I Park services parking fine

Aberdon100

Hi,
I received a parking fine from I park services at the beginning of the year. It was initially £60 but I refused to pay as I genuinely did not know it was private parking as I did not notice any signs, and I was there for a total of 14 minutes. The car park is at the back of a hotel and is overlooked by flats, I have parked there many times in the past thinking it was residential parking for the flats. On this occasion I could not get parked on the High Street in the small town beside where I stay, I was collecting a prescription from the chemist on the High Street and decided to park there as I would only be around 10 minutes. 
Since receiving the fine I have appealed to ipark services who obviously rejected the appeal, I then appealed to IAS or IPC who also rejected. Before I appealed I went back to the car park and took photos of the very poor signage at the car park, signs about 12 inches off the ground as you drive in saying its private land and the cost of parking sign on the back of the hotel that can easily be obstructed by a small van or large car. I included these photos in my appeal.
My fine has now increased to £160 and I have ignored several demands ftom ipark services to pay, but today I got a letter from debt collection baliffs Ltd who have been instructed by ipark services to collect the payment.
I am now getting a bit worried but know the baliffs can do nothing at this stage. I am tempted to pay it as the last thing I want is for the small claims court to instruct me to pay it along with legal fees which I presume could be hundreds of pounds. 
Any advice would be welcomed. 

Le_Kirk

Long way before being instructed to pay by a court. Did you read the NEWBIE where it is written for everyone to read before posting? What did it say about debt collectors?  Come back to this thread if/when you receive a letter before/of claim. Any mileage in complaining to the hotel - plan A in the NEWBIE sticky?

Coupon-mad

Come back if you get a small claim.

Nowt to worry about and all stages are covered in the NEWBIES thread.

Not_A_Hope

Before I appealed I went back to the car park and took photos of the very poor signage at the car park, signs about 12 inches off the ground as you drive in saying its private land and the cost of parking sign on the back of the hotel that can easily be obstructed by a small van or large car.

It is the signs that form the basis of the contract that they allege you broke. If they weren’t clear and obvious you can argue that in court and a judge is likely to agree with you. 

I am tempted to pay it as the last thing I want is for the small claims court to instruct me to pay it along with legal fees which I presume could be hundreds of pounds

No-one on this forum would encourage you to pay as we (including the government now) recognise many PPCs and their legals are running a very lucrative scam. When the new Code of Practice comes into force PPCs will have to treat motorists fairly.

If you were to fight this and actually lose the costs on top of the £160 would be £35 court fees and £50 for the other sides legal costs. You are likely to win with the help on here and if you unfortunately had Judge Bingo and lost would probably have to pay about £250.

Iceweasel

Looking at your user name - did this take place in Scotland?

Different rules apply in Scotland so different advice would be given.

fisherjim

Aberdon100 said:

.......I have parked there many times in the past thinking it was residential parking for the flats. On this occasion .....

That is a big reason why you should not park there if you think about it!

However if the signage is deficient how would you know there were parking restrictions?

You should get dated photos showing the lack of signage difficult to read signage hidden signage etc for future evidence.

We don't advise paying scammers anything, and your appeal to the PPC annd the IAS was going to fail you surely know why.

No where on any sign or paperwork will it say fine, consider it a speculative invoice or scam charge by unregulated chancers.

The advice above is the best you will get, also if you are in Scotland as suggested you have more protection especially if you have not named the driver.

Aberdon100

Iceweasel said:

Looking at your user name - did this take place in Scotland?

Different rules apply in Scotland so different advice would be given.

Yes, that's correct it was in Scotland. 

Umkomaas

Iceweasel said:

Looking at your user name - did this take place in Scotland?

Different rules apply in Scotland so different advice would be given.

Aberdon100 said:

Iceweasel said:

Looking at your user name - did this take place in Scotland?

Different rules apply in Scotland so different advice would be given.

Yes, that's correct it was in Scotland. 

Good spot @Iceweasel haven't seen you around these parts for eons!

@Aberdon100 - anywhere in this country you can ignore debt collectors, but especially so in Scotland, they can do nothing apart from send you silly letters.  Are DCB Limited threatening to issue court proceedings via the County Court?  Not that it should concern you, but more to confirm that this is simply a conveyor belt process with no human involvement - there is no County Court in Scotland.