F1rst Parking - Debt Collection Letter

johntugwell

Hi,

My son parked in a bay at university without a permit last November, 2016 (he had tried to buy one when accepting halls, but there were none left).

He unloaded his car and left after 30 mins.He removed the F1rst Parking ticket and forgot about it.

I received a Demand for Payment Unpaid Parking Charge Notice £160 from Debt Recovery Plus Ltd in February at my new address the DVLA must've divulged, as I was the registered owner of his car and it was still registered at my ex-wifes address.

After learning of the ticket I asked DRP for proof the car had parked there and they eventually emailed photos.I've not paid and have since had a Notice of Intended Court Action.

I think from reading the posts it's too late to appeal, and I'm not sure on what grounds, although the lettering on the sign is pretty small and there's no grace period for unloading.

I've ignored a few unsubstantiated claims in the past and assumed this was also baseless, but now I'm past their payment deadline and wondering if there's anything I can do?

TIA

Redx

yes the PPC can try court and they have 6 years to do so, but the DCA cannot do anything at all

read this about any DCA

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

then ignore the debt collectors

twhitehousescat

.I've not paid and have since had a Notice of Intended Court Action.

from whom?

http://www.bmpa.eu/companydata/First_Parking_LLP.html

https://bmpa.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/203753761-First-Parking-LLP

Coupon-mad

johntugwell wrote: »

Hi,

My son parked in a bay at university without a permit last November, 2016 (he had tried to buy one when accepting halls, but there were none left).

He unloaded his car and left after 30 mins.He removed the F1rst Parking ticket and forgot about it.

I received a Demand for Payment Unpaid Parking Charge Notice £160 from Debt Recovery Plus Ltd in February at my new address the DVLA must've divulged, as I was the registered owner of his car and it was still registered at my ex-wifes address.

After learning of the ticket I asked DRP for proof the car had parked there and they eventually emailed photos.I've not paid and have since had a Notice of Intended Court Action.

I think from reading the posts it's too late to appeal, and I'm not sure on what grounds, although the lettering on the sign is pretty small and there's no grace period for unloading.

I've ignored a few unsubstantiated claims in the past and assumed this was also baseless, but now I'm past their payment deadline and wondering if there's anything I can do?

TIA

Baseless, yes - and F1rst never sue (look at the court figures):

http://www.bmpa.eu/companydata/First_Parking_LLP.html

Bath, Winchester or Hertfordshire Uni? They are at my DS's University and I've already won an appeal about one, for the registered keeper Mum of his friend! Here's a thread like yours:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5597326

Next time these are very easy for a keeper (NOT driver) to appeal and win, like here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/72042447#Comment_72042447

HTH

fisherjim

"I've not paid and have since had a Notice of Intended Court Action."

Really?
I doubt that I suggest you have a silly piece of scrap paper from Debt Recovery Plus who cannot take you to court.

pogofish

What did the OP make of Post Four of the Newbies Sticky or the PLEASE GOD NO MORE DRP THREADS thread then..?

johntugwell

pogofish wrote: »

What did the OP make of Post Four of the Newbies Sticky or the PLEASE GOD NO MORE DRP THREADS thread then..?

When you know the system, steps to contest a PCN and which posts are still relevant, it's clear as day.

When you have never previously received a PCN, or know which of the 1.3bn pages on the internet are current or still relevant, it's not.

That's what I think.

Fruitcake

Please answer the question about who has sent you the Notice of Intended Court Action.

Fruitcake

johntugwell wrote: »

When you know the system, steps to contest a PCN and which posts are still relevant, it's clear as day.

When you have never previously received a PCN, or know which of the 1.3bn pages on the internet are current or still relevant, it's not.

That's what I think.

But when you came to this site and this forum, at the top of the page where you clicked on New Thread you were presented with a Sticky thread for NEWBIES asking you to read that first.
You didn't and instead asked questions that get asked hundreds and hundreds of times simply because people don't read the NEWBIES thread before they start.
This site is run by volunteers and it just wears everyone down who regularly contributes when faced with the same question for the Nth time day in, day out.

You will get as much free help as we can give you, but you are expected to do the legwork yourself.

johntugwell

Fruitcake wrote: »

Please answer the question about who has sent you the Notice of Intended Court Action.

Apologies, I don't get any notifications when there are thread replies.

The "Notice of intended court action" is from DRP, so it would appear it's garbage and is likely to be one of many.

johntugwell

Fruitcake wrote: »

But when you came to this site and this forum, at the top of the page where you clicked on New Thread you were presented with a Sticky thread for NEWBIES asking you to read that first.
You didn't and instead asked questions that get asked hundreds and hundreds of times simply because people don't read the NEWBIES thread before they start.
This site is run by volunteers and it just wears everyone down who regularly contributes when faced with the same question for the Nth time day in, day out.

You will get as much free help as we can give you, but you are expected to do the legwork yourself.

You are partly correct - I read quite a lot, then messaged someone on the forum who had successfully appealed a F1rst Parking PCN received in a university car park.They suggested I start a thread.

I appreciate the advice and time is given free, and I had read the Newbies sticky.But the third line of post 1 from 10-11-13 says "START YOUR OWN NEW THREAD IF YOU FEEL YOU STILL NEED TO ASK FOR ADVICE AFTER READING THE RELEVANT POSTS HERE BUT DON'T TRY TO SKIM-READ THIS ON A PHONE, PLEASE! "

As it seemed my circumstances were unique and I had received the DRP letter blind because I was the keeper and my son had ignored the windscreen PCN for 2 months, was advised by a poster that I had missed the appeal window (which is also what DRP said) and should start a thread, and read that line on the sticky also suggesting the same, it seemed that's what I should do.
Additionally, how would I know that the advice from the 10-11-13 post is relevant or current, or following it wouldn't compromise any actions I make now? (rhetorical question).

The latest on my PCN is the uni agreed with F1rst Parking to halve the ticket to £80, but I've ignored them.
The uni allege they can do nothing further as it's with the parking company.

I tried to submit an appeal on the F1rst Parking portal comprised of mainly the listed templates, but it came back "With Debt Recovery".

As I understand it, the ppc has 6 years to recover the charge, and the only way I can now appeal is to write to them.Is that about it?

The images of the car are crystal clear and the parking notice is right above it.The text is quite small and the driver was facing the sun on a very bright day in their pictures, but whether that is enough to not be able to read it is a moot point.There are other signs.

TIA