Debt recovery and Parking tickets

[Lostprophet]

Hi,

We took the kids to Krispy Kremes back in June. Apparantly we stayed in the 'free' car park longer than was allowed. I had no idea there was a time limit.

MET parking, the owners of the car park, issued us a ticket for £60. I did nothing, as advised by several sites which give consumer advice, and it has not increased to £100.

I have been advised its gone to a debt collection agent by the name of Debt Recovery Plus.

I am advised this 'ticket' was not legally binding in the first place. How can this go to a debt recovery agency. I wrote a letter to Met saying I was not driving at the time. They responded by saying I need to contact the debt recovery people.

Does anyone have any ideas of what I should do apart from paying the damn thing.

[PurpleMoonlight]

It doesn't matter who was driving they have had the legal right to pursue the registered keeper for over a year, presumably that is you.

You need to engage with them or you may just end up with a County Court claim against you. First appeal via their internal process. When that fails, appeal via POPLA.

It's unlikely they own the land, but your appeal is on the basis that as a free car park they have suffered no loss due to your extended stay. Any charge is therefore a penalty not a charge. See Breadvans posts for more info.

[Simpo Two]

Lostprophet said:

I had no idea there was a time limit.

Any signage?

I can't think a debt agency will try very hard to get £60 - IIRC MCOL is £30 so that's half gone. You might be able to argue them to a standstill. But they might proceed to prove a point... in short, how lucky do you feel?

[stevensdrs]

The debt recovery company are part of the parking company, same building different room.
You have 2 options.
Ignore it completely and hope they go away (might be compromised since you have contacted them) or go down the POPLA route claiming unfair penalty when no financial loss has been incurred.

[Madness60]

I got a ticket from Birmingham airport, all the same sort of blah about payment, debt collection etc etc

Follow this link to money saving expert

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php...

I appealed to the parking company, they rejected my claim

I appealed to POPLA using the standard reasons on moneysaving expert, parking company didnt bother to do anything at all so ticket was thrown out!!

[Lostprophet]

Theres signs.

Popla cant deal with the case as I dont have any references which result from an appeal.

I guess I will hold tight.

[Lostprophet]

We have received now a letter from Debt recovery plus limited. They sent a letter headed 'notice of proposed litigation'. They are now demanding fees of £255.

Most of the forums say this company are useless and not to pay these guys.

[ecs]

I ignored recent 'threats' from Debt Recovery Plus, the letters stopped and then started again from a company with a different name but the same address; They have stopped and I haven't heard for a good few months now.

I'm not saying to ignore them, the choice is yours, but their only option is to take you to court. Would you take someone to court over £60? Have you caused the land owner a loss of £60, £100 or even £225? My case was slightly different to yours though, I was parked on my own property.

[Lostprophet]

ecs said:

I ignored recent 'threats' from Debt Recovery Plus, the letters stopped and then started again from a company with a different name but the same address; They have stopped and I haven't heard for a good few months now.

I'm not saying to ignore them, the choice is yours, but their only option is to take you to court. Would you take someone to court over £60? Have you caused the land owner a loss of £60, £100 or even £225? My case was slightly different to yours though, I was parked on my own property.

The point is there is on financial loss to the parking company. The parked in a free car park. Overstayed and they want to impose a fine. I did not realise we entered into any contract or there were penalties for overstaying.

I dont think I would take someone to court if they dispute they were ever in a contract.

Also how did you get a ticket for parking on your own property. Did you have to cross private land to get your car there?

[Simpo Two]

Lostprophet said:

I did not realise we entered into any contract or there were penalties for overstaying.

You said there were signs. They usually say something like 'Parking limited to two hours. Penalty for overstay £60'.

They would be very stupid if all fines could be dodged just by quoting some info from the internet.

[ecs]

Lostprophet said:

Also how did you get a ticket for parking on your own property. Did you have to cross private land to get your car there?

My permit slipped out of view when closing the door of my car as I was parking up before going on holiday for two weeks. The breach of contract there was not displaying a permit, however I think my leasehold agreement has more weight than a stty sign stuck on the wall of a car park.

[Lostprophet]

Simpo Two said:

You said there were signs. They usually say something like 'Parking limited to two hours. Penalty for overstay £60'.

They would be very stupid if all fines could be dodged just by quoting some info from the internet.

True, that what concerns me. What's their business plan.

I dont understand how they can get away with this approach. I did not read the terms, so I certainly don't agree to them.

[Lostprophet]

ecs said:

My permit slipped out of view when closing the door of my car as I was parking up before going on holiday for two weeks. The breach of contract there was not displaying a permit, however I think my leasehold agreement has more weight than a stty sign stuck on the wall of a car park.

I had this same issue with Redbridge council. I scanned them the ticket and sent a letter. Not heard back from them. Chimps.