Thank you for the clarification regarding the new bill, I appreciate that as I was a bit worried about it before. From what you have said I am pressuming that irrespective of whether or not I was the driver on the day in question, what they are asking is realistically a penalty and therefore not a legitimate claim - it definately is not a realistic estimate of damages as the car parking is free anyway. I will try and ignore this letter, but I have to confess I will find it difficult as I am a bit of a worrier and I have never dared ignore anything like this before. Thanks for the advice.

Hi, I have had a look over the internet since posting this and apparently there is a new law being introduced in April 2012 which will allow the PPC companies to pursue the registered keeper for monies. Is anyone else aware of this?

Hi, thanks for your reply. I have had a look at your link and they do appear to be a dodgy company, however it looks like it only got thrown out of court due to the people that were fined being able to prove they entered and left the car park twice and therefore did not overstay they time, whereas I did overstay the maximum period according to OPC and photos (I have not seen the photos).

Hi, I received a private parking charge yesterday from a company called OPC and it had official stamp saying BPA approved operator. I had used a car park a couple of weeks before, one that I have used regularly for past 4 years, and is a free car park, and I had stayed for less than 20 minutes longer than the maximum stay. The letter confirms that they have photographic evidence of me entering and leaving the car park which proves that I had stayed over the maximum time. The PPC is for £100, £50 if I pay within 14 days. They state if I do not pay they will take me to court and I may have to pay up to £400. I had never took any notice of the signs in the car park previously and so I honestly did not realise there was a time limit for parking there. I re-visited the site and there are quite a few signs in the car park showing maximum stay and confirming you will be fined if you overstay the maximum time, I do not know how I failed to notice this, although the signs are quite small - but you don't expect to be fined if parking is free? My question is should I pay up quickly to avoid higher fees, but the fee seems very high especially as it is a free car park and it was not busy the day I parked anyway. I am an honest person and I do not want to get into trouble, the thought of court is scary but this seems very unreasonable to me. I am concerned as I am the only person insured to drive my car so it is obvious who would have been driving it, so I do not think I could argue this as suggested in other posts. Please can someone offer advice, even if it is to pay up! I have heard that they can only sue for actual losses so if it is a free car park wouldn't that make the losses nil??? I am very frightened about just ignoring this as I can not afford £400. Thanks