Initial Parking

Wiganlad

Hi all,

As you were fantastic help last time I though I would ask again about parking.

On November 30th I parked on a car park in Liverpool at night. My friend told me all parking is free after 18:00 in Liverpool. I have parked on a car park and not looked at the rules (I know). I am not sure how long I was parked up for.

I have not had anything through from Initial Parking but I got a letter from Debt recovery plus asking for money.

Your newbie thread says that should ignore the debt companies.

I have looked around and if they don't issue a parking ticket within 14 days then it is not valid.

My question is should I ignore the letter or try an appeal using the blue wording in the newbie thread?

KeithP

Wiganlad said:

I have not had anything through from Initial Parking but I got a letter from Debt recovery plus asking for money.

You need to ask yourself why you have heard nothing before this DRP letter.
Could it be that your vehicle's Registration Document(V5c) has an out of date keeper's address on it?

Wiganlad said:

Your newbie thread says that should ignore the debt companies.

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

Wiganlad said:

I have looked around and if they don't issue a parking ticket within 14 days then it is not valid.

That is simply wrong.
The DVLA allows a parking company up to six months to get keeper details from them.
The parking company's trade association allows them a further month to get a Notice to Keeper to the keeper.
What is significant though, is that if they don't get the NtK to the keeper withing those fourteen days then they cannot use PoFA to transfer any driver's liability to the keeper.

Wiganlad said:
My question is should I ignore the letter or try an appeal using the blue wording in the newbie thread?

If you are getting debt collector's letters then you are far too late to be thinking about any appeal.

Wait for a Letter of Claim to drop through your letter-box.

Gr1pr

Not true 

The claimant has 6 months to obtain keeper details and one month to get the notice to the keeper 

How do you know that Initial Parking didn't issue an NTK PCN letter,  or issue it within the 14 days for keeper liability to be applied   ?  ( they usually do, plus reminders   )

Not receiving paperwork is no defence  !

Once the debt collectors are involved,  no appeal will be accepted,  any and all appeals would be rejected 

Get your V5c log book out and check it,  more likely that the keeper didn't update the dvla details promptly,  hence missing paperwork 

Coupon-mad

Why didn't you park on street where it's free?

Forgive me, but what is the obsession with seeking out car parks that some drivers have?  There's literally no need. I never ever use a car park in the evening or on Sundays (unless visiting a venue, retail park or supermarket).

All cities offer some free on-street parking at night (and on Sundays). Even in London, Oxford, Brighton and other car hating cities you can always find an unrestricted (out of operational hours) street.

I mean this to genuinely help you. Just hoping to stop you next time. You probably drove through unrestricted streets to get there!

Wiganlad

Coupon-mad said:

Why didn't you park on street where it's free?

Forgive me, but what is the obsession with seeking out car parks that some drivers have?  There's literally no need. I never ever use a car park in the evening or on Sundays (unless visiting a venue, retail park or supermarket).

All cities offer some free on-street parking at night (and on Sundays). Even in London, Oxford, Brighton and other car hating cities you can always find an unrestricted (out of operational hours) street.

I mean this to genuinely help you. Just hoping to stop you next time. You probably drove through unrestricted streets to get there!

I was driving in a part of the city I am unfamiliar with parking and following my mates suggestion for parking. When I have asked my mates who directed me they said there is free parking on the council ones and streets and they though this was a council one. I know this is defence and I should have looked myself.

Thank you all for the advice. I will check my log book. I have had the car since 2023 so it should all be up to date and I get the tax through on it.

I will just wait to see what happens with it now and come back if I need more advice.