Paid parking for a different day (next) than parked - now being chased by Debt Recovery

mail2kcm

** Creating new thread as per Mods request ***

Hi @Coupon-mad, I have read through the forums but my situation is slightly different.

On 6th March, I parked at Farnborough's Horizon Parking to catch up with my ex-colleagues. The option to pay was through an app but due to signal issues, I could not download the app. However the parking notice said I could pay within 24 hours so I thought of paying later. After the food at the pub, I wasn't feeling very well the next day so I slept and only on the 25th hour realised I had not paid so I immediately paid but could only pay for the current day (the next day of parking) which I did. 

I immediately emailed horizon explaining the situation and requested them to consider my next days parking for my actual parking the previous day but they said since it has been 24hours since the parking, they cannot help.

I later promptly received a parking ticket from them which I appealed stating that I had issues owing to which I could not pay and that I had paid for the next day.

After a week or so they seem to have replied that my appeal has been rejected BUT that email went into my spam folder and I did not know! 

After a few months, I received Debt Recovery Letter (Again I seem to have not checked their previous letters!) which states that this is my 4th letter and that if I dont pay within next week, I will be taken to the court.

I once again reached out to Horizon trying to explain that I had paid for the wrong day but they said their appeal response did have an option for me to pay £15 and close the case and since I did not respond within 14 days of their response they had to go to Debt Recovery process. I tried explaining that I did not receive their email but they said they cannot help!

What are my options now? Having sent them email, I cannot claim that I wasn't driving since I admitted I parked but only paid late! 

Is there a chance for me to get away from Debt Recovery? I have an upcoming mortgage application and do not want any negative records on my credit history! 

You expertise and suggestion is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Regards
mail2kcm

mail2kcm

Hi @Coupon -mad, We last spoke around July 2025 and since I have ignored all the threatening letters from the private parking to pay. However today I received a letter from a Solicitor asking me to pay £150 in a week else my case would go to the court and a CCJ will be issued!
What are my options now?

Gr1pr

Wait for the formal Letter of Claim giving you 30 days notice, not 7 or 14 days notice

Which Solicitors. ? GLADSTONES. ?

Coupon-mad

"However today I received a letter from a Solicitor asking me to pay £150 in a week else my case would go to the court and a CCJ will be issued!"

Well no, they can't 'issue' CCJs. No worries. It's just another threatogram.

mail2kcm

@Coupon-mad Thank you but I read that CCJ can be issued by default which is what the Solicitors letter states! They have given an email for me to dispute my debt. Should I not explain my situation to them by email disputing my debt? Sorry to ask repeatedly but I am worried dead about getting into jeopardy as much as I dont want to pay the fine for as explained I had paid for a different date which they do not want to acknowledge !

Gr1pr

Its All rubbish

There is no CCJ unless the judge finds against you in court, OR you fail to defend a claim

If you were to lose in court, you get 4 weeks grace period to pay the Judgment in full, to avoid any CCJ from being recorded , therefore no impact on your credit file

The claimant can issue a Money Claim, anyone can, but nobody can issue CCJ , only a judge can sign a Judgment, under the court procedures, after consideration

Study the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum, it explains this topic

No , do not give any explanations at this time, save your ammunition for later

mail2kcm

Thank you @Coupon-mad & @Gr1pr Appreciate your quick response!

mail2kcm

Sorry again @Coupon-mad & @Gr1pr what would the next steps by the Solicitor? The Debt recovery guys only asked for payment but these Solicitors are asking for me to reach out to resolve the matter! I was hoping they would drop it but after almost 8 months I receive this letter from the Solicitor! Let's say I do receive a court order, that would mean I take a day off to attend the hearing right?
I know all these days I have been resilient (thanks to your support) about fighting this out since I did pay though for the next day and did try to reason with them that I paid for the next day since I fell sick on that day (24hours) of parking and I also missed out on their offer to pay £30 when I appealed which went into my junk folder!
I am hence beginning to wonder if my case will hold in the court if it goes to it which I feel it most probably might! In my case I dont have the " I did not see the board" option since I have contacted them via email!
I know I am being paranoid but just worried after all these years in this country without any since default, am I risking too much!
As much as I hate to pay these guys, I cannot afford to take a day off work to go to the court if it comes to that!

Gr1pr

I already gave you those next steps, the main one being if or when you receive a court claim

We will help you step by step, no need to go over it yet

Cross the bridges when you get to them

Meanwhile, study a dozen cases on here, especially completed or discontinued cases, plus study the 2nd post in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum by coupon mad

mail2kcm

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81920353#Comment_81920353

Sorry to ask but could you provide me the link to that sticky thread please? Struggling to find it!

Gr1pr

No, Sorry, but I will show you a screenshot of the 6 announcements at the top of the forum, above your thread