Parking Charges...

[ListenLinda]

Hi there, I’m hoping from some advice from a knowledgeable bunch :)

My husband has recieved some parking charges for parking at work. Back story is he started work at a new store in October and requested a parking permit, to be told, you dont need one we add your registration to a Database. All good so he thought. Until we started getting letters from a debt collection company saying he has had two fines that have been passed to them as we havent responded. The original charges went to our old address.

So we have rung both and trying to get them squashed, the DCA arent bothered, the original parking company arent doing anything because it’s with the DCA...

And they are now threatening court action. What do we do now? What is the likelihood of it going to court? How can we defend it?

I’ve kept all letters but not sure what to do next, does anyone have any advice or information?

Surely your issue is with the employer?

They’re not being very helpful either.

Try POPLA. www.popla.co.uk

I’d land it squarely at his employers door- it sounds like their responsibility.

This used to happen often in my last place of work. If you got a letter demanding payment of charges you took it to management who contacted the parking company to get it cancelled.
Nothing ever got as far as debt collectors though, not sure if that changes things.

FYI- does that mean you haven’t changed your address with DVLA if letters went to old address? Better do that pronto, I thought it was an offence not to maintain your details?

Hope you get it sorted!

Did he ask about the parking permit by email? And get the reply by e mail?

I think it is the employers responsibility that his car wasn’t registered , but it is yours / his that the change of address wasn’t registered with the DVLA.

Had you got the first notification you could have put a stop to it straight away.

How many times has me parked there some Octobet?

The change of address with the DVLA was brought to ours attention by this as something we overlooked by a matter of weeks. That has been rectified now, so atleast that is one thing.

The charges came through on 22/11 and 3/12 and the DCA letters are all dated from middle of Jan.

I think he may need to involve his employer, would it be HR as first point of contact? As his manager is aware and keeps saying ‘oh dont worry it’ll get sorted...’

Since his manager has not ‘got it sorted’ HR would seem a good start.

Good lucky, OP.

Try to find out who is responsible for entering the reg details on the database and ask them to liaise with the parking company.

I will do thank you, it will have to be HR now. The parking company are saying that they wont enter into correspondance while it’s with the DCA, but they debt company will pass it back to begin court action. Feel like we are going around in circles. If he had parked illegally we would absolutely hold our hands up and pay but all he did was park at work under the assumption all was sorted. Maybe it was his fault for not checking ? But you can assume these things, but will not be doing in future.

One last talk with his manager tomorrow and then if not it will be HR/Head office.

And feel a bit foolish for assuming address was up to date with DVLA, as his licence renewal reminder came to this address, so never even thought about the V5.

I think lesson learnt here is to never assume

This isn’t a fine. It’s a “parking charge” because it’s on private land.

His employer can just stop this by telling the parking company to back off, but if they won’t help, you’ll find helpful information on the Pepipoo website. There are different approaches for different companies.

Good luck.