DRP (Debt Recovery Plus Ltd) Parking Charge Court Action

magicmat

On 3rd August I received a parking fine on my windscreen from Local Parking Security Ltd for parking in a pub car park with out a ticket. I was bang-to-rights, I didn't have a ticket, and I wasn't in the pub. I have read the stickies, but am a bit lost.

I have had a handful of chasing letters now, the latest from DRP offering a reduced payment of £136 to avoid court action. I don't really have much to protest about, the signage seemed fine, and I don't have any receipts for the pub. Is there much I can appeal about? Should I enter into any communication with them? Should I see how far they are willing to go?

Any advice or tips would be appreciated! Thanks!

Half_way

You need Rio read the sticky thread, one big clue is that you have called it a fine.

Grimble

DRP are unregulated debt collectors who will lie and cheat to get your money. They have as much authority as the tooth fairy, they cannot take you to court. They will quote this that and the other, huff and puff, threaten this, use solicitors headed note paper, their alter ego zenith, always ignore and if they manage to phone you tell them where to go.

magicmat

I do understand that it is a "FINE", but wanted to see if people have had PROVEN successful dealing with them in terms of using the "Ignore" method.

Thanks

bluetoffee1878

It is not a fine, It is an unsolicited invoice because you have been deemed to have broken the parking (mis)management companies made up rules.

You can either ignore unless you receive a genuine court claim, or write to DRP stating the debt is denied and to refer it back to the principal. The choice is yours.

I've used both methods, and both have worked up to now.

Carthesis

magicmat wrote: »

I do understand that it is a "FINE"

Clearly you don't. Because if you did you'd understand it was *ANYTHING BUT*!

At best it's a contractual invoice.

At worst, it's a fraudulent money-grabbing scam.

Although props to you for admitting you were wrong.

magicmat

"Fine" is just a word....doesn't have any meaning or authority. But yes, I should have been loose with the word "invoice". Just looking for any anecdotal evidence with this particularly company, where I there are no mitigating circumstances.

Carthesis

Mitigating circumstances are irrelevant, because even if legitimate ones exist, they are roundly ignored.

"Fine" isn't just a word. If a PPC even *HINTS* at the word "fine", or "penalty", that's sufficient reason to get the charge booted. So yes - it has both meaning *AND* authority, which is why they are banned from using it.

At this point, your only real option is a letter to DR+ stating you deny any and all debt, informing them to refer it back to their client, and that you do not accept the inflation of the charge for "costs" as you believe it to be a transparent attempt at double-recovery, which is specifically prohibited by POFA2012 Sch. 4.

Then you've just got to wait it out.

Keep them updated with changes of address, so they can't get a default judgement without you knowing a thing about it. Then only worry if you get an MCOL from Northampton.

Redx

magicmat wrote: »

"Fine" is just a word....doesn't have any meaning or authority.

rubbish , its a legal term and any private company using that word or the word "penalty" would be in deep do do

a judge can "fine" you , a court can , local authorites etc can issue a "penalty"

FINE
noun

A sum of money exacted as a penalty by a court of law or other authority:
‘a parking fine’

in your case it was a "Parking Charge Notice" , which is an "invoice" , nothing more

as for your questions , you have not read the NEWBIES sticky thread, nor this thread here either because you didnt bother to search

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5035663

magicmat

Oh, whoops! Very sorry! haha......Ill get back in my cage....and read!

Coupon-mad

magicmat wrote: »

I have had a handful of chasing letters now, the latest from DRP offering a reduced payment of £136 to avoid court action. I don't really have much to protest about, the signage seemed fine, and I don't have any receipts for the pub. Is there much I can appeal about? Should I enter into any communication with them? Should I see how far they are willing to go?

Any advice or tips would be appreciated! Thanks!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5035663

Read that advice sit tight. You have LOTS to protest about but not to debt collector call centre staff.