Private #parking invoice - that I never recevied

[Su0906]

I am being chased for a parking invoice apparently issued to me at my local hospital back in 2007.

 

I have written to the company advising that I never received this ticket and have had no correspondence at all in respect of it until now, 4 years later.

 

I have asked for a copy of the ticket which they say they can't provide as they only keep digital records, they have no photo of it on my vehicle to prove it was correctly issued to my vehicle.

 

I have suggested to them that have incorrectly recorded my registration details as I have no knowledge of this ticket.

 

As they have also left it over 4 years I cannot now provide proof of my whereabouts at the time the alleged ticket was issued

but do not believe I was at the hospital on this date and have advised that I never use the hospital car park but park on the road outside the hospital when ever I visit.

 

They are now advising that I owe £150 and have 7 days before the issue a summons.

 

Please advise whether they can do this without have any real proof that they ticket was issued to me

and why haven't they sent letters nearer the time to enable me to prove I was elsewhere.

 

Very stressed and worred by the whole thing. I don't see why I should have to pay £150 just on their word that they have given me a ticket.

[ForestChav]

If it's issued by a company as opposed to a council/police, just ignore.

[dx100uk]

its not a fine its a speculative invoice

 

they have no power to take anyone to court let alone 4yrs! after you caused them the speculative loss on a contract the signs have no legal right to claim anyhow.

 

totally ignore them

 

dx

[Su0906]

Are we all really sure to ignore it, Im very scared that I will end up with court costs as well. The company in question is County Parking Enforcement Agency for the Eastbourne District General Hospital. I know I didn't get this (and shouldnt they be able to provide me with a copy of the reminder after the ticket was issued) as I don't park in the car park I am totally against paying to park at a hospital, and always park outside the hopsital grounds.

[dx100uk]

firstly they have to est who was driving even IF it was a legal police or council owned ticket/parking bay.

 

please do some reading in this thread/forum

you might also so find it useful to watch the recent watchdog prog or look at their site online and read what they say.

and the stickies at the top of this forum.

 

its not a FINE its an SPECULATIVE INVOICE!

 

dx

[Michael Browne]

They are now advising that I owe £150 and have 7 days before the issue a summons.

 

This is all bluff and bluster. they will not issue a claim in 7days, or 14 days or ever

 

Are we all really sure to ignore it, Yes

 

Im very scared that I will end up with court costs as well..

 

That's exactly what their threat-o-grams are designed to do, to scare you into paying £150 for the price of a stamp - nice work if you can get it, don't fall for it.

[DBC]

Also note the name of the company "County Parking Enforcement Agency". Many would say that the name was chosen specifically to fool people into thinking that they are some sort of official body, instead of a bog-standard private parking company.

[asmodeus]

Relax, it is going nowhere especially after this length of time. As others have said ignore as it is a speculative invoice trying to get their potential victim to pay an unreasonable amount to them for exactly nothing. There are charities desperate for money so if you resally feel like giving money away send it to one of your choice ewhere it will do some good not this bunch of chancers

 

The theory is that the person who drove into the car park read the signs and agreed to their T&C. Usually the T&C are misleading, too high to read from the car or not really that prominent. Note it is the driver not the RK and they do not who this is so there is their biggest headache.

 

As more and more people get wise to the 'scheme' (for want of a more apt but banned word) the PPC's will be ever more desperate for cash hence reviving possible old unpaid invoices and could even just issue them to anyone in the hope that the person after a gap of several months or years (i.e. yourself) cannot remember ever visiting the carpark and simply paying them a sum of money as the threats are too scary to ignore. I say possible because have had a certain PPC issue their invoice chain to me for a car park I have never even been in so dishonesty on their behalf is a part of their system. I am still waiting for this particilar bunch to take me court especially as I made a request for them to do so over 12 months ago and am still waiting for a certain Mr Sobell to oblige as it be very interesting especially for them

 

IGNORE everything they send unless in the 0.0000000001% of cases it is properly issued court documents complete with claim number and court seal in which case plenty of advice to be had by the experts on this forum

 

Expect several mopre reminders including debt collectors (powerless individuals) and maybe a solicitors letter or two. Some will have red letters in bold type and even CAPITALS to make them look extra scary but all can be ignored. Writing an appeal tells them you are listening and they will up the threatograms

[Al27]

Just sounds like they've dug out some old cases that never got paid and are having a second go and trying to separate victims and their money.

 

Desperate times at County Parking.

[Sidewinder]

Don't worry - listen to all of the advice above then ignore them. You have written to them once - don't do it again as they will think they have a live contender and it may be worth increasing the threat level. As you say, you usually park outside (Rangemore Drive probably, like me!) and have no recollection of the day in question after 4 years, no idea whether you had a ticket or not if it was one of the occasions that you did use the car park.

 

They can't make money out of parking tickets any more since they installed the barriers and are just having a clear out to try and squeeze a few quid out of people!

[lamma]

County Parking is well known for revisiting old invoices.

[citizenB]

i found this on the bbc's website, i think it makes it very clear the differences between a penalty charge and a parking charge.

 

It also supports advice given on here over and over regarding the person driving the car and identities etc.. Have a thorough read, it clears it all up nicely .

 

It's here http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/consumer_advice/parking_ticket_advice.shtml

 

gary

 

 

hth