Free Traffic Legal Advice

Live cases legal advice => Private parking tickets => Topic started by: mancunianlad on June 30, 2026, 06:47:56 pm

Title: Re: Unpaid private parking fine sent to collections
Post by: jfollows on June 30, 2026, 06:56:00 pm

No, you do not identify the driver.
https://www.ftla.uk/private-parking-tickets/read-this-first-private-parking-charges-forum-guide/
Refer to “the driver” in the third person.
It’s not a fine, it’s an invoice for payment from the driver based on entering into a contract by reading the signs and accepting their terms.
The liability can be transferred to the registered keeper if the driver is not identified, but only if the conditions imposed by https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/9/schedule/4 are followed, one of which is that the first notice to the keeper has to be sent to arrive within 14 days. If the notice you posted is the first notice to the keeper and your V5C is correct, for example, then this notice was sent too late to transfer liability.

However you could have said this had you appealed in time.

Now you should ignore and never call debt collectors, and in due course will probably be taken to county court where you can construct a defence.

Do some reading of many similar cases posted on the forum for now.

Title: Unpaid private parking fine sent to collections
Post by: mancunianlad on June 30, 2026, 06:47:56 pm

Key details:
Took place: 17/04/26                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
Fine received: 14/05/26                                                                                                                     
Where: NCP Didsbury Wilmslow Road Manchester
Time stayed: 20 minutes
Contravention: Parked without payment of the parking charge
Debt recovery received: 30/06/26
                                                                                                                                                   
In short: My car was used in a private car park to teach someone to drive. The car wasn't left unattended and was driven around the private car park for 20 minutes before leaving. As stated, I received the fine for this almost a month later and because I didn't appeal it (forgot) it got sent to collections where it is now £170. When I called the debt agency to see if I can appeal it, they said that I'll most likely lose anyway and pay even more for the fine to cover their legal fees, and to just pay it now. I understand that it may be fear-mongering, and after doing research because the fine was sent almost a month later I cannot be legal held responsible for the it.

Any advice in how to deal with it if I were (theoretically) the driver at the time? Should I just pay it instead of fighting it in court?
Edit: I am 19 years old, to which I understand I cannot legal allow someone to drive (if i were to let them)
Scans of the letters I've received: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wQlYNEjnfYwdXK6y1yIgis2qLQ1fv6AqGYhEmHCqGto/edit?usp=sharing