Premier Parking Fine in Retail Car Park

MSRALSP2

I received a parking charge notice from Premier Park in January for staying 20 minutes in a car park at end of December 2018. I was not the driver, it was my partner and admittedly he did not pay as he was waiting for someone. I know this is still considered as parking. As the registered keeper I received the 1st Parking charge Notice and then exactly 1 month later in February I received a PCN of £100 and to be paid within 29 days. I stupidly did not go through the POPLA process and now a few months have passed and reading all these forums which advise not to ignore...I tried to go on the Premier Park website to appeal and now it says "This PCN has been transferred to our Debt Recovery Agent. Please contact us if you wish to enquire about this PCN". Therefore no means for an appeal.
Is it too late to go thorugh POPLA and what are my next steps? Any help and advice would be much appreciated. I feel very silly for ignoring, does this mean i have to cough up?

Fruitcake

What is the precise name of the parking company please. You have given two different ones.

Did you appeal the original PCN/NTK? If you didn't then you can't appeal to PoPLA.

Debt collectors can be safely ignored.

If you didn't appeal the initial PCN/NTK then you ae ignore mode unless you get real court papers.

Coupon-mad

Yes it's too late to appeal. Your stage is covered by post #4 of the NEWBIES thread.

I feel very silly for ignoring, does this mean i have to cough up?

Such statements are unofficially banned here!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/75456433#Comment_75456433

There is NO FINE. Nothing to see here, nothing to pay. Keep all paperwork and ignore those debt letters. Come back if PP try a small claim - we win them 99% of the time and there is NO RISK as log as you tell PP in writing, if you move house within 6 years, to be sure you miss no letters and can't miss a claim that would need a defence.

What happened when you complained to the retail park?

First step in the NEWBIES thread! DO THAT NOW.

MSRALSP2

Hi Fruitcake, it is called Premier Park Ltd and they are a member of the BPA. No I have not done any appeal and now they are saying it is too late on their website. I have not complained to the retail park but i will try and do that today and see what happens.
Sorry coupon mad i will not say anymore banned statements

Coupon-mad

Good, and when I say complain to the retail park, I mean try the Store managers in person, then if no luck there, go for an email to the owners/agents who appear on t'internet searches as running the whole site.

D_P_Dance

Also complain to your MP.

On 18th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these private parking companies. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, an independent appeals service will be set up, and access to the DVLA's date base more rigorously policed, and persistent offenders denied access. Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers.

Until this is done you should still complain to your MP, citing the new legislation.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted

Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these Private Parking Companies.

MSRALSP2

I have now received 2 additional letters in the post from debt collector ZZPS:
1) 1st letter at end of March from ZZPS saying I now owe £170 (£100 parking charge and £70 admin fee). However, nowhere does it give me a timeframe as to when i need to pay this by before they take further action.

2) 2nd letter at beginning of April from ZZPS to say the matter will be passed to QDR Solicitors Limited if i do not pay £170. With a threat that this will be progressed to the court. Also mentions that if it gets passed to solicitors then i will have to pay an additional £10 + Vat. Again there is no timeframe as to when i need to pay it by before they send it to the solicitors

Should i still ignore these letters?

KeithP

MSRALSP2 wrote: »

I have now received 2 additional letters in the post from debt collector ZZPS:
1) 1st letter at end of March from ZZPS saying I now owe £170 (£100 parking charge and £70 admin fee). However, nowhere does it give me a timeframe as to when i need to pay this by before they take further action.

2) 2nd letter at beginning of April from ZZPS to say the matter will be passed to QDR Solicitors Limited if i do not pay £170. With a threat that this will be progressed to the court. Also mentions that if it gets passed to solicitors then i will have to pay an additional £10 + Vat. Again there is no timeframe as to when i need to pay it by before they send it to the solicitors

Should i still ignore these letters?

Yes, but did you really need to ask that question?

Post #4 of the NEWBIES thread offers comprehensive guidance on how to deal with debt collectors letters.

And Fruitcake answered that question in the first reply you ever received two months ago.

MistyZ

You ignore such letters, yes. But you should keep them. The time to act is if you get a Letter Before Claim.

Did you complain to the retail park?

The_Slithy_Tove

MSRALSP2 wrote: »

Should i still ignore these letters?

Yes. But keep these letters and the original parking charge letters. The first one is key, as they have to have got it right to be able to pursue you, the keeper. Normally they don't.
And even if they have conformed to POFA for keeper liability, then all these extras they are adding on are moot. (A) they were never incurred in the first place (it's just a scam) and (B) POFA also says that they can only claim the value of the original parking charge, plus a few costs. So, even if they eventually take you to court, and IF they win (unlikely if you defended properly), you would be in it only up to about £170-£200.