Not sure why my word has been changed to [problem] everywhere, it's not rude and it's not sweary, but I think you know what it should be. It's when companies take your money and trick you.

Oh hello! Very same thing happened to me, except I paid by my debit card. More difficult to get a refund.. . but I only paid £60 and am still trying to get it back. I already did the work, filling out the form myself! But -because of the Distance Selling Regulations, you DO have seven days in which to change your mind and cancel. It's the law. So I'm pushing that and pushing it. If you go back to the site (which is imitating original DVLA) there is a place where you can post comments and they pledge to get back to you within 24 hours. I'm still waiting but I'm not giving up. I've reported it to the police, have an incident number and have also spoken to CAB, and have reported it to trading standards as well as my bank. I'm now writing to my MP. Apparently, "there is nothing anyone can do, they are not doing anything wrong"! Well I think they are, and the law should be changed. We shouldn't be embarrassed when we are conned like this, it's a deliberate [problem]. And at the moment, such [problem]s are legal. We the public have to stand up and be counted!! Complain to everyone and anyone, I'm going to. There is also such a thing as a 'chargeback' form which many banks know about and should have. If all else fails you have to write a letter to the bank, requesting a refund. You are in a far better position than me, having used your credit card. PLEASE, don't let them get away with it. My driving licence was stolen and now this fake company has stolen £60 from me. It's outrageous.

Yes but first don't you have to have actually committed a driving offence? In mrsmushroom's case I don't think she has. I think that the 'knowing who was driving' business is always a bit dodgy and I'd never try to get away with pretending it wasn't me actually driving the car that's registered in my name. But that's just me.

Hello, Mrs Mushroom, I hope the worry of it doesn't spoil your holiday for you! This has happened to me a couple of times in the past - I've carried on through when the light has been on amber-just-about-to-turn-red and nothing's happened. It seems to me that the camera isn't triggered to go off until the light has actually changed to red. If it was still on amber as you went through, I think it will be okay. I hope this is helpful info - there's nothing worse than worrying and whittling when you are supposed to be enjoying yourself. It sometimes takes them a while to get around to notifying people anyway because they don't seem to empty cameras on a daily basis. And after all, it is holiday season! (If the rain ever stops, that is.) Good luck but I'm sure it will be okay, as long as the light wasn't showing red when you went through. ;-)

I must say that although my disagreement with Excel parking seemed to drag on for months and I received letters from debt collectors (I owed them nothing as had paid and displayed correctly) requesting different sums of money depending on how they felt, and threatening bailiffs, it all eventually fizzled out to nothing. I have to point out that I DID pay and display at the Excel car park, so did abide by their 'rules of parking'. It was only 60p but I didn't expect to be incorrectly harassed for so long!

Hi, lamma - yes of course! But my point is that the PPCs are determined to cause the most hassle they can. In the event of their issuing court papers, which they may decide to do at any point, it is then their responsibility to prove a solid case against the person they are pursuing. Using my own experience, I don't think it's worth bothering trying to negotiate at this (or, indeed, any) point. Nobody will be awarded costs anyway without going to court and having them awarded by a judge, or whoever is in charge - so let them take people to court and let them pay and let them be made fools of. Often papers are issued but then the case is dropped. I still don't think they will read or take notice of any letter, they certainly didn't in my case and got their debt collectors on the case. Debt collectors wrote twice - I then replied to debt collectors advising that as the case had not been resolved and no debt had been proven, they needed to re-consult their client. I have heard nothing since.

I see what you mean, lamma but what happened in my own case was that the PPC took no notice whatsoever (i.e. didn't even read my letters) and in my opinion it's an absolute waste of valuable time and effort. Better off writing to a long-lost relative, or anyone, instead.

Dear lamma I'm not Bernie but I think that people would be better off spending time at the seaside/shopping centre/zoo/airport/anywhere rather than wasting it writing letters. As one who has beaten them at their own game, my steadfast advice is do nothing, for any letters sent to PPCs are ignored. I know, I sent them! PPCs work in their own way and resent it when people try to flummox them. I'd rather be off out in the fresh air and if it ever happens to me again (I'm aware that it could...) I shall do absolutely nothing. Until they go away. Which they will. Eventually.

I agree with Crem wholeheartedly! I went through a similar thing myself last year and the whole thing was dropped (without the private parking company even bothering to let me know) because they didn't have a leg to stand on, basically. I was worried at the time because their letters were so official-looking but in the end, the advice and support from this Consumer Forum paid off. Best advice I ever had - ignore, ignore and yet again, ignore (completely)!

Agree, lamma. We are going wildly off the point. Personally, I enjoy driving along, without any phones. There are far too many phones in the world now and too many people just don't understand when I won't and don't answer every call I get. Mobiles in cars are just dangerous, full stop. I refuse to engage in any more discussions about the matter!

No, not being moralistic at all, Vinegarvera. You were the one saying that your kids wouldn't be able to eat if your husband was banned from driving. I just wondered why that would be the case - if I couldn't drive because of a medical condition then I'd have to find some other way to get to work so I could support my family because I don't have anyone else to help me. You are lucky in that you do. With or without a driving ban - which isn't the worst thing in the world.

Dear Barney I'm with crem, 100%! There's that old saying, "least said, soonest mended." You don't want to aggravate them, best to leave well enough alone. (oh, sorry, there with the sayings again!) Anyone else can also drive my car with my permission, as long as they have fully comprehensive insurance - and I can drive theirs, again with their permission - but in both cases the insurance is reduced to third party. They are just talking rubbish.

Hi - Vinegarvera - in an earlier post (which I have copied and pasted) you said - "He was driving last night when someone text him- the pone lit up so he glanced at it and got stopped and issued a ticket". You actually say that he was stopped, so he couldn't have been stationary. Drivers are also taught when learning how to cope with pedestrians, etc. - you are just being obtuse now and I have no idea what (GOOD) point you are actually trying to make! (Anyway, what's wrong with you driving and working, if your husband DOES receive a ban (which I never said) anyway?? As a single mother, I've been doing it for years and supporting my family on my own, without any 'daddy' working.)

How long have you been driving, btw vinegarvera? In an earlier post you say that 'whilst driving' your husband received a text message. On this page you say he was stationary. Glancing down at a mobile phone is a completely different thing to checking mirrors, speedometer, gauges - we are taught as learners how and when to do those things. Mobiles should be switched off then they won't distract a driver's attention. Some people seem to forget that a car is potentially a lethal weapon and a licence to drive is a privilege, not a right.

Also agree with Julius Ceasor - and definitely, nobody is trying to con anyone, no. I can assure you that I have been through this myself and come out of it without having to pay anyone a penny ha'penny. I must admit to getting very annoyed on occasion but stuck to my guns - and kept referring to this forum - people are very helpful and supportive. (Also see previous posts on here, there are nineteen pages now but just dip into some of the others - similar problems, same advice. It's all reassuring. Hope I have helped in some small way, too.