Parking notice - trumped up debt recovery fee

Bobbity1234

I sat in a car park for a 30 min break during a long journey, without realising it was private and ANPR would nail me. I didn’t leave the car .. just sat and ate my sandwich. Ignored first couple of PCN letters from Total Parking Solutions, but now have a letter from BW legal demanding the PCN charge + £60 debt recovery fee. 

I resent the whole charge but am prepared to take it on the chin. I do however believe the £60 debt recovery fee added by BWL is a liberty, and am considering only payIng the £70 charge and not the £60 out of principle. I have spoken to total parking solutions and they say it’s now out of their hands.

is this being petty and will I regret it? 

Coupon-mad

You know it's not being petty if you've read the Ministerial Foreword to the new Code of Practice.  They've banned the added £70 in future.

No idea why you are thinking of paying anything though.  Don't 'take it on the chin'. These are a cinch to defend and win.

Bobbity1234

at the moment I have not acknowledged any correspondence .. So would you sit tight and see how far they take it, and be ready to defend it if it reaches a CCJ?

Fruitcake

If it reaches a CCJ then it is already too late to defend. The J in CCJ stands for Judgment, meaning you will have already lost in court at that point. 

If you are at LBC/LoC stage, you should be acting now by following the guide to court written by bargepole that you will find in the second stage of the NEWBIES.

Coupon-mad

Bobbity1234 said:

at the moment I have not acknowledged any correspondence .. So would you sit tight and see how far they take it, and be ready to defend it if it reaches a CCJ?

A court claim is not a CCJ.

Bobbity1234

my mistake ..  at the moment it is just the first letter from the Debt collection company

Fruitcake

BW Legal may be acting as debt collectors, but they may also be acting as solicitors. You need to be certain in which capacity they are acting.

Bobbity1234

I believe the letter only refers to debt recovery

Coupon-mad

Have a bit of fun sending the usual letter telling them that the DLUHC has banned the fake fee and to stop sending exaggerated demands.

patient_dream

Coupon-mad is right, if they must send these sad letters out adding a fake, have some fun.  All they can rely on is a hair brained idea by the BPA to further scam the public.

UNREGULATED RUBBISH ...... v ...... DLUHC (government) ...... NO COMPARISON ?

NO reply from BWL is great for a judge to decide