Parking Charge Notice - Court Costs?

Potbellypig

To cut a long story short, the driver pulled into a bus and taxi bit at a Tescos thinking that it was where they could park. They quickly realised their mistake and turned around (waited at the traffic lights) and went out. They was in there no longer than 30 seconds.

I received a Parking Charge Notice for this of £100. 3 letters later and this has now gone up to £149. The drivers excuse probably holds no weight as by contractual law I'm bound by the signs outside (I didn't see the signs but they must be there as it's a massive shopping arena). I haven't told them this though as I know this isn't going to get you any sympathy.

From reading the internet, I know that they can go as far as to take me to court as the registered keeper and have a CCJ registered against me (I can pay within 28 days of the CCJ for it not to go on my record though). What I want to know is, does anyone know how much I would get charged for it going to court? I assume that I'll have to pay the original fine of £100 and then court costs. But how much are these 'court costs?' £300? £500? £1000?

twhitehousescat

signage and grace periods come into this in a big way

origional "ticket" price (£100) plus a MAX of £50 in solisitors costs and the court fees , should be less than £175-200

the parking Co CANNOT go adding £49 here and there or inflate court (solisitors costs)

if you lost and paid up within 28 days there would be no CCJ , so even if they took you to court it might cost you £175-£200 as oposed to the £149 (and will go up) fee,

who is the parking Co

Redx

is this council or private ?

if its council , sign up at pepipoo forums with a gmail address and ask there

if its private , name the PPC who issued it (a typical loss is about £175 as small claims are "capped")

catfunt

You should be paying the PCN plus cost of (max I think) £50 + court costs of probably £25 if you lost. Possibly a little more but no more than about £200 in total.
Costs are limited in Small Claims court. Certainly nowhere near £500 or £1000

Who is the PPC??

Umkomaas

If this is a private parking outfit:

Original charge - £100
Court filing fee - £25
Court appearance fee - £25
Capped solicitor costs - £50
Some travel expenses (maybe) - £25
Total £225-ish.

Tell us who the PPC is and we can give you a better idea of likely court prospects, but by the time it could 'get to court', things might well change as the balance is slowly tipping after a few months of PPCs getting a bit frisky on the court front!

Potbellypig

Wow, thanks for all the replies.

The company is Park Watch (a new company to do the parking charges at Tesco Coventry) and the latest letter I've received is from Debt Recovery Plus.

Whilst continuing to Google I found this link which is almost identical to my case... http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?471445-Park-Watch-PCN-entering-Bus-only-Area-Ricoh-Arena-Coventry-Appeal-refused.**WON-AT-POPLA**

I'm not really sure what POPLA is but is it worth putting an appeal to them as per what this person has done? Or leave it for a bit?

As soon as I got the fine (invoice) I was adamant I wasn't going to pay it. I feel the amount is wholly unjustified, but I've been having a few doubts about over the last week or so thinking about 'what if I got to court and it goes up to a grand?!' Thanks for the reassurance that it'll only be a few hundred whatever happens.

twhitehousescat

Defence Systems Limited t/a Park Watch BPA members


you may be interested to know that summot sticks with this lot , on the payment (BY POST) is it parkwatch ltd or defence systems , JUST the payment bit ,

chill and read this http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=107155

alsi on WHAT date did this happen ?

Potbellypig

twhitehousescat wrote: »

Defence Systems Limited t/a Park Watch BPA members


you may be interested to know that summot sticks with this lot , on the payment (BY POST) is it parkwatch ltd or defence systems , JUST the payment bit ,

chill and read this http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=107155

alsi on WHAT date did this happen ?

I thrown away the original PCN (at the time my first thought was ''well I'm not paying that''). Probably should have kept it, I know. But this is some of the info on the last (3rd) letter from them...

Parking charge date: 29/10/16
The creditor: Park Watch Ltd
Reason for issue: Entered No Access Area

The post bit on the back says Debt Recovery Plus.

I'll take a read of that link too, thanks.

twhitehousescat

approx WHAT date was it , you are on third letter now , last year , what month?

there is a reason for asking!

Potbellypig

twhitehousescat wrote: »

approx WHAT date was it , you are on third letter now , last year , what month?

there is a reason for asking!

I've answered. The parking charge date was 29/10/16.

Edit: to make it clear. The date that I entered their no access area and the date that they are charging me for is the 29/10/16. The last letter dated from them was 2 weeks ago.

Redx

the letter 2 weeks ago is from DRP, not "them" (them being Park Watch)

you can IGNORE drp, they are powerless debt collectors who have added their fees on

and its too late for POPLA, as the pcn (invoice) should have been appealed in the first 28 days , so long ago now

the NEWBIES sticky thread explains all this , but the keeper is now in IGNORE mode , unless they get an LBC from PARK WATCH/DEFENCE SYSTEMS , or from their legal representaive (solicitors) within the next 6 years

if its one contravention, it will cost less than £250 , more like £175 to £225 if you lost in court (small claims court)

read the debt collctor thread by coupon-mad , and read the NEWBIES thread

then IGNORE drp

come back if you get an LBC or an MCOL from Northampton, in the post