Free Parking Overstayed Help

34LH89

Hello


Hope you are all well.



Having had several parking invoices issued over the years, and previously followed the advice to ignore, it seems I have had an oversight in not appealing an invoice sent to me as the keeper around July 18, for the driver having overstayed the parking duration allowed in a free car park, attached to a gym and various shops.


This signage is small and hard to locate, as I noticed when parking there at a later point. I took photos which show the tiny writing and poor signage throughout.


The terms of the parking are that 1.5 hours are free, however if you use the gym and enter your details, you can stay for up to 3 hours. There is no option to pay for a longer period.


The driver is alleged to have stayed over 1.5 hours, however the driver did visit the gym, but did not enter their details into the tiny, hidden, poorly signed screens, therefore falling foul of the rules. The driver did not stay beyond 3 hours in the car park, as I as the keeper was advised with the first invoice received.



Having as the keeper just received an SCS letter indicating that HighView MAY take legal action, I appreciate this is still a debt collecting letter and is to be ignored.

1. Although above quite possibly having answered my own question, is that the correct course of action to take (as it appears to be according to FAQs)?
2. How often/likely are SCS/HighView to take court action, as more than anything else, the hassle seems really annoying for everyone involved?
3. Should I as the keeper, not the driver, begin to prepare anything to defend this/take any action at this stage?
4. Would any pictures of the letters be useful at this stage, or should this be done at a later stage?
5. I am about to move address within the next 2-4 weeks, and as the keeper, I am concerned I will miss letters sent to me - is there any way to prevent this?

All your help would be greatly appreciated.


34LH89

Umkomaas

To whom does the SCS letter tell you to pay?

34LH89

"If you wish to avoid further steps being taken, please contact Debt Recovery Plus Ltd directly to clear your balance, either by telephone... or online at..."

Umkomaas

It's a debt collector using a solicitor's letterhead to frighten people into paying. A well known and oft-repeated stunt reported here - all part of the scam. The solicitors are well aware of this - they provide the letterhead. All part of the smoke and mirrors in this sordid industry.

Ignore it, it is not a solicitor's letter.

This isn't to say a legitimate letter won't arrive, but it's not right now. Be on your guard and come back to check any developments.

For what it's worth, Highview (at time of writing) have never taken one single motorist to court. Sleep easy.

Redx

5) once you have moved , email the DPO at HIGHVIEW and at DRPL and give them your new address telling them it is a DATA RECTIFICATION NOTICE, adding a scan or pic of your V5C and the PCN ref , any other ref , name and address

COPY YOUR OWN EMAIL ADDRESS INTO THE SEND TO BOX, SO YOU GET YOURSELF INCLUDED IN THE MIX

and do not forget to amend your DRIVING LICENCE and V5C with the DVLA, otherwise they can issue REAL fines of up to £1000 per offence


ps:- read the advice from 4.5 years ago in this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5035663/read-this-before-you-start-a-new-thread-about-zzps-or-debt-recovery-plus about what to do when you move addresses