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.

I agree with lamma - no contact at all. They aren't the law - threats of debt collectors are just that - threats. Even if the debt collector writes to you, you just write back and say the dispute has not yet been resolved and refer them back to their client. This works, I know, I did it!

I also feel very strongly about this. When driving we should be doing just and only that. I've seen so many people holding mobiles and driving one-handed, it makes me really mad. The question shouldn't really have been asked, Buddy Boy - yes, the police can fine you and yes, they did - because it's really dangerous and people could be killed or injured because you have taken your mind off your driving for a nano second. Don't be surprised that people have jumped on you, no-one could defend such daft actions. Even glancing down at a mobile when a text pops up is dangerous when driving, and no-one is infallible.

Hi barney gumble If it were me, I wouldn't respond at all - keeping correspondence going just makes them think that you are worried, in my opinion. You may very well be worried but they don't need to know. I know that others on this site would say the less you say the better, as that was their advice to me and - it worked! The onus is on THEM to prove exactly who was driving - they obviously don't have a clue, so you are in a strong position. I'm also intrigued that they ask you for driver's details and then go on to advise about paying the fine it does seem like a lot of bluff and bluster on their part, to me. I hope this is helpful, does anyone else on this thread have any thoughts? crem, lamma, letshelp??

Dear carl3381 A similar thing happened to me just before Christmas a couple of years ago. They said I was doing 36 in a 30mph zone but on the road I was on, the speed limit changes from 40 to 30 very quickly. Anyway, I spent the whole holiday period worrying and whittling as I already had 6 points on my licence which were due to come off the following August. I did send a covering letter asking to go on one of the courses and it didn't do me any harm! It's worth asking, and what do you have to lose? They seem to respond better to drivers who show remorse and are willing to change their (very bad!) ways. You still have to pay, of course but you don't have to suffer more points. I must admit that I am now much more speed-aware - sometimes it's the shock you need! All the best, and good luck.

Hi, barney_gumble - All I can say, after having been through a really traumatic time with another private company, Excel parking in Sheffield last year is - 1. Don't panic 2. Don't give in 3. The notice is a PARKING Charge Notice and not a PENALTY CN, which to me now means 'not worth the paper it's written on'. After months of wrangling, my 'fine' was reduced to £10, which I also refused to pay - more out of stubborness than anything else! I received two debt collectors letters for sums of £130 (plucked out of the air since their original claim was for £60) which I sent back to the debt collectors telling them to contact their client (Excel) since I owed them nothing and was prepared to go to court to prove it. They are NOT the law and they are NOT entitled to any more information from you. It's up to them to prove the point/who was driving, etc. Don't let them scare you with talk of going to court or lack of insurance, etc. because they don't have any proof of that either - basically don't give in! Good luck!

Dear Everyone, just to let you know that it all fizzled out without even an apology or anything from the opposition. I stood firm and paid nothing, said nothing. You just have to be brave, even in the face of adversity! Thank you to all those who helped, and even to those who didn't because you kept me on my toes!

Hello! Further to my previous posting I have today received a letter from Excel's debt collection agency for a different sum of money altogether. Now I owe them £130 for some reason. I'm going to use your template, Bernie the Bolt but I'm still prepared to go to court over this. They are going to pass the matter on to Graham White who will review my case for potential legal action. I've heard that name before! Bring it on!!! yay. I think!

Hello! I'm sorry to hear of your son's problems but as far as I am aware, and from what I've learned from lots of learned people on these threads, bailiffs cannot be sent in unless a court/judge has given the order. In which case, they are acting illegally. If my own experience is anything to go by, they are probably just illegal anyway. I'm waiting to be advised that Excel Parking in Sheffield are taking me to court. Going on five weeks now.... still, I know these things do take time.

Hey, who has been putting messages on here in my name addressed to Rooster??!!! I'm worried abut my signature being copied in this bloomin' forum!!!

Blimey, Tom, you HAVE been busy! Only joined in April and posted over 60 times already. Please tell me what relevance your posts on here have got to do with Excel parking? You see here, you have made a spelling mistake, thus: "I was asking why people's bad grammar/spelling is not corrected when they pubish a potential letter, as it may prove detrimental to them if their errors remain." Nobody's perfect, not me, not you. What do you mean, my REPEATED criticisms? Rubbish. People do NOT find this kind of criticism helpful! Especially when they are being harassed, as I am, by Private Parking Companies. You really should go and help those who actually ask you to. I still think you are a TROLL and if I am a hypocrite, then so be it, no harm in that.