Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi All. First time posting, hoping someone can help with what I can in terms of appeals and things for a situation.

I live in Leeds. On 30/06/23 I went on a day trip to Blackpool. I parked in a private car park run by NE Parking Ltd. Parking in a corner bay, the ones without a space either side of you.

I returned to my car and left. Far as I knew, fine day out and everything is alright.

On 29/09/23 I received a letter from a firm called Debt Recovery Plus demanding £160 for an "unpaid parking ticket I received" saying I had not parked correctly within the marking of the bar. However, I had no ticket on my car, nor have I received anything prior to this letter. With this letter there is no proof (such as a photograph) of my parking and if it was incorrect. It also says I may have "not responded to previous letters due to an oversight." Again, not had anything before this. They state I have until 05/10/23 to pay. (Copy of letter with personal details attached).

I have looked online, and logged a complaint with the British Parking Association, and also an enquiry with the Independent Appeals Service. However, I do not know how long they will take to respond. Also, both mention about needing to have lodged appeals etc from the ticket. Everywhere I can find states for a ticket like this there are options to pay a lessened amount with x days of receiving and such, but as I never got a ticket, I cannot do that.

Whilst I wait for responses from the above places, I thought I would ask here what I can do in meantime. It has been three months, I cannot remember if I was in the lines or not (though even if over, I do know I would not have stopped someone else parking, due to it being a solitary bay), however, if I had a photograph and ticket, and it was correct I'd have paid the £40. However, being demanded £160 or threatened with court seems not right, as three months have passed and this is the first I have heard.

Any help from people who have dealt with this kind of thing would be appreciated. Seen about making a SAR to the car park company, but given they are saying I need to pay within days, I am unsure what my options are?

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Quote from: Adam_S1604 on October 02, 2023, 10:23:58 am

Seen about making a SAR to the car park company, but given they are saying I need to pay within days, I am unsure what my options are?

A SAR would be wise - for starters, it should elicit any photos they have of the parking that led to the charge being issued.

Their deadline to pay is only of importance if you're planning to do so (and even then, if you don't meet said deadline, their next step is likely to be to send yet another letter).

Is there any reason you can think of as to why previous notice(s) may not have arrived? For example, have you recently moved, and have you checked that your car's V5C document bears your current correct address?

Requested the SAR. Though can take time.

No reason, I bought the car last year, and have not moved. All information is correct. I spoke with Debt Recovery Plus asking for a SAR from them also, and they told me NE Parking apparently wrote to me on 01/08/23. However, in looking into the car park in question, there's a number of Google reviews from people commenting having similar experience as me.

Quote from: Adam_S1604 on October 02, 2023, 10:23:58 am

and logged a complaint with the British Parking Association, and also an enquiry with the Independent Appeals Service.

NE parking aren't a member of the BPA sop that was a waste of time.

They are a member of the IPC (who you could have, though pointlessly, complained to), you can't make such a complaint to the IAS so you seem to have rather gone off at half **** here.

Besides which, complain about what exactly?  They will almost certainly sent it, a failure of the delivery system won't be their fault.

Have you actually gone and checked the address on the V5C?  Never assume!

You seem to be rather aggressive for a forum designed to help people. I might have made mistakes but any reason to be so condescending?

I did see a list of BPA members that had them listed, though I have since learnt about their membership (or lack of), however the BPA does have Debt Recovery Plus listed so might be able to offer some insight? As stated, I made an enquiry not a complaint to IAS, as I am aware I have to appeal etc, but given I received no ticket at any point so time frame to appeal has technically passed, I have asked if they can provide any advice as costs nothing to ask.

I was asking what my options were (both here and to the above bodies), as this is the first time I have gotten a ticket, and basically had nothing about it in three months until a debt recovery letter. Reading about this car park, it seems they have done this to other people so I was wondering if anyone else had had a similar experience and how they went about it. Or even other car parks, if anyone had any advice.

Yes, I have checked my own details. As I said, "All information is correct."