POPLA reference number declined by Smart Parking & BPA refused to Intervene

Duffield1980

I was sent a parking charge notice by smart parking (which I never received) on 15.07.2019 asking me to pay the fine of 60 pounds for over staying at a car park for 36 minutes. Then, i received another letter dated 29th July (which I received and appealed) asking me to pay 100 pounds. In response I made an appeal to them on 19.08.2019 after 28 days of issuing the first letter to review but I received a response from them saying since the 28 days are over we cannot deal with your appeal and we will not issue any POPLA code as the matter has been referred to debt recovery (DRP) and I need to speak to them.

I then made a complaint to BPA for non issuance of the POPLA code by smart parking to this they advised that since the matter pertains to receiving/non receiving of the first letter therefore we cannot intervene.

Now, I am constantly getting threating letters and phone calls from DRP and the fine has now gone up to 170 pounds as they claim.
Can any one please please help/advise

Redx

ignore DRPL


nothing you can do unless you defend this in court within 6 years , other than complain to the landowner and get a direct cancellation


so as I said , IGNORE drpl, they are powerless, sc*m of the earth

Fruitcake

It is not a fine.

The sticky thread for NEWBIES tells you why it is safe to ignore debt crawlers.
Block their number and put their hard copy in recycling.

Complain to your MP about this unregulated scam. There is little else you can do.

As above, ignore everything now except real court papers.

The_Deep

Read what Pete Wishart MP said recently in the House of commons about Smart Parking

"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."


Nine times out of ten of these tickets are scams so consider complaining to your MP.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, many of whom are former clampers, 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

beamerguy

Now, I am constantly getting threating letters and phone calls from DRP and the fine has now gone up to 170 pounds as they claim.
Can any one please please help/advise

DRP are as mad as a hatter, the mad March hare has got nothing on these idiots. You don't owe £170, DRP live in the clouds and best of all they are powerless. BLOCK THEM ON YOUR PHONE

Debt Collectors (DRP & ZZPS) What they don't want you to know

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/74439905#Comment_74439905

IGNORE ALL DEBT COLLECTORS. If Smart contact you, not the idiots, then come back her

Umkomaas

Smart Parking don't do court very often, and I suspect they're not going to be chasing a 36 minute overstay through litigation.

And while it's still with DRP, Smart are out of the picture. DRP can't take you to court.

Coupon-mad

parking charge notice by smart parking (which I never received)

Email Steve Clark and ask him to please add your case to his dossier about Smart Parking sending DRP letters first.

And ask why, when you first complained to the BPA, his colleagues did not mention his recent investigations about similar cases with Smart doing this repeatedly, and why the BPA just fobbed you off, and why it took MSE forum posters to tell you it's a pattern that the BPA are aware of:

steve.c@britishparking.co.uk