PARKING FINE HELP!!

dogcatchicken

Hi! I received a letter from Trace Debt Recovery on 23/4/25 regarding an apparent parking fine that was issued on 17/5/2021!! 4 years after the fine was issued? The client is Alliance Parking and the fine was issues from parking at Parc Tawe retail park in Swansea. Since then i have received 2 more letters from Trace all which i have ignored. None of them include any evidence of the alleged offence? No photos, anpr or cctv proof and the time of the offence is not stated. The vehicle reg thats on the letter is a car i no longer own, i sold this in September 2021. I have since lived at two address, moving in 2023 and 2024 and received no correspondence or communication whilst living there. I dont know where they have received my new address from either. Today i recieved a ‘Letter before Claim’ through the post from Moorside Legal. It states the cost is now £170 and they are threatening legal action through a CCJ. I am looking for some help or advice as i have no idea what is the best course of action to take now! I have never had a parking ticket in my life 🥲 Thanks in advance for any help! 

Ralph-y

have you had a read of the newbies thread ?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822/newbies-private-parking-ticket-old-or-new-read-these-faqs-first-thankyou#latest

dogcatchicken

Hiya, yes I have but I cant figure out the best way to go now. Alot of the thread discusses evidence and registered keeper. I am not the registered keeper anymore, havent been for 4 years and also i have been provided with no evidence. Im not sure who i email the appeal too? Is it the legal company or the original parking firm? Im finding it overwhelming and a bit stressful 🥲

Coupon-mad

Did you miss this thread today?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6622310/moorside-letter-before-claim#latest

You can't appeal. Have you got the LBC with no deadline in it, as seen here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81578596/#Comment_81578596

and here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6622152/moorside-legal-lbc#latest

Relax.

dogcatchicken

Hi, yes my letter is the same as those! I hadn't seen that other thread today, this is my first time using the forum but i’ve spent all day trying to figure out what to do next. 

Do I ignore this letter now then and wait for the next one or should I send the email template that is in the newbies thread? 

If so, where exactly do I send it to? 😭🥲

Le_Kirk

If you were the RK at the time of the event (NOT offence) then that is all that matters, the fact that you sold the vehicle does not matter, as the event was in May and you sold the car in September.  What is important is to inform the DPO of the PPC of your correct address for service and require them to ERASE any old data.  If you don't do this they will send a N1SDT claim to your old address and, when they receive no reply or defence, will ask for a default CCJ.

Coupon-mad

You email it to the sender. It doesn't stop them but that doesn't matter.

They AREN'T looking to go as far as hearings; they are copying DCB Legal's intimidation model with scattergun claims. It works for them. Makes them lots of money when people pay out of fear.

Defended cases are likely to be discontinued.

We ask that you stick around while your cases are quiet, to respond to the Public Consultation which is now open for August.

What parking operators do is is a national disgrace and a drain on Society, in terms of money and anxiety. If you want to be part of the push to change things in future, it's very important that people like you tell the Government that:

a) you have no faith in POPLA or the IAS and that there must be a SINGLE APPEALS SERVICE that people trust. The sector is crying out for an independent and impartial appeals service - not two involved in a race to the bottom - that will give a real option to resolve disputed cases out of court. 

b).  THE ENRICHMENT OF 'DEBT RECOVERY FEES' MUST BE COMPLETELY BANNED. CASES ARE NOT SOLVED BY DEMANDING MORE MONEY AND OFFERING A 'PAYMENT PLAN' THAT ONLY THE VULNERABLE PAY. DRAS LIKE DCB LEGAL MAKE NO MONEY IF THEY HANDLE DISPUTES IN THE SPIRIT OF THE APPEALS CHARTER, WHICH IS WHY THEY ALWAYS PLOUGH ON TO COURT CLAIMS AND CCJs, RATHER THAN OFFERING REAL RESOLUTION AT PRE-ACTION STAGE. THEY OFFER NOTHING, NO LEGITIMATE OPTION TO KEEP CASES OUT OF COURT.

c). Tell them about your experience and the complete and utter waste of court resources caused on a grand scale by DCB Legal. If there had been an ADR you'd have used it, etc.

Responses are invited to the Consultation now:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6617396/parking-code-of-practice-consultation-8-weeks-from-11th-july-2025/p1

Do it this month pleeease!

We will discuss it further next week on that thread if you want ideas.