Parking charge debt collection, what do I do?

[Anyscrapiron]

Hiya guys.
Apologies for posting here, it was mostly for traffic, and name change so something personal isn't following me around my MN users name.

I've just received this letter, I am clueless to what the actual parking charge is? I can't recall getting one, I've got a car that's not in my name but my insurance is.
My partner got a parking fine for putting the wrong registration into a parking eye meter at a restaurant which he hasn't been able proove since the restaurant has been closed because of covid, but I haven't been had any fines in my name?

I have just been released from bankruptcy and I'm very eager not to get into financial difficulties again, does anyone know what to do with this letter?

Do I respond? Pay it? Ignore it? Challenge it? To be honest money is extremely limited and I'm claiming universal credit due to covid and other factors. £140 is the equivalent to almost two weeks food for me. I really do not need this and its come as a shock.

Any advice from anyone in the know?

I'm not sure I'm afraid but bumping so that someone with more knowledge can hopefully help you

Go to the Pepipoo forum, they are very knowledgeable about parking matters.
They will have a template letter to send out.

Have you asked what it’s in relation to? So place, time and description of vehicle.

Don’t admit anything or give any details other than what’s on the letter. Highlight that you have no idea what the charge is in relation to and without any evidence you are not willing to pay. Given no one is going anywhere at the moment it could be someone trying it on.

Look up contact details online - do not use any phone number or email details on that letter in case it's a scam.

Thank you, i have also been a victim of fraudsters- telephone calls, letters so it's good to be reminded to check it out first.
After everything i have been through im scared stiff of answering the phone, replying letters etc but also scared of taking no action.
It's incredibly scary and confusing.

Bump

Appeal time may have passed.

Ask them to provide the evidence of the ticket, date etc and photographic evidence of you are saying you have not received them.

If you do a search on Google, it will tell you exactly what you need to know.

Unless the fine is from a police force or magistrates I'd just ignore it. They can't do anything. Send a "cease and desist" reply if they continue to ask for money.

I suggest going over to the forum on Money Saving Expert.com

Scroll down until you see Motoring and then within Motoring you will see a sub forum just for parking tickets, fines etc

They offer very good advice. I overstayed eleven minutes in a retail park a few years ago and got a letter demanding £70

Using a template I emailed the company and the charge was dropped within days. One thing to remember is not to ignore this. Also, you don't admit to being the driver at the time of the incident. It's okay to admit you own the car, just not that you were the driver

It will become clearer if you go to the forum

Good luck

Quick Company and Google search says that it's a real company.

However, it seems unusual. Most parking companies will send out letters which give the date, time and place and usually include photograph(s) of the car at that place. This letter seems remarkably light on information. Looking at their public accounts, it's not made clear what they do but the impression is that they are factoring - buying debts from others at a (usually) large discount and seeking to make a profit by recovering as many as possible at face value, which, surprisingly, is legal.

Unfortunately, the days when they couldn't do anything have gone. They could, in principle anyway, issue a debt claim in the County Court. Those claims can sometimes be fought, but on the information in that letter it's impossible to say whether that might be possible here.

And to follow up the 'don't disclose the driver' advice, that's out of date too. If the driver can't be identified, they can get details of the registered keeper from DVLA and he/she/it can be sued.

Don’t ignore it. That’s old advice - they have won court battles since; and have precedent for winning now.

I’d second the MSE or Peppipoo recommendations.

It's not old advice it applies to anything.

Thank you for all the helpful replies,

Also wanted to quickly address the PP who said "a quick Google search" - I did of course, Google for advice, all that came up with confusing advice from years gone by (2011 etc), mumsnet is such a informative place that I was fairly confident posters would come up with some sounds advice.

This company claims to be the same one off the show "can't pay, take it away" put it honestly, I was in an abusive relationship where my finances were controlled and destroyed, hence just coming out of bankruptcy myself- now I can see a small light at the end of the dark tunnel I have been in, a life is starting to look better. I am optimistic.

However opening a letter like this has just made me feel paralysed with fear again - I have also been a victim of horrendous fraud so I trust no letters, no calls.

I just needed help with how to deal with this. I cant face anymore financial issues, and dont want to be taken for a fool any longer.

The advice here seems to be mostly to call and ask for further details, I honestly haven't got a clue what this could be in relation to.

Just to clarify I was addressing @b1rdflyinghigh when I replied about the Google search, in my first paragraph.

Just a quick side question - how do you have insurance in your name if you don't own the car? You can't insure something you don't own.

Other than that, I agree with all of the above - it smells fishy to me.

I'm not the registered keeper of the car, but I have insurance to drive the car. Insurance company aware I am not the registered owner (basically I havent had any assets in my name since the bankruptcy, where I lost everything)

Now i am getting back on my feet, I wil be looking to become the registered keeper.

Just a little link for @MrsFin, incase your curious at almost 5:30am

www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/insure-a-car-you-dont-own/

Also put your request for proof etc in writing (email and/ or recorded delivery letter), you need a paper trail.

Also please be aware these companies will try anything to get you to pay, “make a payment now to stop it going further and then we’ll provide proof”.....no! Everything in writing OP but keep up the communication with them.

Sorry re the last point you can insure something you don't own. I am the registered owner of our cars and my husband has his own insurance policy to drive one.

That letter looks very light on details to me. Definitely call them. Don't ignore it.

If you can get hold of the restaurant they should have a record of your booking and could cancel the parking ticket. Where I work the car park is owned /run by parking eye and we can cancel the tickets if they've been issued to customers/car broke down on car park etc

Worth a try OP

Read the Money Saving Expert forum threads on parking debts

Write to them and keep copies. If you dont get the answers you like , especially if you can not recall the incident write again. Keep track of the correspondence. Don't worry , it will be OK . Worse case , you can make an offer to pay it in small amounts . And now you know itvis a possibility, start saving towards it.