Smart parking appeal

Redx

Doesn't matter what a debt company write as figures on their toilet paper , you won't be paying them a penny , nothing that they can do , powerless , so any figures are irrelevant , meaningless

If it went to court and you lost , the judge decides the figure , typically £200 or less

This isn't a murder trial , it's a monetary dispute over small amounts of money , hence what used to be known as small claims court. You are not a multi million pound embezzler !!

If you were foolish enough to pay it , you wouldn't get a penny back !

Do nothing at all , read a book , listen to music , watch a box set !!  This really is trivial in nature , but we do understand it upsets people , so take a chill pill

Umkomaas

Expect an answer when they reply - there's no hard and fast rule as to when they have to reply, but I'd give them 10 days!  You only sent it on Friday!

What you should do in the meantime is read the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, fourth post, which gives everyone who is at harmless debt collector stage exactly the same advice. 

Anything you pay now you pay for good. There is no such thing as a refund from a debt crawler. 

The debt collector can put the amount up by whatever they want, but whatever it is, you'll be paying them nothing. 

Why do you think Smart Parking will take you to court, they issue half a million tickets a year, yet the number of their court cases you can count on the fingers of two hands?  They have much, much bigger fish (multi unpaid tickets) to fry!

nosferatu1001

How long is a piece of string? Days to weeks. There is no timescale they msut apply to. 
Why would you ever pay Smart?! noone pays smart. Noone has said to pay. 
Who gives a toss what a debt collector, with zero powers, puts in a letter? There is a reason we say to iognore. 
You KNOW the max you could lose at court. £200. 

D_P_Dance

 Also, what should I do in the meantime? Pay the £170

Why on earth would you do that, it is a scam!

Coupon-mad

what should I do in the meantime? Pay the £170 and the claim some of it back (if that is possible at all)?

Don't be ridiculous.  No-one pays. .Stop worrying and thinking you have to pay.

CCH20

Hello, I wanted to post an update. I still have not heard back from the BPA. Strangely enough SmartParking have sent me an email (as I previously asked about the outcome of my initial appeal) saying that they had sent me a letter, which I have never received. In their email they attached a copy of this letter. See attachment. In the letter they provide a POPLA code. They also state that I used their car park for 12 minutes and should have added my details in their machine to obtain a free ticket.....even though I never intended to park but just deliver something to my friend.

Obviously this is months ago and the Debt Collector is now at my back sending me letters. I assume it is too late to do something about the POPLA code, or is it worth getting in touch with them now? Or should I continue waiting for the BPA to get back to me? What are your suggestions?
Thank you for all your useful advice and your patience with yet another Newbie.

Redx

The Popla appeal code only works for 33 days , so probably won't work

You can ask Smart for a new popla code , under the ADR law , Smart parking will probably refuse , debt collectors can be ignored , but never ignore a formal LBC or court claim pack from the CCBC in Northampton , within 6 years

Ideally you follow plan A , that is ALWAYS the best option