Annoying, isn't it, when you try to be courteous by parking up close to the next car so others may squeeze in, then get hammered because it looks like you were the one transgressing! The only solution is to park in a space and let the other person causing the problem deal with this hassle. When you've calmed down a bit and read this thread a few times, you'll realise you can ignore them. Expect to get half a dozen letters over the next year or so, so make sure you bookmark this site to keep reassuring yourself when they do appear. At the moment, there doesn't appear to be any difference to the result whether you use the template letters or simply ignore everything. Depends whether you like a fight or the quiet life I guess. One slight niggling worry might be that if you want to keep using that car park regularly, the attendant might victimise you in some way. I have read one PPC threaten to clamp one of us if we ever went back to any one of their car parks. I don't know what others will advise but I think they are on such dodgy ground if they take that approach it is unlikely. And how would the attendant know you hadn't paid the 'fine'? Its like having a cold - unpleasant but it'll go away... DMA

Have faith HB47, this is the next best thing to a joke. First, if they were serious, the solicitor wouldn't have to refer back to his client - if you didn't respond, they would have proceeded directly to court. Second, you only get a CCJ if you don't pay a court ordered fine within a certain time. Even if you lost in court, which won't happen, you can avoid the problems of a CCJ. Finally, if the list of CCJ's were examples of parking problems, the PPC's would be all over these forums and we'd have to shut up because they would be right! I didn't even open the last letter from the solicitor to me. Aren't I brave DMA

I agree with Baldy Man, as others will shortly I'm sure. You have to hold fast and ignore their threats. I fell foul of one PPC a full year ago and thought it slightly better on balance to send the cease and desist letters, but with hindsight wish I hadn't because that only confirms you do live at the address they have for the registered keeper. I think they will give up sooner if you ignore them completely, but its a matter of personal choice. What is certain is that your sending letters won't make a blind bit of difference to their behaviour. As I said in an earlier post, when I'm wavering, I re-read one or two choice threads and am reassured. These are a couple of my favourites - I know there is a lot to wade through otherwise: http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=31031 http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/parking-traffic-offences/127879-private-ticketing-company-ticket.html At the end of the day, they will lose in court, and they know it. DMA

general comment not aimed at anyone in particular - each time I get the next letter I worry some more, then I re-read a few of the forums and I feel reassured. there are no guarantees but you have to be steadfast. if you can be courteous in your parking habits you will be less likely to suffer (enjoy?) these letters, and motoring will be easier for everyone. there are some PPC's who deserve to be wound up, of course - actually that's probably most of them - but while I don't condone their behaviour in many/most/all cases, that doesn't give us licence to behave anti-socially 'just because we can get away with it'. just my 2 cents

That's not quite what I said - as far as i can see, they contain a good portion of misinformation and half truths, just like the earlier letters. If you haven't responded before, I would stick with your strategy. The court may not like it but at the end of the day has to rule based on law, which is where the well defended cases will win. Just my humble opinion, of course.

Sounds like the different PPC's are using similar template letters - wonder where they got that idea One doesn't normally ignore solicitor's letters but on the other hand I wouldn't want to write back without professional advice and I doubt it will make any difference, so on blance I will ignore and wait for the second letter, and so on. Also on balance, if they do start another or several cases in court, they will keep losing them afaik. DMA

Yes I had one yesterday too, latest nonesense in a nearly year-long waste of time. I presume they batched up all their outstanding cases. I have so far sent one letter back to each of the tormentors in turn, adapted from good advice on this forum. I understand one of the solicitors involved works for a local council? Anyone have a suitable letter to write to them to alert them to his involvement and question his fitness for employment by a public body? Also, you might like to read around Alan Matthews experiences - he beat Excel twice in court. In addition, he identified that Excel may have broken laws relating to Data Protection in passing private information to their 'debt collectors' without his permission. In that situation, would a reputable solicitor be able to take instruction from the 'debt collectors'? Alan's thread here: Excel Parking - FightBack Forums post #104 for information commisioner thoughts. Keep the faith.