Another Luton Airport parking question

[greyvix]

DH picked up a parking charge at Luton Airport and reluctantly paid it. He has today received a threatening letter asking him to pay £120 plus, because he did not pay the original.
Apparently, the cheque he sent never arrived. This may be true, as it hasn't been banked yet. He did not send the cheque recorded delivery, so has a cheque stub but no other proof. What should he do?

He has cancelled the original cheque and plans to send another cheque tomorrow.

Oh dear. I have just sent a cheque for £40 for the same thing. I didn't even park - I stopped for about 2 seconds at 6am to let my passenger out. It was dark and raining and I couldn't see any signs for a drop off point. I just don't have the time or energy to fight with these people over it.

The demand stated the fine would go up to £80 if i didn't pay it straight away.

I never speed, or park illegally, so I was really upset about it.

I have just checked my statement and the cheque hasn't been cashed, so I will watch this thread with interest (and apprehension).

Unless the notice refers to bye laws you should ignore it. Don't pay them. This is not a penalty notice. In the unlikely event that they (is it still APCOA?) actually took action they would lose if the signs were unclear or missing. Even if they won they would at most be awarded damages for any loss they have suffered which is likely to be much less than the amount they are claiming.

Don't engage with them at all. If you ignore them they will eventually go away. You don't need to do anything unless they actually lodge a claim with the courts. It is unlikely they will do that as they know they will probably lose.

3littlefrogs, when did you pay? We had exactly the same situation; it was dark and we didn't see the signs.

Don't completely ignore it!! The advice has changed. Google Pepipoo and the private parking notice forum. Their (very good) advice is to wait for a notice to keeper to arrive and then do a 'soft appeal' for this. It will probably be rejected, but they should give you a POPLA code. This allows you to appeal to the independant adjudicator. Pepipoo tell you how to right an appeal that will get the ticket cancelled.

There is varying advice. It depends where you look and how militant you want to be.

The parking ticket is an invoice, not a penalty notice. Some think that appealing gives unnecessary legitimacy to the notice. It remains the case that parking companies have no power to force you to pay unless they take you to court and win. In general they give up without taking you to court as they know they are unlikely to win and, even if they do, they are unlikely to be awarded as much as they are demanding.

I sent a cheque on 22.10 13.

I just have enough stress in my life ATM. I had a previous experience when a work colleague was taken to court, in his absence, for a £40 fine - private parking company - and ended up with a CCJ against his name and it caused all sorts of problems with his credit card.

Oh well - yet another thing to worry about.

I didn't send it recorded delivery as I would have had to wait till my day off and queue up in the post office.

Thanks for the advice. I phoned the airport direct and they have agreed to reinstate the original charge. If we were braver, we would have ignored the whole thing. 3littlefrogs, I am sure it will be fine. Cheques normally take a while to bank.