Free Traffic Legal Advice

I received a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) from Euro Car Parks for overstaying by just one minute (2-hour free stay limit).

Is this the Sutton in Surrey? If so, Google Maps suggests that in July 2024, the maximum stay was 90 minutes, not 2 hours: https://maps.app.goo.gl/NkX7Rk1bPGAuoaai8.

At any rate, with Euro Car Parks cases, the following normally happens:

• Debt collectors send a collection of letters
• At some point, Euro Car Parks instruct DCB Legal to issue a claim in the County Court
• If this claim is defended, with our support, they eventually discontinue, meaning you win

We can't offer any guarantees of success, but there's a reason we're confident that a discontinuation will usually be the result: DCB LEGAL RECORD OF PRIVATE PARKING COURT CLAIM DISCONTINUATIONS

1. Since I attempted to pay the original £100 fine and entered my PCN number on the Euro Car Parks website, does this mean they have a record of me admitting I was the driver? Could this affect my ability to defend the claim if it goes to court?

Unless you also filled in some sort of form saying who was driving, entering their portal is not making any sort of admission.

   2.   If I decide to wait for them to issue a court claim and defend it, what are the next steps? Would I need to attend court in person to defend it, or can this be done remotely/in writing?

Ignore all the debt collector letters, come back here for advice if you receive either a Letter of Claim from ECP's solicitors, or a Claim Form from the court. They usually discontinue before the hearing (see the thread I linked to). In the unlikely event a hearing took place, it would be in person at your local County Court (we recommend asking for an in-person hearing as it increases the already high chances of them discontinuing, so that they don't have to pay for a solicitor to attend.

3.   Worst-Case Scenario – If I lose the claim, what’s the worst outcome? Would it just be the £170 plus court fees (and how much would it be?), or could there be additional penalties?

This scenario is very unlikely based on our experience. However... Even if you lost, the £70 debt collector fee is generally not awarded if challenged, which would leave the £100 parking charge (plus interest at 8% per year, potentially challengeable if they've taken unreasonably long to raise a claim), the court fee of £35, and legal costs of £50.

Following this thread as I'm in exactly the same situation in the same car park!