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Smart parking ltd fine - what happens if I ignore?

I received a PCN from Smart Parking recently. I entered the car park at 16:57 and exited at 17:10. The car park has 3 hours free parking but you still have to get a ticket. I printed a ticket from the ticket machine and placed this on my front dashboard. One week later I received a PCN through the post. What had happened was I bought a new car a week prior and the ticket I got from the machine I had entered my old registration number. I wrote to smart parking to explain what had happened and sent a copy of a letter I received to say I am no longer the registered keeper of my old car, hoping they would understand this is a genuine mistake and I had actually got a ticket and displayed this, bearing in mind I was only parked for 13 minutes and you have 3 hours FREE parking, I had not breached any of the rules or terms and conditions they advertised.
I received a letter back from smart parking which stated they were upholding the PCN. I did not reply and today received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus ltd saying they want to collect payment for £160, if not paid they will recommend their client to take court action against me.
What Happens if I ignore this?
Thank you

Comments

  • Umkomaas
    Umkomaas Posts: 44,042 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Did Smart, in rejecting your initial correspondence, issue you with a 10-digit POPLA code? If they did, it sounds like you've missed the deadline if DRP are now involved. If you didn't get a POPLA code, complain to the BPA - you can get this killed at POPLA, otherwise you are left in limbo for 6 years not knowing how Smart will act - they have just started dipping their toes in the water in terms of issuing court papers.

    If you want to know how to deal just with DRP - read the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, post #4.

    Have you complained to the landowner and asked them to intervene?
    Please note, we are not a legal advice forum. I personally don't get involved in critiquing court case Defences/Witness Statements, so unable to help on that front. Please don't ask. .

    I provide only my personal opinion, it is not a legal opinion, it is simply a personal one. I am not a lawyer.

    Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

    #Private Parking Firms - Killing the High Street
  • waamo
    waamo Posts: 10,298 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Seventh Anniversary Name Dropper
    The answer to your question is they could potentially take you to the small claims court.

    Do you know who the landowner is? For example many supermarkets will cancel the ticket for you.
  • Quentin
    Quentin Posts: 40,405 Forumite
    A golden rule is never reveal who was driving. edit your post to remove the details of who was!


    And if you have inadvertently used your real name as your forum name then get MSE to change it to something anonymous


    The PPcs monitor this forum and can use your posts and thread against you
  • beamerguy
    beamerguy Posts: 17,587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I received a PCN from Smart Parking recently. I entered the car park at 16:57 and exited at 17:10. The car park has 3 hours free parking but you still have to get a ticket. I printed a ticket from the ticket machine and placed this on my front dashboard. One week later I received a PCN through the post. What had happened was I bought a new car a week prior and the ticket I got from the machine I had entered my old registration number. I wrote to smart parking to explain what had happened and sent a copy of a letter I received to say I am no longer the registered keeper of my old car, hoping they would understand this is a genuine mistake and I had actually got a ticket and displayed this, bearing in mind I was only parked for 13 minutes and you have 3 hours FREE parking, I had not breached any of the rules or terms and conditions they advertised.
    I received a letter back from smart parking which stated they were upholding the PCN. I did not reply and today received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus ltd saying they want to collect payment for £160, if not paid they will recommend their client to take court action against me.
    What Happens if I ignore this?
    Thank you

    What you need to understand about Smart, is that they will always reject appeals. They belong to the scammers charter

    Did you get a POPLA code with their rejection letter ????

    DRP are blood sucking leeches who stick themselves onto the scam

    They are not in a position to recommend to anyone to take court action. DRP come out with more rubbish than a rubbish tip and
    you just ignore
    . Never contact DRP unless you want to have some fun with these down and outs (probably) ex double glazing salesman who failed

    NEVER TALK OR WRITE TO DRP, unless you know how to handle
    scammers

    The £160 breaks down to £60 to DRP.
    If they cannot suck you into the scam , sooner or later they give up and have to admit to Smart they are failures.
    When they do that, it's up to Smart to go further and that is where
    this forum will help you.

    That's it, IGNORE THE DRP MOBSTERS and if Smart decide
    to continue come back here.

    DRP operate a no win no fee in trying to scam you for money.

    Just let DRP work for £££ZERO, let DRP waste their own money and time .... THAT IS ALL THEY DO :rotfl:
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 157,637 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I received a PCN from Smart Parking recently.

    I entered the car park at 16:57 and exited at 17:10. The car park has 3 hours free parking but you still have to get a ticket. I printed a ticket from the ticket machine and placed this on my front dashboard. One week later I received a PCN through the post.

    What had happened was I bought a new car a week prior and the ticket I got from the machine I had entered my old registration number.

    I wrote to smart parking to explain what had happened and sent a copy of a letter I received to say I am no longer the registered keeper of my old car, hoping they would understand this is a genuine mistake and I had actually got a ticket and displayed this, bearing in mind I was only parked for 13 minutes and you have 3 hours FREE parking, I had not breached any of the rules or terms and conditions they advertised.

    I received a letter back from smart parking which stated they were upholding the PCN. I did not reply...

    ... and today received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus ltd saying they want to collect payment for £160, if not paid they will recommend their client to take court action against me.
    What Happens if I ignore this?
    Thank you

    Oh why didn't you simply come here earlier and appeal and win at POPLA? You had a rejection letter with a POPLA code and Smart are so very easy to beat.

    Luckily, they are also very easy to beat when they sue you. Search the forum for 'Smart parking defence' (show POSTS).
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
    Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
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