, private roads or third party premises without court authorisation. The school car park should fall into that category.

James
@natdebtline