Parking fine debt collectors - advice needed

[MollieO]

I got a civil penalty parking fine from Apcoa in September for failing to pay for parking at our local station car park. I had paid over the phone using the automated 'Ringo' system but unbeknown to me the system had registered a B instead of an E as part of my number plate on one of the mobile phones I use.

I wrote to advise them that I had in fact paid for parking albeit that a mistake had been made by the system when registering the number plate.

Apcoa wrote today to say my letter hadn't been received in time and they had forwarded the matter to debt collectors.

I only have their word to say it wasn't received in time - it was posted in sufficient time to meet the 30 day deadline but they have said it took 24 days to get to them .

I'm in two minds what to do next. Do I write back and say that there is no debt for them to pass on - I have given them proof of payment or do I ignore it and see whether the debt collectors actually bother to pursue it?

I would be tempted to write again explaining that you had paid for parking (plus copy of credit card bill proving this but strike out no/ exp date first). Copy it to the station manager and the managing director of Apcoa and send recorded delivery.

They probably will instruct debt collectors anyway tbh so keep a copy of all letters and proof of payment together so you can provide a copy to the debt colectors as well to persuade them to back off. HTH

Thx chocolaterabbit. I provided them with all the proof when I wrote initially which is why I'm a bit that it has been completely ignored.

I found a parking dispute forum when I was googling last night. Apparently it is a well-known tactic by Apcoa and I should ignore it. I know I paid for parking and it is their system that is at fault.

If they do persist I will write to the MD of First Great Western and the MD of Apcoa and see what they say.

Irrespective of the fine they have not addressed a fundamental problem with their system - that you have to set it up over the phone (which you do in the car park so using a mobile phone) and it relies on voice recognition to note the registration number. I have good hearing but I defy anyone to hear the difference between a B and an E on a landline let alone a mobile!