Pay or Fight?

Listless_2

Hello,

I have looked at the pinned threads but it’s an overwhelming amount of information to take in and I unsure exactly how I should proceed.

I parked in a private car park and was parked outside a marked bay (next to a car inside a bay and on the other side of me was another parked car) the bays are poorly marked and badly faded and the area is undergoing construction works meaning many spaces have been closed off and used for building materials hence the car park being very congested.

I did not receive a notice on my car windscreen but a letter was sent to my old address (we moved 6 months ago) just after the mail redirect ended. I did not realise I need to update my V5 document as well as my license. As such the first I was aware of the fine was when a debt collection agency had traced it to me. 

They sent me two letters demanding £170 for the same offence on the same date. I spoke to them and got one removed but today received another two letters threatening legal action further. 

The collection agency are not interested in hearing my case and only want payment or not. 

My question is should I just pay up to stop the harassment or do I have a valid enough case to fight the charge? I feel it was not exactly clear to me I was not in bay. 

Gr1pr

Definitely not a fine,  just an invoice from a private parking company,  which one  ?

Ignore the powerless debt collectors letters,  never phone them

You should fight,  not pay

Coupon-mad

You'll never pay this.  Which PPC?

Show us the letters x 2 you got.

Listless_2

It’s CPM who issued the fine and Debt Recovery Plus sending the letters. 

Car1980

Carry on ignoring but come back if you receive a Letter Before Claim.

Their claim is clearly ridiculous.

Coupon-mad

Listless_2 said:

It’s CPM who issued the fine and Debt Recovery Plus sending the letters. 

No worries. Those letters are in post 4 of the NEWBIES FAQS thread. Ignore them.

Listless_2

I have received this letter today. I parked outside the marked bay according to them even though there was a car either side of me and the lines have faded or are covered in paint.

White car is mine and the other images show the space in question from the other side. It’s not a valid space but not sure how exactly I was meant to know that given the state of it.

Gr1pr

Ignore them for now

Listless_2

Would contacting them now offer the chance for me to appeal the charge with the evidence I have presented or are they - much like the debt collection agency - just working to secure money regardless of the circumstances?

Gr1pr

The latter, a court claim will resolve it in due course

Coupon-mad

Do NOT contact them yet.

Re-read post 2 of the NEWBIES thread now.