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University Parking - fines from private company and debt collector

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Hi guys,

Writing this with a hope that someone will have more wisdom than me when it comes to these things!

I've never had a parking ticket before, so this is all new to me.

I live in England, but am from N.Ireland. I pay to park in my university car park. There is a swipe in/swipe out procedure to get access to it. The car park I use most frequently has had building works going on for over a year, and is often filled with equipment/lorries taking up a significant part of the car park. The yellow lines/hatch markings/parking bay lines are mostly faded and worn out.

I received two parking "fines" in May from a company called "open parking" to my home address which is in N.Ireland. I didn't get them until last week, along with two further letters from a debt collection agency called "ZZPS".
The fines in total are £250 and are for parking "outside a parking bay" and for "parking on red lines/yellow lines/hatch markings" (the letter doesn't specify which the fine is for).

I've never gotten a notice on my car, so didn't even know about them until I got a bunch of post from home. They must have gotten my home address from when I got my parking permit, back when I first moved here.

Bit panicked when I first read the letters - they're seem pretty threatening and mention taking court action.

Immediately googled and found some info on this forum which is brilliant, but unsure where I stand and what to do next! :eek:

Any advice/guidance would be really helpful.
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Comments

  • pogofish
    pogofish Posts: 10,853 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    ZZPS is fully covered in Post Four of the Newbies Sticky.
  • Umkomaas
    Umkomaas Posts: 43,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Which parking company?

    Keep the interchange of communications (but ignore ZZPS) between the PPC and your NI address. Don't use any England/Wales address - get someone at your NI address to contact you whenever mail from the PPC (or any Solicitors) is received, so you know what is being said.
    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
  • benfilan
    benfilan Posts: 108 Forumite
    Umkomaas wrote: »
    Which parking company?

    Keep the interchange of communications (but ignore ZZPS) between the PPC and your NI address. Don't use any England/Wales address - get someone at your NI address to contact you whenever mail from the PPC (or any Solicitors) is received, so you know what is being said.

    The parking company is called "Open Parking".
  • Johno100
    Johno100 Posts: 5,259 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Umkomaas wrote: »
    Which parking company?

    Keep the interchange of communications (but ignore ZZPS) between the PPC and your NI address. Don't use any England/Wales address - get someone at your NI address to contact you whenever mail from the PPC (or any Solicitors) is received, so you know what is being said.

    From the OP - Open Parking http://www.openparking.co.uk
    (An IPC mob)
  • benfilan
    benfilan Posts: 108 Forumite
    pogofish wrote: »
    ZZPS is fully covered in Post Four of the Newbies Sticky.

    Thanks, I searched for zzps but nothing came up. I've read that now.
  • System
    System Posts: 178,344 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Open Parking don't do court and they'd never try to in NI where they would have to start.

    Expect a lot of nonsense from ZZPS (or ZZPS using Wright Hassall letterheads).

    You could short circuit the whole issue by demanding Open take you to court if they have a case or otherwise cease/desist.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Umkomaas
    Umkomaas Posts: 43,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    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
  • benfilan
    benfilan Posts: 108 Forumite
    Open Parking don't do court and they'd never try to in NI where they would have to start.

    Expect a lot of nonsense from ZZPS (or ZZPS using Wright Hassall letterheads).

    You could short circuit the whole issue by demanding Open take you to court if they have a case or otherwise cease/desist.

    This is very useful to know, thankyou.

    I was really panicked initially because I thought this meant they had ruined my credit rating for life or something, with the debt collectors letter. Came as quite a shock.

    I'm going to hold tight and take your advice re: asking about the legitimacy of their case.
  • Umkomaas
    Umkomaas Posts: 43,349 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I was really panicked initially because I thought this meant they had ruined my credit rating for life or something, with the debt collectors letter. Came as quite a shock.
    Standard hysteria - and what the parking companies rely on to intimidate people into paying.

    Always best to do some Google searches before hitting the panic button. Saves many sleepless nights - and grey hairs - and us having to explain it yet again.
    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
  • benfilan
    benfilan Posts: 108 Forumite
    Umkomaas wrote: »
    Standard hysteria - and what the parking companies rely on to intimidate people into paying.

    Always best to do some Google searches before hitting the panic button. Saves many sleepless nights - and grey hairs - and us having to explain it yet again.

    I did google... which brought me to this forum ;)

    Understand it must get repetitive giving out the same advice time after time. But it must be rewarding to know you're counteracting the influence of these types of companies?
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