Smart Parking penalty ERROR and now debt collector letter

lottie_d_dog

Hi

i had a parking penalty notice attached to my car by Smart Parking when i had bought a valid ticket and this was clearly displayed on the dashboard. I ahve photos of the ticket in place AND the evidence photo's that Smart parking attached to the penalty notice online show the ticket in place (albeit at a distance, but they correspond with and confirm my closer pictures).

I appealed the ticket providing above evidence. I heard nothing back (that was in February). Today i have received a threatening (of course) letter form Debt Recovery Plus demanding payment or threatening legal action. THeir phone message states they cannot discuss individual cases.

Smart Parking do not have, as far as i can tell, a contact number. I have once again contacted them via their appeal page on their website - but as i did not hear back dfrom them last time, i have little hope of doing so now... but i ahve been given 8 days to pay the debt by the collector.

any suggestions for next steps?

thanks for your help

KeithP

Hello and welcome.

Never ever phone a parking company.

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

Where exactly did this alleged parking event take place?

nopcns

When you appealed, did you provide your current address? If not, is your V5C logbook address up to date? The most common reason for not receiving correspondence from a scamming PPC is people moving address and not updating their V5C.

I hope you haven't revealed yourself to be the driver. (not so) Smart Parking are one of the easiest to beat as long as the drivers identity is not revealed. They do not rely on PoFA and so, as long as the drivers identity is not revealed, they cannot transfer liability for the charge to the keeper.

It's a pity you hadn't come here for advice before you appealed. As you received an NtD, it sounds as though you have plunged in far too quickly and thrown away your "golden ticket" chance of getting this cancelled at POPLA.

Have you tried Plan A yet? Contact the landowner/management company and asked them to get the PCN cancelled?

Coupon-mad

lottie_d_dog said:

Hi

i had a parking penalty notice attached to my car by Smart Parking when i had bought a valid ticket and this was clearly displayed on the dashboard. I ahve photos of the ticket in place AND the evidence photo's that Smart parking attached to the penalty notice online show the ticket in place (albeit at a distance, but they correspond with and confirm my closer pictures).

I appealed the ticket providing above evidence. I heard nothing back (that was in February). Today i have received a threatening (of course) letter form Debt Recovery Plus demanding payment or threatening legal action. THeir phone message states they cannot discuss individual cases.

Smart Parking do not have, as far as i can tell, a contact number. I have once again contacted them via their appeal page on their website - but as i did not hear back dfrom them last time, i have little hope of doing so now... but i ahve been given 8 days to pay the debt by the collector.

any suggestions for next steps?

thanks for your help

Did you miss this thread from yesterday when you browsed the forum for similar cases?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80756032/#Comment_80756032

Coupon-mad

lottie_d_dog said:

Hi

i had a parking penalty notice attached to my car by Smart Parking when i had bought a valid ticket and this was clearly displayed on the dashboard. I ahve photos of the ticket in place AND the evidence photo's that Smart parking attached to the penalty notice online show the ticket in place (albeit at a distance, but they correspond with and confirm my closer pictures).

I appealed the ticket providing above evidence. I heard nothing back (that was in February). Today i have received a threatening (of course) letter form Debt Recovery Plus demanding payment or threatening legal action. THeir phone message states they cannot discuss individual cases.

Smart Parking do not have, as far as i can tell, a contact number. I have once again contacted them via their appeal page on their website - but as i did not hear back dfrom them last time, i have little hope of doing so now... but i ahve been given 8 days to pay the debt by the collector.

Short notice and I am sending you this reply hoping you get email notifications.

...please do this survey now (and then a short & friendly video call next week) to tell the Government's consultancy outsourced firm your experience of 'appealing' and being told 'we sent you a rejection letter' (but you didn't get it...no proof they ever emailed it, and given we've seen 20 or so cases like yours we think they never sent the POPLA Code at all.

Please earn yourself £60 and help regulate the parking industry.  This is an official thing and MSE Towers has agreed I can share it...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6528490/official-dluhc-paid-research-have-you-ever-appealed-a-parking-charge-notice#latest

URGENT

Please earn £60 and help us push the regulation of the parking industry and new appeals service over the line.

There should be appeal (ADR) available at ALL stages to keep cases out of court.

And proof of actual date of posting or emailing rejection letters.