Smart Parking/ Debt Recovery Plus

RobJPL

Hi all.
Sorry if I haven't searched properly and this has been covered, I have looked at the Newbies post but still not sure of the correct course of action.

I have received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus stating that I owe them £170 (the one others seem to get on here) for parking in a Smart parking car park. This is the first I have heard of it (the address on the V5 is correct) so have not been given any chance to appeal.
Going through my diary I have concluded that I sat in the car waiting to collect my son for about 10 minutes, to be honest It didn't even twig that it was a private car park due to it being at the end of a no through road kind of set up and I didn't use a parking space. What is my best course of action? I can't really appeal to the landowner as it's a gym that I nor my son is a member of so they will have no interest in assisting me. I also called the Debt recovery company before I saw the advice on here that I shouldn't have although I just told them that this is the first I've heard and they said they will contact Smart parking and email me (which I now suspect they won't). Any help would be much appreciated.

KeithP

RobJPL said:

Hi all.
Sorry if I haven't searched properly and this has been covered, I have looked at the Newbies post but still not sure of the correct course of action.

I have received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus...

Hello and welcome.

The fourth post of the NEWBIES thread explains exactly how to deal with debt collector's letters, but to summarise that post - ignore them.

RobJPL

I'm obviously nervous about ignoring the "debt collectors" but there is no way I will be paying £170 for a minor infringement, especially as I haven't had any contact from Smart Parking. Not sure what they have done to ensure that I have received the parking fine in the first instance, surely if they want to guarantee someone receives a fine they should send it recorded or signed for.

Grizebeck

Why are you nervous about empty letters

Boat_to_Bolivia

The debt collectors are as harmless as their letters. They have no powers.

You can safely ignore them.

RobJPL

Grizebeck said:

Why are you nervous about empty letters

Boat_to_Bolivia said:

The debt collectors are as harmless as their letters. They have no powers.

You can safely ignore them.

I suppose because their scare tactics work.
So should I be trying to contact Smart Parking? Ignoring the whole thing doesn't seem the way to go, I was of the understanding that that was a bad idea.

Boat_to_Bolivia

No no contacting anyone. You are too late to appeal.

Stop worrying. Search this forum for other not so Smart Parking cases.

Come back here if you get a Letter Before Claim or a Letter of Claim.

Coupon-mad

Ignore it. Honestly!

Laugh at DRP and CST Law demands.  Come back if you get a court claim (you won't) and tell them if you move house within 6 years.

But also come back in July/August please, to take part in the final Government Consultation because I expect you will be very angry by then, and will want your voice heard to change the law for good.

RobJPL

Coupon-mad said:

Ignore it. Honestly!

But also come back in July/August please, to take part in the final Government Consultation because I expect you will be very angry by then, and will want your voice heard to change the law for good.

I will do. Why in particular will I be angry?  Should I expect a constant stream of threatening letters from them?         

Boat_to_Bolivia

Yes expect that....but as advised numerous times, just ignore them.

Stash them in case of another toilet roll shortage, they may then have a legitimate purpose.

Coupon-mad

I'd be damn angry at getting £170 debt demands from a scammer. Surely you want to change the law?  We have ONE chance.