Someone else's parking fine came to my address

daroo

Bought a house 5 years ago. Previous owner was in a lot of debt and in the beginning, debt recovery letters were coming through. This has stopped over the years.
Recently, another letter came, addressed to the previous owner. It was an unpaid parking fine with threats of going to court. The car registration number is mentioned. The parking location is in the same town.

I assume whoever's chasing the debt tracked this address from the car registration number. There is no other way to match an address to a car driving by?

So how is this car registered to my address if this is the first time ever any letter related to that car came through? DVLA never wrote to my address regarding this car. Until recently, I believe DVLA sent reminders by post for car tax?

More strangely, I called DVLA to notify them and they said this registration number does not appear at my address and they seem quite unconcerned.


Secondly, if a CCJ is issued, is this going to affect my credit score?

Finally, the envelope said private, confidential and to be opened by addressee only. I suppose it's not a good idea therefore to notify the sender they've got the wrong address, given I'm not really supposed to open this?

I'm not happy the previous owner is using my address to dump unpaid fines there.

Coupon-mad

I'm not happy the previous owner is using my address to dump unpaid fines there.

I don't think he is because the car isn't registered there any more. If this is a private parking firm it is not a 'fine' or a 'debt'(!) and their conduct is far worse than him, you know!

I suspect this letter is a follow up, quite possibly about a 5 year old private parking charge? BW Legal often dredge up 2011 or 2012 parking charges for Excel or VCS, writing now and threatening court, because the only address they have is the one the car was registered to in 2011/2012.

You simply need to send it back to the recipient telling them that this person moved out in 2012 (or whenever) and that the DVLA have confirmed that the car in question is NOT registered to your address so they (rogue parking firm) must cease and desist with processing or using or storing ANY records of your home address.

State that if they continue to write or start a court claim, knowing that your private data (specifically the address) is not the right data, you will report the parking firm to the Information Commissioner as a breach of the DPA principles. As such, they must treat this letter as a Section 10 Notice under the DPA and are required to confirm within 21 days that they have removed this address from all files and will not use it again. Failure to respond will in itself, mean they are in breach and you may sue the for compensation despite having no involvement whatsoever in the alleged parking charge.

Send that 1st class with a FREE certificate of posting from the PO Counter. NOT Recorded.



The above advice would be different if this is a Council or Police penalty...

pappa_golf

A parking Co can only ask for the owners details once , this would be 5+ yrs ago , a lot of PPC are now chancing their arms byy trying to get default CCJs on people who have moved house , the drivers then have to pay the PPC to get it marked as satisfied

if yo know the origional drivers address , pass the letter on , it might even help the old householder if you typed a letter to the company stating the driver no longer lives there , mark on it that you have proof of sending (send it with proof) and keep a copy , at some point in the future the origional driver may thank you for this

a CCJ is issued to a person , not all the residents in the house or even the house , just the person

pustit

Coupon-mad wrote: »

I don't think he is because the car isn't registered there any more. If this is a private parking firm it is not a 'fine' or a 'debt'(!) and their conduct is far worse than him, you know!

I suspect this letter is a follow up, quite possibly about a 5 year old private parking charge? BW Legal often dredge up 2011 or 2012 parking charges for Excel or VCS, writing now and threatening court, because the only address they have is the one the car was registered to in 2011/2012.

You simply need to send it back to the recipient telling them that this person moved out in 2012 (or whenever) and that the DVLA have confirmed that the car in question is NOT registered to your address so they (rogue parking firm) must cease and desist with processing or using or storing ANY records of your home address.

State that if they continue to write or start a court claim, knowing that your private data (specifically the address) is not the right data, you will report the parking firm to the Information Commissioner as a breach of the DPA principles. As such, they must treat this letter as a Section 10 Notice under the DPA and are required to confirm within 21 days that they have removed this address from all files and will not use it again. Failure to respond will in itself, mean they are in breach and you may sue the for compensation despite having no involvement whatsoever in the alleged parking charge.

Send that 1st class with a FREE certificate of posting from the PO Counter. NOT Recorded.



The above advice would be different if this is a Council or Police penalty...

Coupon Mad.
1) Should this not be "Sender" ?
2) Didn't take you long to travel back from Deepdale

pappa_golf

pustit wrote: »

Coupon Mad.
1) Should this not be "Sender" ?
2) Didn't take you long to travel back from Deepdale[/QUOTE]


I,m 300 yds from deepdale , or as its called now "ANPR Ltd free country"


anyonec wanting to see a rare ANPR Ltd sign , 200 yds from deepdale , preston bus garage forcourt , sign still there , excellent parking and easy 3 min walk to deepdale