Help! advice needed please about Ethical Parking and debt recovery.

[Spottypjs1]

I have followed excellent advice I have seen on here and on MartinsMoney tips about private parking companies and the fact that they have no authority to fine. As a result, I ignored increasingly threatening letters until they just stopped. I also know of several people who have done similar. However, my husband has recently received a fine and has duly ignored it. He has now started to get letters from a debt recovery firm Debt Recovery Plus which talks about being taken to court. I am now really worried that the law has changed in their favour and he will be liable to pay a large increased fine. Is this just another tactic on behalf of the scammers or is it now legal?
Was my husband unreasonable to ignore it?

[SilverDragonfly1]

After a court ruled that private fines were enforceable, companies have started taking people to court instead of just giving up. There is a lot of useful info on the 'To think my DS should just pay the fine' thread started yesterday (I think).

[Guiltismymaster]

Unfortunately there was a landmark court case recently which meant that the amount invoiced as a parking charge (not fine) was not considered unreasonable. Personally, I wouldn't let it go to court as by that point it's too late to pay the fine, you must supply a defence.
Sorry op, I know exactly how frustrating this is x

[lilydaisyrose]

Where are you OP? If you live in Scotland the above advice doesn't apply.

[vulgarbunting]

Google the company, I believe that a lot of the time the debt recovery companies are linked to the parking company, and it's not an actual debt recovery company (not sure that makes much sense!)

In the last year I have ignored private fines, but only where I was confident that I was in the right. He should probably pay it for peace of mind.

[Spottypjs1]

Thanks for replies. I have done a lot of searching on line and a couple of websites say that if they go to court they can only charge the price of the parking plus £35 costs. I think appealing using the advice from Money saving expert is a good idea.

[wasonthelist]

Er, without wanting to cause offence and depending on the circumstances, I tend to agree that people shouldn't just park on other people's land ......... but I am sure you had good reason.