Smart parking threats

Raj475

Hi there
Iv read many threads and keep confusing myself with how much I have read (good old google)

I parked at a car park privately owned but monitored by smart parking a few months ago.
I parked for an hour and realised I was going to run late so I went back and topped up the ticket for another hour. So I must have ran 20 minutes late from second ticket I displayed.

I originally had letters from smart parking which I ignored, as that's what I thought I had read. Then I started getting letters from DRP and now Zenith.

My husband is the the registered keeper, they are threatening to take me to court, or "may" take me court and asking for £160. Please help, I have no idea as what to do.

Redx

those new letters are from DRP/ZENITH

IGNORE

DRP/ZENITH cannot take you to court, only not so SMART can do so

read post #4 of the NEWBIES sticky thread for DCA letter advice

and this thread

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

come back if SMART send an LBC or an MCOL arrives from Northampton

in future, do not ignore the parking company, follow the advice in posts 1 to 4 of that same NEWBIES sticky thread

ie:- appeal promptly (but too late for this pcn, sorry to say)

Umkomaas

Please read the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, post #4 now you're at the debt collector stage. Basically, ignore anything you get from a debt collector, but don't ignore a Letter Before Action/Claim from Smart Parking or their Solicitors or real court papers.

Smart dipped their toes into issuing small claims via the small claims court a few weeks ago, but since have gone quiet on that front. Come back if you get anything further from Smart or the courts.

DRP and Zenith are the same outfit.

Have you asked the landowner to intervene and get this cancelled? If a retail park make some enquiries as to who engaged Smart, then tackle them.

Smart are very active in Scotland - you're not by chance based north of the border?

Raj475

Thankyou for the prompt reply, I originally ignored it all, then when the letters didn't stop and googled more, I then read how it all changed after a certain time. I will look out for those letters. Thankyou.

Raj475

Initially I went to speak to the person who sits at the car park, and he said ring smart, but I thought by ignoring it all n not ring them, it would all go away. No I live in the midlands. Are they known for taking these things to court, is it easier just to pay the £160, although where they pluck these numbers out from I have no idea!

Redx

the number is £100 for the parking charge (as approved by the BPA) and £60 debt collector fees added by the DCA

since BEAVIS lost about 20 months ago these p@rking p@rasites have taken a lot more to court, or at the very least have issued a lot more court claims using MCOL

IT DOES NOT "GO AWAY" UNTIL 6 YEARS HAVE ELAPSED, THAT IS THE TIME PERIOD THEY CAN ISSUE AN MCOL IN

if you lost in court a typical loss is £175 or so , so not much different , and could be less depending on the judge

fisherjim

You have been told you can ignore DRP/Zenith, why on earth would you pay them their inflated fee when they can't do diddley squat!

Umkomaas

Are they known for taking these things to court,

This is what I said in my earlier post.

Smart dipped their toes into issuing small claims via the small claims court a few weeks ago, but since have gone quiet on that front. Come back if you get anything further from Smart or the courts.

Examine their record over the past 2.5 years - more than two-thirds of a million tickets issued, yet have never ever walked into a courtroom. The cases I referred to earlier were just the issue of court papers. None have yet got to court, and the ones we helped to develop a defence were immediately dropped by Smart. Do you think you'll be their very first case from over 670,000 tickets?

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

is it easier just to pay the £160

It might be, but it would be wholly unnecessary, money down the drain, will contribute to a regime that intimidates, harasses and threatens many of the weakest people in our society. The more people that pay them, the more they carry on!

However, if you've got £160 to spare, I'll send you my address!

Raj475

Thankyou all for your responses, I feel I certainly know which way to go, and I will not allow them to intimidate me, but also will keep an eye out for anything further. Heart felt thankyou.