IMPORTANT: Please make sure your posts do not contain any personally identifiable information (both your own and that of others). When uploading images, please take care that you have redacted all personal information including number plates, reference numbers and QR codes (which may reveal vehicle information when scanned).
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Smart Parking pcn help req

Options
Hi everyone
I've had a look through the newbie section but I'm still overwhelmed by the whole pcn thing. I usual just pay the pcn asap. But this time I felt I was being charged unfairly.

Background is as below.
Used a car park which was part of a social club as we had a work football match to play. I parked up eventually and then purchased a ticket for the time required and made sure the registration was correct on the ticket. After the match the changing rooms where locked and the groundsman had the key the manager went to get the groundsman to unlock this took circa 10 odd mins and I grabbed my stuff and left.
Few weeks later the customer who's car it was sent through the parking ticket to my work and I got a slight ticking off I therefore without a thought phoned smart parking and had it transferred to my name and they sent a charge through the post. I appealed this and failed as I stated the 17 min over stay was out of my control as room was locked and I had no way to either remove the vehicle or pay for extra parking time. I then went to popla and restated this and added the cost of the fine was about 20 pound a min. Popla rejected my appeal as information I had later added wasn't in the original appeal. I have since had a letter to pay from smart parking which I again ignored and have since had a debt recovery letter demanding payment asap or face further fines etc.
Have I done right or is there anything else at this stage I need to do? From reading this website I see debt recovery firms have no power to take money from people but where do I go from here now ??
Many thanks for any advise

Comments

  • Fruitcake
    Fruitcake Posts: 59,463 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Unfortunately you have done just about everything wrong. Luckily Not so Smart very rarely do court, so hopefully you will be lucky. Unfortunately they have six years to start court proceedings if they decided to change their habits.
    You are now in ignore mode unless you get real court papers.

    Read the sticky thread for NEWBIES to find out all about this unregulated scam, then complain to your MP using the info you will have found in post 1 of the NEWBIES?

    What happened when you complained to the landowner?
    I married my cousin. I had to...
    I don't have a sister. :D
    All my screwdrivers are cordless.
    "You're Safety Is My Primary Concern Dear" - Laks
  • I didn't com0lain to the land owner as I was unaware of getting it cancelled by the landowner

    So do I send the debt recovery agents the letter as set out in the newbie threads ?? Or just ignore
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 151,711 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    where do I go from here now ?
    Ignore them, you handled the appeal wrong, so ignore debt letters. All hot air.

    Next time come here & read the NEWBIES thread, which is not that hard to understand and has a copy & paste template appeal...you'd have had it cancelled just by using the forum appeal and not blabbing about who parked. No need for POPLA, it would be won 1st go!
    I usual just pay the pcn asap.
    Eh?

    Why would anyone do that? Even a Council PCN is appealable, with pepipoo help (different process). Don't PAY them just because they offer a laughable ''discount''.

    We offer 100% discount.
    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
  • Thanks for the advise I have kept the debt letter just for evidence but will not have any contact with these guys. If i get any more from smart or solicitors I shall add to this post and get your advise before I put my size 12s in again

    Thanks again
  • nosferatu1001
    nosferatu1001 Posts: 12,961 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    Nope, only come back if you get
    Letter before claim
    CLaim form

    Examples of those are on the forum, so you can see easily when you have such a document.
  • I know I was advised to only come back if a claimmletter was sent through the post but after some more advise

    I have had several letter from a debt recovery company called debt recovery plus. They gave me till 25th dec to pay but I've just had another letter through from another debt recovery agent called zenith collections is this normal for more than one debt collection company to start chasing me ?? And how long will this normally go on for ??

    Regards

    Alex
  • KeithP
    KeithP Posts: 41,296 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Read the small print at bottom right of that letter.

    Does it say something like "Zenith is a trading style of Debt Recovery Plus Ltd"?

    The guidance still stands - ignore debt collectors letters.

    Can go on for up to six years I guess - they have up to six years to pursue a claim through the courts.
  • Hi

    Thanks for the reply
    Yes I've just checked and you are correct the writing does state zenith is a trading name of debt recovery plus. So they use a different name as a scare tactic I take it

    I shall file with the rest 6 years is a long time
    What's the chances of them actually going to court wouldn't it cost them more to go to court than the cost of the ticket ??
  • Redx
    Redx Posts: 38,084 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    nobody can answer that, all we can say is they dont do court , YET !

    if you can predict the next 6 years there is a PM in Downing St that needs to know the details of the future B word that also needs some help with clairvoyance because she hasnt a clue what is happening in 2 months time , never mind in 72 months time

    meanwhile, expect more debt collector letters and demands,but our advice remains the same, IGNORE unless you get an LoC and/or an MCOL within 6 years

    DRPL = ZENITH = PCS , all the same debt collection agency, all powerless
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 151,711 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 31 January 2019 at 10:57PM
    Yes I've just checked and you are correct the writing does state zenith is a trading name of debt recovery plus. So they use a different name as a scare tactic I take it
    All of this is already in the NEWBIES thread post #4 in the ''ignore the debt collectors, please don't post about them'' section - including a link to a 2012 thread about DRP and Zenith sharing a fake signature.

    Why is anyone on this forum still discussing this seven years later as if it's new?
    It might be different if it wasn't covered in the sticky thread, but it has been there all the time. Please read the 4th post of the sticky thread.

    What's the chances of them actually going to court
    You'd be the first - we all know that from all other Smart threads.
    wouldn't it cost them more to go to court than the cost of the ticket
    It does cost litigious PPCs more than the PCN, yes. But Smart don't sue anyone, so there really is nothing that needs adding to this thread, unless they change their habits one year. If they do, you know where to come!

    Count yourself lucky you are learning about the scam with a non-litigious PPC. Keep all letters in a file marked 'not so Smart scam'.

    And always read signs, word for word, in every car park, retail park and private road.
    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
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.