Penalty >.< Confusion >.< PCN off Vehicle Control Services - Help please x

Katie2818

Hi,

I am so confused but hope some one can point me in the right direction.

My daughter has received a parking charge notice this morning from Vehicle Control Services ltd.

Having read threads on here and on various other responses from numerous other search results, I get the gist that the majority say simply ignore all correspondence as they cannot enforce the charge.

I do not want to pass that advice on to my daughter if it is incorrect and then she ends up in more trouble.

Please, please someone let me know what is 100% the correct action to take, or not to take, whatever the case.

Thanks in advance
Worry wart mum - aka Katie x

Zero_Gravitas

Well done for checking - as the advice has been NOT to ignore these parking charge invoices for some time now.

The 100% correct action to take now is to read the "newbies" thread in this forum. Many new posters seem to find it very difficult to find this, so here's a link:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822

Once you're read and digested that thread, please come back and ask any further questions you have on this thread.

ZG.



PS: I'm guessing that although you've put "Vehicle Charge Services" it's actually from "Vehicle Control Services" - in which case it would be very useful to know the following information now:

• What was the date of the alleged event?
• Exactly where did it occur?
• Was there a ticket on the windscreen?
• Have you received any letter from VCS about the alleged event?
• If you have received a letter, how many days after the alleged event did it arrive?

That's enough to be getting on with for now.

matttye

Where does your daughter live, Scotland or England/Wales?

Scotland = ignore, England/Wales = read the newbie thread and appeal.

Half_way

matttye wrote: »

Where does your daughter live, Scotland or England/Wales?

Scotland = ignore, England/Wales = read the newbie thread and appeal.

Correction : where did this take place/where is the car park?

Katie2818

Sorry, I did mean Vehicle Control Services.


We are in England.

It was yesterday and not she was not on a car park, per se. It is land behind shops / public house that (I think) is for unloading (possibly).

It is a small town and I cannot ever remember seeing anyone unloading there.
There are no marking on the floor that indicate not to park.
There are no meters from which to buy parking tickets.

Only received yesterday, so not correspondence from VCS as of yet.

Thank you x

bazster

There is no point in appealing, VCS will reject and so will the sham "Independent" Appeals Service. Just ignore everything unless she gets a Letter Before Claim (from VCS themselves or their solicitors, not some poxy debt collector) or real court papers.

We don't need to hear about debt collector letters, and you don't need to do anything about them, whatever they say.

Coupon-mad

Seconded, end of thread!

Zero_Gravitas

bazster wrote: »

There is no point in appealing, VCS will reject and so will the sham "Independent" Appeals Service. Just ignore everything unless she gets a Letter Before Claim (from VCS themselves or their solicitors, not some poxy debt collector) or real court papers.

We don't need to hear about debt collector letters, and you don't need to do anything about them, whatever they say.

At the risk of appearing contrary, I'm still not sure this is the best approach for IPC appeals - making no contact at all does smack of unreasonableness should it ever get to court (even if that is very unlikely). How about something like this once the NTK has been received (NOTE TO OP: I'm not suggesting you send this, I'm making a suggestion for discussion purposes):

"Dear VCS,

I am the registered keeper of vehicle xxxx xxx and I am in receipt of your "Parking Charge Notice" xxxxxxx. I reject your request for payment on the following grounds:

(1) The charge is not a contractual charge, it is a disguised penalty and therefore unlawful.
(2) Your NTK is not compliant with POFA 2012.

Further I reject your offer to use the so-called "independent Appeals Service", as this is demonstrably not fit for purpose.

Either cancel this charge or serve court papers within 28 days. Any other response from you or anyone acting on your behalf will be considered harrassment and appropriate action may be taken. If no response is received within 28 days the matter will be considered closed."

ZG.