Parking Ticket and Court Costs (do I avoid DRP letters or pay up)

olivery14

So I have read all the advice on Parking Tickets above and waiting until you get a letter with regards to Small Claims court however I still have an issue with this. I am currently at Debt Collector stage (Debt Recovery Plus) with a charge of £160 when the signage by where I parked says maximum £100 fine. The point I am trying to make here is that I paid for parking that day and then extended my parking time on (Just park) but may have done this a bit late (I hand on heart do not remember) So me being liable may be different to other people on these posts who have a better defence then I do. My not remembering isn't exactly ideal is it and if they can prove I did not extend my parking in time then I lose in court surely and they can charge £100 fine plus costs (would be over £160)

If I do go to court and lose which could be likely as they have CCTV and will probably have a record showing that I paid for parking till a certain time and then extended those hours a bit late. Clearly this shows I am liable, will mean they win the case and I will have to fork out more than £160. Having looked at posts on here about court costs it looks like;

Fine: £100
Solicitors: £50 max
Court fees: £25 
Something else: £25 (forgotten what this was)

Why not just save all the hassle if I think I will lose anyway and pay the £160, I am probably slightly in the wrong but genuinely do not remember (not the ideal defence) either way though I never got the original letter and a £160 charge for slightly overstaying is a bit disgusting (can not argue this as easily due to Beavis vs Parking Eye)

BrownTrout

Read the newbies thread instead of typing that out

Le_Kirk

Your figures about court costs are about right, the second £25 is the hearing fee.  Why do you think you will lose?  You paid; do you have proof via the app or bank records?  However, if they are trying to add an EXTRA £60, that is wrong and is an abuse of Process and, whilst judges are not currently striking out cases for that reason, they should deduct the £60 from the costs awarded IF you lose.

olivery14

@BrownTrout I have read the full post and its gives great advise on fighting the tickets.
Explains everything for people looking to fight a ticket because they feel that they have been wronged or do not deserve one.
It does not explain what you do if you think you are actually liable for the ticket and would lose in court. Shall I just pay it? They have CCTV in the car park and I probably was a bit late to extend the ticket so therefore I would be held as liable in small claims court and have to pay more than £160. Just need some advice the main question is;

1) If I think I am almost guaranteed to lose in small claims court then surely it makes logical sense to pay £160 now rather than £200 ish from reading on court costs that I would pay if I took this to court and lost (which I probably would)

Newbies thread does not address this particular issue, any help would be really appreciated. I have genuinely read it all and I know people get upset with constant asking but I just want a direct answer to the above situation. Pay or not pay. 

beamerguy

olivery14 said:

Why not just save all the hassle if I think I will lose anyway and pay the £160, I am probably slightly in the wrong but genuinely do not remember (not the ideal defence) either way though I never got the original letter and a £160 charge for slightly overstaying is a bit disgusting (can not argue this as easily due to Beavis vs Parking Eye)

I think you had better go back to the newbies thread.  Do you really want to pay a scammer and give them funds to harass little old ladies and young mums with kids.  I HOPE NOT.

It is due to the Beavis case that these scammers get caught out and is on your side.  Simply because in the Beavis case, the court ruled that the ticket price was fair as it allowed for the operation .. IE NO FAKE ADD-ONS OF £60

DRP are just cloud dreamers and money bandits and you must ignore them

With the help of this forum, there is every chance you will win. Even the dodgy legals would acknowledge that

You know what they say ....."A fool and his money are easily parted"

Umkomaas

Why do you think this will go to court?  In 2019, CP Plus issued over 182,000 tickets.  They raised just 4 court claims. They've probably raised a few more this year - so how lucky do you think you are?

 If I do go to court and lose which could be likely as they have CCTV and will probably have a record showing that I paid for parking till a certain time and then extended those hours a bit late. 

It would be one hell of a CCTV system to show that. Do they know what you look like?

Le_Kirk

It won't be CCTV but ANPR and they only capture your plate (VRM).

Castle

First thing you do is work out how much you paid in total , how long you were parked for and therefore, did your payments cover the period of parking.

olivery14

@castle I paid via an app called Just Park so do not have a paper copy and they keep records. 
From the above responses it looks like even If I am in the wrong I should still fight this.
I could have very easily forgotten to extend my parking via the app (Just Park) but did definitely pay for the day and probably missed out on extending. I guess I need to contact Just Park and find out. If I am in the wrong I still refuse to pay based on the charge being extortionate and them likely not taking me to court yes? 
So as explained a million times by people (sorry as I know people will say this) I ignore the DRP letters and wait for court letters (even if I am in the wrong)

1505grandad

Can you confirm the name of the parking company?

Umkomaas

So as explained a million times by people (sorry as I know people will say this) I ignore the DRP letters and wait for court letters (even if I am in the wrong)

Correct, but you underestimate 'a million times'!