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AIBU?

AIBU to think this is a disgusting warning letter?

17 replies

Achoopichu · 29/06/2017 08:51

I had a parking ticket last year. I left the car park and returned in the time i'd already paid for, and they said I should have paid again. I disagreed but they decided I owed the money. Because of threatening scary letters at the time I paid £60 which was the early payment amount, as they extended the early payment time limit to allow me to appeal. I threw away the paperwork around 6 months after payment date so don't have evidence.

I hadn't heard anything else, but now A YEAR AFTER THE ORIGINAL PAYMENT I get the following letter, asking for £40, the difference between the £60 early payment and the full payment -

Despite our various communication your debt remains outstanding. Unless payment is received in full within 14 days we will unfortunately be left with no alternative but to instruct our legal department to commence proceeding.

Please be aware that we will be seeking full costs of the application together with all our legal fees in dealing with this matter.

If a judgement is obtained the options that may be available to us is as follows -
a warrant of execution
appoint court bailiffs to attend your property
seize your vehicle/goods
apply for an attachment of earning
third party debt order

It goes on but you get the gist. I don't agree that I should pay this but I'm worried they will start adding charges and this will escalate.

In addition the letter was dated 19 June and I only got it on 27th so I've hardly any time!

I think this is disgusting. I'm lucky that I won't be destitute if I pay,
but it will be painful. I'm scared of not paying. What would you do?

OP posts:
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OrgyofSausages · 29/06/2017 08:54

It's probably a scam.
Presumably you can verify that you paid - a simple check on your credit card record or bank account will show the payment (please tell me you didn't pay cash).

Who is the group collecting payment? what are they called? can you tell us please then we can ascertain if they are scammers.

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SheSaidHeSaid · 29/06/2017 08:55

What's the name of the parking company?

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JamRock · 29/06/2017 08:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LilyMcClellan · 29/06/2017 08:57

How did you make the payment? If it was online, you should have the record of it.

Go to town on them. Parking buildings are notorious for bully-boy tactics like this.

I've had an identical thing happen to me. I rang them up, told them I made the payment, insisted they search bank records for the time I made it, and threatened to go to the media if they continued to claim I hadn't paid. Funnily enough, they then found the records that I had paid up and dropped the matter. No apology of course.

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Teabagtits · 29/06/2017 08:59

If it's a private car park just ignore it. Don't acknowledge any communication or the debt. If it's council/police ticket then you'll have to appeal it.

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Caenea · 29/06/2017 09:00

Don't pay it. Nobody in their right mind is going to pursue legal action for £40, the courts would laugh in their faces.

As PPs are saying, it is likely this is a scam.

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Achoopichu · 29/06/2017 09:06

I will have a record that I paid, but not that I had an extended time limit to pay the "early" payment amount.

I did consider ignoring it. I don't have that car any more so if I don't respond they might think I've moved and can't trace me anyway.

It's Civil Enforcement Ltd - I don't think they're scammers but when I googled them there are a lot of people unhappy with their tactics. Horrible horrible people.

OP posts:
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ADayGivingMeHope · 29/06/2017 09:07

Sent it back with 'this person is not at this address'
They CANT legally enforce it anyway.

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CircleofWillis · 29/06/2017 09:07

The OP will have evidence of having paid it but not that the amount to be paid was the early payment fee of £60 not the late payment fee of £100. I would simply write to them letting them know the dates as you remember them and explain that they have made a mistake with the total as the early payment amount is still valid if you appeal.

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Pickleypickles · 29/06/2017 09:12

If it's a private firm ignore it, I've been ignoring one for 5 years or so I got the same letter every 12-18 months, I was like you and thought the ticket was wrong anyway and nothing has ever come of it. Not worth the time in court for £60.

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Collaborate · 29/06/2017 09:14

Sent it back with 'this person is not at this address' They CANT legally enforce it anyway.

Yes they can.

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lizzyj4 · 29/06/2017 09:32

There's some good advice here:

www.parkingcowboys.co.uk/civil-enforcement/

It says not to ignore as they are very litigious (in years past it was fine to ignore). But there are some other suggestions for how to tackle it.

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blankface · 29/06/2017 09:41

www.pepipoo.com/ also has lots of advice on parking and tickets etc.

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Fruu · 29/06/2017 09:41

Definitely don't ignore, but don't pay either!

This forum is very helpful to appeal tickets from private parking companies: forums.pepipoo.com

They all send threatening letters like that to scare people into paying unfair or unfounded charges - don't let them intimidate you. The more they get away with it the more they're going to continue bullying people. I've successfully appealed 3 private parking tickets in the last year or so and not paid a penny.

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StaplesCorner · 29/06/2017 09:55

That Parking Cowboys is a great site, seems to have the answers you need there.

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missmove38 · 29/06/2017 09:57

I've had a similar thing. Council ticket (as I use an app and mistakenly had the wrong reg down as had a hire car for the day) showed I had a ticket..it's been left for 6 months so I assumed dealt with. Now I've had a fine from the hire company too for said ticket?? Robbers

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BorisTrumpsHair · 29/06/2017 10:15

I would tell them I paid the fine, their records are wrong and if they insist on pursuing the matter I look forward to seeing them in court.

And then ignore them.

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