Help

dawn1967

My daughter received a parking ticket on a shopping centre, parking in a disabled bay, she forgot to display her badge. She appealed as it was an error, but heard nothing. Today she has received a letter from a debt collector who has bought her debt, they say she was told in a letter in April to pay £15 which they say she ignored. She didn't receive a letter. Now they say she needs to pay £130. Is this right? And should she pay?

Redx

read post #4 of the NEWBIES sticky thread

IGNORE the debt collectors

do not pay the debt collectors

and get her to complain to the landowner and demand a cancellation under the EA2010

dawn1967

Cheers, in my panic I didn't read the thread. Thank you

ColliesCarer

Hi dawn,

This is just a disputed invoice. The debt collector hasn't bought the debt - there is no debt to buy. That only applies if there has been for example a credit agreement etc. They are just trying it on.

Your daughter can ignore them - they are toothless and can do nothing except send begging letters hoping people will be daft enough to pay them.

Just need a bit more information to help you further.
I'm assuming it was a windscreen ticket originally - when did it occur?
Which parking company issued the ticket?
When did she appeal and did she keep proof of submitting her appeal?
Who is the debt collector that's now contacting her?

Also you could have a read of the sticky NEWBIES thread - scroll down to post number 4 which tells you how to deal with debt collectors.

dawn1967

Hi yes it was a windscreen sticker, 25th March.
Parking company is UKPC UK parking control ltd.
She has no proof of her appeal but was told when she rang by the parking company that her appeal had been successful and the charge was for administration, £15 (initial ticket was £35) Which they said was sent on April 26th, she never received this, but are saying the debt has been sold because she ignored this. Hope this makes sense. The new letter is off Debt Recovery Plus Ltd. Thanks for your help.

ColliesCarer

As already advised - Ignore DRP - they can do nothing - (no matter how much scary red ink they may use ) - just file any letters that arrive.

Have a read of this thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5283012

Sound familiar?
But do not ring them or UKPC as the above poster has done - it's never advisable to deal with any of these scumpanies by phone.

UKPC should have either cancelled the Parking Charge when it was appealed or rejected the appeal and provided your daughter with a 10 digit code so she could do a 2nd stage appeal to POPLA.

Your daughter (like the poster in the above thread) should also complain to Steve Clarke at the BPA Ltd that UKPC have not responded to her appeal and have breached the BPA Ltd Code of Practice by failing to either cancel the charge or reject the appeal and provide her with a POPLA code. In addition they have continued to process the Parking Charge by passing it to debt collectors whilst it is still under appeal. I would also mention that you are aware the BPA are currently dealing with very similar complaints about UKPC's blatant disregard of the CoP.

Email him at steve.c@britishparking.co.uk

Include copies of all correspondence to/from UKPC and DRP (i.e. the PCN, the appeal and the letter from DRP) - make sure she also points out that no other correspondence has ever been received.

In addition - as Redx has advised complain to the retailers she shopped in at the retail park. They may be able to get this cancelled.

Lets know how she gets on and if she gets a POPLA code out of them come back for help drafting a winning appeal

dawn1967

Brilliant advice. Thank you so much.

dawn1967

The British parking association have looked into the matter for us after emailing Steve Clarke at the address above. UKPC have provided them with information and they have agreed to accept the original offer of £15. We are happy with this result as my daughter admits she was at fault for not displaying her disabled badge. At the same time I also emailed the shopping centre manager about UKPC's actions, to date I have received no reply. Thank yo all again for your brilliant advice.

The_Deep

Your daughter was not at fault. Disabled parking spaces must be provided to those entitled to them, whether they hold Blue Badges or not, your daughter was so entitled.

Pay UKPC nothing. They will probably get debt collectors and down market solicitors to send you threatening letters, let them, it is their money they are spending.

bazster

:wall: Paying £15 to UKPC, after they've broken the BPA Code of Practice and told you a pack of lies?

And why do you think they are willing to accept £15? Hint: it's because they know that, if you refuse to pay, they'll get nothing, zip, nada.

Iceweasel

The_Deep wrote: »

Your daughter was not at fault. Disabled parking spaces must be provided to those entitled to them, whether they hold Blue Badges or not, your daughter was so entitled.

Pay UKPC nothing. They will probably get debt collectors and down market solicitors to send you threatening letters, let them, it is their money they are spending.

Please do NOT pay them anything.

Your daughter was NOT at fault.

She is under no obligation to display a Blue Badge in a private car-park.

The leaflet that comes with the BB states quite clearly that they are only valid for on-street parking and in council car parks.

Of course they will accept £15 as in their initial speculative invoice, as they are fully aware that your daughter has no need to pay them anything at all.

If I sent you an invoice for £15 for looking out of your window would you pay me?