Parking Charge Notice from Debt Collectors

jbananas

Hi, I hope this is ok to post, I’ve looked through the FAQ but couldn’t find this scenario. :-) would really appreciate any help.

I’ve just received a letter from debt collectors about an unpaid parking charge notice from Highview. I moved house earlier in the year and lived in temporary accommodation for a couple of months. As soon as I moved into our current property I updated the DVLA, but unfortunately during the time in between, I was served this parking charge and didn’t receive it as I no longer lived at the old address.

I was ready to send the template from the newbie thread to dispute the parking charge, but I have no contact details for Highview (as I haven’t received the original letter), and on looking on the debt recovery website it says: As per the British Parking Association’s (BPA) Code of Practice, Point 22.7 and the International Parking Community (IPC) Code of practice, Point 6.1, the time to appeal the charge has now expired.

So now I’m a bit stuck! Is it too late for me to appeal? It’s a £149.99 charge which stings particularly as I don’t actually know the reason for the fine; as far as I was concerned, I parked in the same (free) Tesco car park I’ve often parked in before with no issue.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

pogofish

Post four of the Newbies Sticky covers debt collectors in their entirety. Post 1 2:2 details all other aspects of your situation.

You are now too late for any appeal to Highview but informing them of your current address might ensure any LBC finds you properly if they do try for court but with Highview, that is by no means a given.

The_Deep

It is the will of Parliament that these scammers be put out of business. Hopefully that will take place in the near future. The Bill has passed through the HOC without hitch, and goes to the Lords soon. In the meantime involve your MP, the poor dears are buckling under the weight of complaints about these scammers. Read this one which I wrote earlier

This is an entirely unregulated industry which is scamming the public with inflated claims for minor breaches of alleged contracts for alleged parking offences, aided and abetted by a handful of low-rent solicitors. Is has been suggested by an MP that some of these companies may have connections to organised crime.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, (especially Smart}, and others have already been named and shamed in the House of Commons as have Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Legal, (these two law firms take hundreds of these cases to court each week), hospital car parks and residential complex tickets have been especially mentioned. They lose most of them, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P. for unprofessional conduct

The problem has become so widespread that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers.

Sir Greg Knight's Private Members Bill to curb the excesses, and perhaps close down, some of these companies passed its Third Reading in late November, and, with a fair wind, will become Law next year.

All three readings are available to watch on the internet, (some 6-7 hours), and published in Hansard. MPs have an extremely low opinion of the industry. Many are complaining that they are becoming overwhelmed by complaints from members of the public. Add to their burden, complain in the most robust terms about the scammers.

Fruitcake

As above, find the contact details of Highview Scammers Inc and write to them giving them your new address for service, name, and PCN number.

Send the appeal template anyway.
If by post, do it from a PO counter, sent first class, and obtain a free proof of posting.

If online, take a screenshot as proof of sending.

It will no doubt be rejected for being out of time, but since this is an unregulated scam industry, there are no regulatory timescales. You are now "playing the game" and can at least show a judge you tried to appeal.

Complain to the landowner.

Complain to your MP about this unregulated scam using the info in red from post 1 of the NEWBIES.

jbananas

Thank you all. I’ve written a response and emailed it to the debt collector, Highview, our local MP and the landowner. I’ll post it too.

Really appreciate the advice.