Very old parking fine, statute of limitations?

Jim_Fox

Hello all, hoping I can get some help.

I got a notification of a parking ticket from a collection firm back in 2012 (ya, I know!), can't remember the name and have moved, so paperwork is most certainly lost. I don't ever remember getting a ticket on my windscreen, and as such, ignored it. I never paid it, they came around several times when I wasn't home and the fine kept going up by hundreds of pounds. My landlord stated they just shoved the letters through the letterbox and drove away, he challenged them stating that they had to have it signed for. Last I looked it was well into the thousands of pounds. My question is twofold. 1. Is there a time limitation in which they can still come after me? 2. How can I check to see if there is still legal action against me?

Thanks in advannce

Le_Kirk

It is six years (England and Wales) and five years (Scotland) providing of course they did not obtain a judgment in default given the original PCN was 10 years ago.  You could start with one of the credit file tracking agencies (Experian is one such).

Half_way

Who issued the ticket?

why and what for?

The only alarm bells that i have over this is did this matter proceed to court and everything was ifgnored/missed and as a result you have an unknown CCJ which someone is now trying to collect?

Johnersh

I suspect @half_way has it right. If "they" are posting stuff through the letterbox, rather than just a royal mail postie, that sounds very much like an enforcement agent (ie. following a ccj).

The o/p needs to look at the paperwork carefully and with a degree of urgency. 

Jim_Fox

Hi, and thanks for the answers/suggestions. Sorry, I don't know the lingo, CCJ, Council Court Judgement? It was a parking ticket, supposedly. It appears, for no other reason than the fact that it went to a collection agency, that there must have been a judgement against me. Nobody is banging on my door, and as far as I am aware, nothing has gone to my former address. My ex landlord sold the place so I don't know his whereabouts, which doesn't help. I still have the same vehicle which was still registered to my previous address, but have been away (abroad taking care of an elderly parent, then caught out with COVID travel restrictions) while the car was parked up at a friends, and only thought of this when I returned and have to renew my licence (it expired while I was away). I've moved and the paperwork was lost, so no hope of finding it, I've looked in all my boxes. My concern is that somewhere there is a collection agency lurking out there somewhere ready to pounce once I register my car to my new address. I know I should have addressed this before now, but when the collection agency was running my bill up into the 1000's for a parking ticket, I simply panicked and did the "head in the sand" hoping it would go away. Not a good or responsible response, I know. However, getting a bill for 1000's of pounds for a parking ticket? Come on, how is that ethical, or even legal? But it is what it is, and I was hoping that maybe there is a solution that would not cost me 1000's. Again, thanks for the help/advice offere so far, any other info would be appreciated. 

Johnersh

The paperwork that you do have should have details of the county court judgment on it. 

You can apply to set aside a ccj, but you need to meet set criteria.  You can search the forum for that. There are a number of threads that cover it. 

Coupon-mad

Was it a private or Council PCN?

cymruchris

Do you actually have the paperwork?

When was the last time you are aware that someone shoved something through a door?

Have you looked at your credit reference agency files to see if you have a county court judgment against your name? (Experian, Equifax, Transunion)

95Rollers

Without any paperwork it's a guessing game at best.

Can you upload a copy of the letter- but with your name, address and the reference numbers blanked out,.