Smart Parking

Liverpool1967

I’m desperately in need of some advise regarding Smart Parking.

In April 2025 I received a debt collectors letter from bwlegal regarding a parking fine from Smart Parking.
As I was unaware the carpark did not have free disabled parking I realised my mistake and paid the fine on the 4 April 2025 with bwlegal which I then received confirmation of the payment and confirmation the case was closed.

At the beginning of this year I then received another debt collectors letter from a different company chasing me for the same fine so I emailed Smart Parking and sent over all of the copy’s from bwlegal showing the fine had been paid. Smart Parking then responded saying they had not received the payment and the fine was still outstanding and that it was my responsibility to chase bwlegal to see where the payment was.

For the last 2 months I’ve been chasing bwlegal who have confirmed they have contacted Smart Parking and sent them evidence of the payment but Smart Parking are denying any payment has been paid.

Now Smart Parking have emailed me to tell me that due to the length of time they have now sent them debt to another debt collector.

How can the debt be passed over when I have evidence to prove it was paid?
I’ve contacted Popla but as Smart Parking will not give me a 10 digit verification code they cannot help.

Any ideas?

Coupon-mad

"As I was unaware the carpark did not have free disabled parking I realised my mistake and paid the fine on the 4 April 2025 with bwlegal which I then received confirmation of the payment and confirmation the case was closed."

Oh no… you paid? Why?

Nobody has to pay these greedy rogue invoices. You didn't have a fine.

We really wish you hadn't paid it. Surely you didn't pay £170?

Ralph-y

check if your bank has paid this ….. if not put a stop / dispute on the payment …. you have been mugged 😮

JibberdyDacodo

It seems to me that OP has come here for advice on how to not double-pay. This seems to be the important matter right now.

The £170 paid over a year ago, I guess obviously if OP can get it back all the better, but if not take it as a lesson learned.

Coupon-mad

We're not considering the recent letters an important matter.

They are easy to see off, even if Smart try a small claim, because they (via the law firm that even the parking sector quip should rename themselves 'Discontinue Legal') discontinue all - 100% of - defended claims involving single PCNs.

There is no danger of anyone 'double paying'.

The letters are merely trying to pick off victims naive enough to think it's a real fine and actually pay £170 which is an unlawful sum (goes behind Supreme Court settled law).

Trouble is, the OP did just that.