Double whammy - Paid parking fine to the wrong company!

Trigger79

So, I not only stupidly paid the fine but to the wrong company (UKPE). 

On the UKPE site they warn against this and tell me that they're going to charge an admin fee to give it back, which seems to be the entire amount I paid them. I'm assuming this is a lost cause, but if anyone has any advice to the contrary I'd be grateful to hear it. 

On the company that are invoicing me (CP Plus) - I thought I had paid them and have been in an ongoing argument with them over 3 letters with me trying to persuade them of this. 

My key question here is - am I now in the position to take the usual advice given on this and other forums about not paying this invoice, or is the fact that I told them I had paid it (even though I hadn't) put me in a different legal situation?

What a mess - I have certainly learned a lot since this happened and I won't be paying these "fines" again in the future. 

Coupon-mad

Ignore CP Plus as long as they have your correct address. Are you in E&W or Scotland?

Show us the letter/email where UKPE refuse to refund your money.  Personally, it seems to me that the easiest way might be to sue them for it back.

Castle

Did you pay UKPE by Credit/Debit Card?

Half_way

How can you pay them when you have no account or dealings with them? the payment should have failed as there was no invoice to pay.

Also as yo mention fine, is the original charge from a council, police or other statutory authority and not a private parking charge?

GrumpyDil

Interestingly, the URL for the payment site is "https://www.ukparkingtickets.co.uk" so doesn't specifically state it is a UKPE site.

It also doesn't have any validation around the PCN ref and vehicle registration mark, which other payment sites do have, so will allow payment using any PCN reference number and VRM.

They also mention numerous times in their site T's and C's that you must not use the site to pay other companies PCNs and as OP points out also includes reference to administration fees ranging from £60 to £100 in the event of a dispute over a payment etc. 

Not sure if this is something that CM can raise with the ongoing review of the parking companies' practices as this feels like it is knowingly designed to encourage panicking individuals to make payments which they will then struggle to recover. 

Half_way

get back to the card company, and stay proceedings fora charge back that site looks like a scam and or possibly fraudulent, the payment should be declined if it was  legitimate.

fisherjim

As already stated you can put any VRN and reference number in and it will take the money.

In their terms and conditions they even have a £100 admin fee for a chargeback.

The company Motiva Group Ltd is listed with companies house as "dissolved" in 2023

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13812073/filing-history

You have been had, but surely as a dissolved company the bank should return the funds?

Half_way

more than likely un enforcable term, breach of cra etc.
get in touch with card company and start a chargeback

Grizebeck

definitely a charge back situation 

Trigger79

Thanks everyone so much for your replies and sorry for the delay in mine. 

I hadn't even considered I might be able to get my money back - I will definitely start that process. That site I paid does definitely seem to be a scam to me. 

On the CP Plus side, I'm going to work my way through the Newbes forum this weekend to figure out next steps. Thank you @Coupon-mad for this advice:

> Ignore CP Plus as long as they have your correct address. Are you in E&W or Scotland?

I'm in England and Wales and yes they have the right address (we've corresponded a few times)

One thing it would be useful to know - is there definitely no difference in how I deal with CP Plus bearing in mind we have exchanged a few letters with me telling them I had paid the fine (even if it was to someone else). I wondered if this was some kind of admission of liability and leaves me in a different situation?

fisherjim

What ever you do these scammers don't care, they will concoct some story to try to remove cash from you, and get out of the mindset of calling it a fine, it isn't healthy!

As far as they are concerned they sent you an invoice and you never paid it they will get their dibby debt collectors to send some Halloween style letters next claiming your world is about to end, it isn't and they are like a poor script for a bad movie.

Stop overthinking this and follow the advice on here.