Parking Fine - Unsure what steps to take first smart parking/DPR Letter

christinajane

Hello,

Just need a little guidance over what to do and what my first step should be. I am getting confused on land owners and sar...

I received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus to say that I owe £170 or will be taken to court. LUCKILY, I read part 4 of the newbies post and haven't called them like I was initially intending to do! I will ignore that letter and any future ones. This is the first I have heard about any such fine, they said I have missed two payment notices and now I have no right to appeal. The 'offence' took place 28/2/22. 

I have probably missed the first two letters because I forgot to update my address on my car logbook and only updated my address on my drivers licence..long story. I have now updated my logbook address. 

The original pcn is from smart parking ltd, and it was after my car was parked in a restaurants car park that I ate in. 

If you could give any guidance on what my first steps should be. Because it says its too late to appeal I'm not sure I can message smart ltd? 

Really appreciate any help you can offer. 

christinajane

I'm assuming that if I appeal now to smart parking limited they will say I have missed the deadline.

Umkomaas

Just ignore it. DRP can't do anything other than send you silly letters. Come back to the forum should you receive a vanishingly unlikely Letter Before Claim or a formal court claim via the Northampton CCBC. 

What about complaining to the landowner - can produce good results. 

Le_Kirk

Send a Data Rectification Notice to the DPO of the PPC giving your new address for service and requiring them to ERASE your old data and to inform all and any of their agents and sub-contractors of your new data.

christinajane

Thanks guys.

I have just sent an email to the restaurant asking who owns the car park, themselves or smart parking. See how they respond and take it from there. It has caught a few of us our because this was normally free if you're a paying customer! 

Will send an email now to the DPO at smart parking - if I can find the email address. They certainly don't make this easy. 

Umkomaas

Will send an email now to the DPO at smart parking - if I can find the email address. They certainly don't make this easy. 

Easy enough when you know where to find it! 😄

https://www.smartparking.com/personal-data-privacy-policy

christinajane

Hahah, I was just about to write it was actually easy to find. Suppose thats one point for them! 

Do I send a picture of my V5 logbook with my old address as proof its me and include my PCN number?
Theses seem ALL really obvious questions but I just don't won't to do anything wrong and do anything inadvertent! 

Umkomaas

I'd send proof of your former address and of your new address. Utility bills, V5C are usual documents. Don't send passport or driving licence, they contain biometrics they shouldn't need or have!

christinajane

Ok great. Got two utility bills and a photo of my logbook with old address on it. Will send it to the DPO. Will keep you posted over what happens.

What is my next port of call after all that. I am assuming I may have to pay? I certainly cant afford £170 though! But I know that is DPR trying their luck! 

Umkomaas

What is my next port of call after all that. I am assuming I may have to pay? I certainly cant afford £170 though! But I know that is DPR trying their luck! 

Go back to my first post on the thread at 9:53am ...... and follow that to the letter!

Coupon-mad

I am assuming I may have to pay?

Errrr...no.  That isn't what this forum does.  No-one pays Smart and certainly not £170, given the added £70 is deemed 'extortion' by the Government, who are banning it. 

You already had an answer about that from Umkomaas and this is really nothing to worry about:

DRP can't do anything other than send you silly letters. Come back to the forum should you receive a vanishingly unlikely Letter Before Claim or a formal court claim via the Northampton CCBC. 

No huge costs risk, no CCJ risk, nothing.  We win 99% of cases and the odd case lost just pays when a Judge tells them to.  All good, as long as the PPC is not left with an old address in their database.