SMART parking - LBA stage, what happens now?

Violetfigaro

Hi all,
I’m new here so I’m sorry if I sound a bit daft at any point. I’ve read the newbie section but I just want to ask some things and get some clarification.
I had a parking fine from around a year ago - I’ve always been told to ignore private parking firms so I have been doing, today I got a knock on the door but I didn’t get there in time as I’ve broken my foot but I saw a man in a suit walking away and this sent me into a bit of a tizzy. I live with my mum and the last thing I want is a debt collector or bailiff at the door as this happened a few months ago and she went spare (reasonably so of course).
I ended up calling Zenith to see if it was them (I know I shouldn’t have called) and they said that it’s at the LBA stage so even if I tried to set up a payment plan with them it’s out of their hands.
Does this mean that people are going to come knocking soon? How soon do you think?
Thanks
Violet

BrownTrout

Stop it!! No one is going to come round for this what ever gave you that idea

Redx

No one comes knocking without a court order

If it's not been to court, then your imagination is running away with you

beamerguy

Violetfigaro wrote: »

Hi all,
I’m new here so I’m sorry if I sound a bit daft at any point. I’ve read the newbie section but I just want to ask some things and get some clarification.
I had a parking fine from around a year ago - I’ve always been told to ignore private parking firms so I have been doing, today I got a knock on the door but I didn’t get there in time as I’ve broken my foot but I saw a man in a suit walking away and this sent me into a bit of a tizzy. I live with my mum and the last thing I want is a debt collector or bailiff at the door as this happened a few months ago and she went spare (reasonably so of course).
I ended up calling Zenith to see if it was them (I know I shouldn’t have called) and they said that it’s at the LBA stage so even if I tried to set up a payment plan with them it’s out of their hands.
Does this mean that people are going to come knocking soon? How soon do you think?
Thanks
Violet

Tell us more, who this the LBA is from.

It will not be from Zenith, this has always been out of their hands, Zenith are just money scamming trash ?

If a judge was made aware that some idiot at Zenith denied you a payment plan and wasted his time. he would turn Smart Parking over his knee and give them a spanking.
Zenith has probably lost this for Smart

You will NOT set up a payment plan because SMART are easily beaten and ........ whoever knocked on your door was nothing to do with this. Let's assume it is, they will break the law and you dial 999 and get the police to remove them

The_Deep

Read what Pete Wisher MP said recently in thr House of Commons, and complain to your own MP.

"I am sick and tired of receiving emails from people complaining about the behaviour of parking companies, telling me that they will never again visit Perth city centre because of the negative experience they had when they had the misfortune to end up in a car park operated by one of these companies. I have received more complaints about one car park in the city of Perth than about any other issue. That car park is operated by the lone ranger of the parking cowboys: the hated and appalling Smart Parking—I see that many other Members are unfortunate enough to have Smart Parking operating in their constituencies. It has reached the stage where one member of my staff now spends a good part of each day just helping my constituents and visitors to my constituency to navigate the appeals process.
…
The BPA does not have the ability to regulate these companies and has shown no sign whatsoever that it is trying to get on top of some of the sharper practices. The BPA gives a veneer of legitimacy to some of the more outlandish rogue operators by including them in their membership, allowing them to continue to operate. The Bill will oblige operators such as Smart Parking to amend their practices."

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, and on 15th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these shysters. 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, persistent offenders denied access to the DVLA database and unable to operate.

Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers, but 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.

Violetfigaro

I think its because I've had a high court enforcement officer at my house before and it frightened the life out of me so I'm terrified it's going to happen again

beamerguy

Violetfigaro wrote: »

I think its because I've had a high court enforcement officer at my house before and it frightened the life out of me so I'm terrified it's going to happen again

This has not even gone to court so it's still playtime with the scammers.

BUT if you want help here, answer the questions

Have you actually received a LBA or are you just listening to Zenith

If you have an LBA what does it say ??

Quentin

If you have received a LBA then now is the time to get acquainted with the court process


See the Newbies FAQ thread near the top of the forum. Post #2 there covers court claims right from receipt of the LBA to the hearing with advice on how to deal with each stage as it arrives


This is a long post with lots of information to take in so take your time to fully understand the process

Violetfigaro

@beamerguy
sorry I don't know how to quote on this, I've not received anything from them at all about an LBA, it was just what Zenith told me.

fisherjim

Violetfigaro wrote: »

@beamerguy
sorry I don't know how to quote on this, I've not received anything from them at all about an LBA, it was just what Zenith told me.

Never ever believe a debt collector they even work under different names and all their addresses are fake mail drop PO numbers, you can't believe a word they say.


The man in the suit was probably a double glazing salesman or a charity collector or something far more likely than a debt collector who like them you could tell to FO!

bkdroid13

Its great post and help me a lot. please keep continue