I'm an idiot - two separate charges

GC41

I read the newbies post, but I'm still a wee bit unsure where I stand, guys. I got a ticket for parking at a small shopping centre car park. Duly ignored it, and did the same thing again two months later which resulted in another charge. Duly ignored that. Was contacted today by Debt Recovery Plus. If it was one charge, I'd ignore it. But I did the same thing twice, even after receiving a 'fine' the first time. Should I just pay it? I saw something about there being a £100 limit - should I offer to pay a max of £100? Phoned an advice place today, and she said they could take me to court. Any advice? I'm in Scotland. 

knightstyle

NEVER pay a debt recovery company, do not even contact them.   READ...https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822/newbies-private-parking-ticket-old-or-new-read-these-faqs-first-thankyou#latest
Follow the tried and tested advice on there.
No need to ask questions unless you get a 'letter before court action'

Le_Kirk

Did you see in the NEWBIE sticky the bit about being in Scotland and that you complain to the retailer (without admitting who was driving) and sit back and wait.  However, if you are in the habit of going to shopping centres and either not paying or exceeding the free time limit (as it seems you are) you must expect PCNs.  Go to the NEWBIE and read it again.

GC41

Yeah, I did read that @Le_Kirk but it says to complain to the retailer 'very quickly' and clearly that window has closed. And as I said, my question is based on the fact that I have two charges for the same place. Constructive advice would be welcome but I already feel like an idiot (as my post clearly states) so anything other than constructive really isn't helpful. 

Fruitcake

Constructive advice is to read the specific advice about a registered keeper in Scotland, where a vehicle keeper cannot (yet) be held liable for a private parking charge.


Plan A is always to complain to the landowner/retail manager.
In Scotland, the advice thereafter is to ignore.

This WILL change in the near future, so if you get another PCN, you need to check whether the advice to ignore IN SCOTLAND has changed.

Umkomaas

Even if you'd come to the forum at the point of receiving your tickets, as you are in Scotland, we would have told you to try the landowner complaint route, but over and above that, whether you were successful or not, provided you did not inform the parking firm the name of the driver, then ignoring the charges was the correct action to take. 

Now you are at the debt collector stage, and wherever you are in the UK, the advice is clear - simply ignore debt collectors as they can do nothing to you. They are utterly powerless, other than sending out silly letters. 

So whether you take the step of seeking out and complaining to the landowner, continuing to ignore remains the route you take. 

GC41

Thanks guys. I appreciate the advice. I'll complain to the landowner in the first instance, then ignore. All of this for a 50p parking meter! I'm an eejit. 

Redx

Just remember that they can take a driver to Court within 5 years in Scotland , Google Carly Mackie !!

GC41

@Redx Just googled her - that's scary. I might end up contacting them (saying I'm the keeper, not the driver) and offering to pay something towards the second fine (the first one I could dispute, if it's not too late, on the grounds that the sign was unclear?). So annoyed with myself. I don't know if that's madness though, and if ignoring it is best. If it was one, I'd ignore easily. It's the fact I did it again that's worrying me. 

Umkomaas

GC41 said:

@Redx Just googled her - that's scary. I might end up contacting them (saying I'm the keeper, not the driver) and offering to pay something towards the second fine (the first one I could dispute, if it's not too late, on the grounds that the sign was unclear?). So annoyed with myself. I don't know if that's madness though, and if ignoring it is best. If it was one, I'd ignore easily. It's the fact I did it again that's worrying me. 

Jeezus. Just don't!  Does 'ignore' have a different meaning north of the border?  Why are you trying to scratch at a scab?

GC41

Okay @Umkomaas, fair point. Just a bit stressed and want this to go away. I'll ignore it.