Private parking fine - my war!

[DazN]

Long story but my car was parked on a cinema car park and subsequently given a parking ticket and fine for £65 as it wasn't quite in a marked bay, very petty if you ask me.

I took advice from various forums and just ignored the letters and all the other rubbish and threats they sent me.

I made the mistake of contacting the company and informing them that I wasn't the driver of the vehicle, thinking that would be the end of it, how wrong I was. As soon as they knew I'd bitten they started sending me more threatening letters, telling me the bailiffs would be visiting unless I paid the fine which now stood at £185.

I stood my ground and eventually contacted consumer direct and the OFT, after my final letter to them it seems they have given up, I haven't had a letter or an sms message now for a couple of months.

If anybody reads this who has ever received a private parking fine then I can offer some great advice, been there and done it )

[bam_bam]

Yeah, been there too. It's great fun the second time around once you fully understand your position. If you're willing to use the freedom of information act, you can find out who actually owns the parking enforcement company then turn the tables on them. Politely asking them to cease and desist at their every step, with enough recorded correspondence and overall structure you can build enough material for harassment (as these guys don't give up easy). Problem is they'll never show up to court, I'd put money on every one of these outfits carrying multiple CCJs from people just like you; issuing Notice of Action, then following through with County Court submissions. These horrible little companies never show up (coz they know they will lose) and the CCJs are due to drivers trying to recover vehicle release, storage and relocation fees but these c-nuts never pay up. What's worse is they just continue to trade for as long as they can (the one I fought had 68 CCJs to their name), then when it gets too hot, they trade under another company. The law on Private Parking Enforcement is changing very soon (or it already has), forcing these companies out of business.

[PhilT]

I had one of these experiences last year. There's a good Watchdog video on YouTube regarding PCNs. Bottom line is the only enforceable ones are Police or Council tickets.

Just ignore all the others.

[1781cc]

I had one of these too, ignore ignore...

I now randomly post them all junk mail, sometimes the free local paper and old tin cans and other faceless crap without stamps, that way the get fined by royal mail and have pay the fees

[Mr V10]

Rip 'um up and ignore it, I've not paid 3 council ones either. Appealed each one which was rightfully issued and they said they would let me off just this once.

[DazN]

I read a great piece of advice, 3 easy steps:-

1. Ignore
2. Ignore
3. Go to step 1

I eventually sent them a letter via recorded delivery telling them Consumer Direct have been informed and they had 14 days to prove that I personally owed for non-payment of invoice, the letters then stopped.

I did quite enjoy the phone calls, "Hi can I speak to Mr N, this is Roxburghe solicitors calling", I'd do a variety of things, I once even said "hang on I'll go and get him" and then left the phone in the kitchen, after 10 minutes I could hear somebody shouting "hello" before they hung up.

[RS04YOB]

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ is a good site