Euro Car Parks, Debt Recovery Plus

bluenote11

Hi Everyone,

Having done extensive reading on this helpful forum ever since I got a Euro Car Parks ticket in November 2024, I am still unsure what to do about a PCN + debt recovery letter I received. It would be great if I could get some advice from those in the know out here. Thanks in advance.

A car registered to my name was parked at Sainsburys Pimlico last November and I received a PCN from Euro Car Parks for overstaying by 20-something minutes.

The driver noticed a board that said that 2 hours parking were free and went ahead to do the shopping. A passenger who was with them became unwell and they had to leave the store and catch some fresh air until the passenger felt better. By then the 2 hours had passed, and since they had assumed that they'd be able to pay for the extra time, they were surprised not to find anywhere to pay for the extra half an hour. Since it was late in the evening and just before the time the car park closes, they had to hurry to get the car out and missed the opportunity to find out what to do from the store assistants.

After receiving the PCN, I called the Sainsburys store manager in December and explained the situation to her, and she would've been happy to help, but as we no longer had the checkout receipts, she said that there was nothing she could do.

I've not appealed or had any communication with Euro Car Parks as I couldn't figure out what to say to them.

Today I received a letter from "Debt Recovery Plus" asking me to pay £155 which I don't think is justified, considering it was just for a short overstayed period for no fault of mine.

I also think the signage wasn't clear in that the driver didn't realise anything past the 2 hour period would lead to a significant fine. (I don't live locally so can't easily go back to check the signage unfortunately.)

It also does not seem fair as the car definitely didn't take away parking opportunities from other customers and did not cause the store potential loss, as the car park was totally empty at 10pm.

Is there anything I can do at this stage to avoid having to pay this?

Many thanks,
blue

ChirpyChicken

yes you avoid paying it by not contacting DRP

fisherjim

Don't consider paying the idiots, and you have gone past the scam appeals stage anyway if you are at scam debt collectors stage.

Debt collectors can be ignored you don't have a debt only an alleged debt, and why are you calling this invoice a "fine" only the police or an authority can issue fines not a two bit parking operator.

You could write to the CEO of Sainsbury's and ask him to cancel this invoice from their contractor that is harassing a bona-fide customer that had a medical emergency to contend with on their premises.

Also read the newbies thread on here where the whole sorry unregulated process is explained in full.

bluenote11

fisherjim said:

Don't consider paying the idiots, and you have gone past the scam appeals stage anyway if you are at scam debt collectors stage.

Debt collectors can be ignored you don't have a debt only an alleged debt, and why are you calling this invoice a "fine" only the police or an authority can issue fines not a two bit parking operator.

You could write to the CEO of Sainsbury's and ask him to cancel this invoice from their contractor that is harassing a bona-fide customer that had a medical emergency to contend with on their premises.

Also read the newbies thread on here where the whole sorry unregulated process is explained in full.

Great clarification about the fine, thanks. 

Sure, will go back to the newbies thread. Just couldn't process what it all means for this situation.

I've gotten good inputs from the thread before, successfully appealed a Heathrow short stay charge and managed to get a charge cancelled by a helpful restaurant manager, so big thumbs up to this helpful forum. 

Gr1pr

For debt collectors letters,  you just read post 4 in the newbies sticky thread,  which is 2 simple tasks

Ignore + Do not pay   !

Coupon-mad

Sit tight. Do nothing except the below.

By going confidently into the 'ignore' stance, the only steps to take (because you MUST check every letter) are:

- Tell them if you move house within 6 years.

- Ignore the tedious £170 threatograms shown in pictures in the 4th post of the NEWBIES thread.

- Come back if you get a solicitor's LBC as per the 2nd post of the NEWBIES thread.

Nobody pays a penny and no hearing is even needed in most cases. Search the forum and read a few cases as they are easy to beat by waiting for a claim form - it is easier than appealing!

There is no risk AT ALL in defending a court claim. No CCJ. No bailiffs. You'll get yours from DCB Legal, who always discontinue!

bluenote11

Many thanks, lads & ladies. Very helpful. It's a lot of info out there which is great, just got me into a bit of a headspin, so appreciate the pointers towards the relevant info. I'm already calmer

Nellymoser

Now that calm has returned....please email your MP make them aware and ask them to support their fellow MPs who are asking for statutory regulation for this out of control private parking industry.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81193608/#Comment_81193608

It's easy with poster Smoof's template letter, just copy/adapt to suit.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6583618/ive-written-to-my-mp

🙏

WD40fan

bluenote11
I'm surfing the board for my own PCN and spotted your post. Do you have a Nectar card? If so, you may be able to ask for evidence of Nectar points gained that day?

I recently had to make a return and didn't have the receipt- they could refund based on my Nectar card number.....