Don't pay don't pay don't pay. Treat the whole thing as a [problem] because it is just that - A [problem]. Read my posting on here about what happened to me. I got a £90 charge certificate, reduced to £45 if I paid early etc. etc. The usual UKPC drill. They have gone away now and left me alone. Also, at work we have recently begun talking to debt collection agencies about using their services to collect money for us from customers that have not paid us for work we have actually done for them and they have blatantly told us that their process does not involve taking anyone to court because it is simply NOT financially worth it so very bad business. They charge £16 for a series of 3 letters. They said that most people pay up after the first or second but if they don't, unless they owe 1000's upon 1000's, we should give up as court costs cash. Court is the ONLY place a private firm can apply for a judgement against you. Even in the unlikely event of debt collectors visiting your home (which also costs money and really is not gonna happen) you can still tell them to go away or you'll call the police. These people have no power. Private credit card companies and lenders take you to court as it is usually 1000's that people owe and they also have to be seen to be doing it or else people would just gain credit and walk away. Understand that this kind of parking penalty is VERY different to the kind you get on a public road issued by the local authority or police. Those you have to take very seriously and deal with. These types are a joke and you need to laugh at them and see that NOTHING will happen.

Thanks to the posts on this forum, I had good advice and acted accordingly so I feel I owe this site and it's users a big thanks, and here's my story, in the hope that it may help other people in similar situations in their defence against the bullies. I parked in a leisure park car park in the West Midlands 1 saturday night in May 2008. I parked out of bay, apparently, but to me there were a line of cars legitimately parked and I joined them. We were bothering no one and obstructing no one. Anyway, when I returned from the cinema, my car had a ticket on it with no fine amount but just a 'we'll be in touch' type message. A few days later they sent a 'Charge certificate' for £45 and they made it look very official. I wrote immediately and stated my case. I admitted that I had parked there but that no one had been affected by me parking where I did, lots of other cars were in the same line and also that it was not clearly marked so I thought I was parking legitimately. The response I got was from UKPC's 'PCN Appeals Dept' and was dismissive of my 'appeal' giving me a further 7 days to pay the reduced amount of £45. By this time I had read the posts on this forum and had understood what the law said about these private companies and I had decided I was NOT going to be bullied into paying. So I wrote back saying that they were to never write to me again unless to notify of cancellation of the amount owed and that I would not respond to any further correspondence. I also stated the law. I kept it all very minimal. I got a final reminder demanding £90 and also attempting to look rather official. They also threatened to pass it on to a debt recovery agency if it was not paid in full. I kept to my plan and ignored them. The next correspondence was from 'Rossendales Collect', a debt recovery agency. They were giving me 7 days to pay £135 or they would be applying for a CCJ against me. Strong words! Before I had time to respond, they wrote again giving me a further 7 days and threatening once more. So I wrote back saying that this amount is in dispute and that they are required by law to refer this case back to their client. The next letter I got from them was not in red lettering any longer, and read 'We thank you for your recent correspondence received in our offices. Please note we have now closed our file and forwarded your correspondence to our client for them to respond.' BTW, I sent everything by recorded delivery. That letter was dated 25 July 2008. It is now 7 Sept 2008 and I have not heard anything again from them. I feel it is safe to say that they have decided that I am one of the few that is a lost cause as I know the law and am not scared of them and they will cease their bullying tactics and give up. There's lots on this site and on the net generally, about the law covering this sort of thing, and their stance is very weak and they rely heavily on scare tactics and looking like they are official fines BUT THEY ARE NOT so remember that. Glad to be of assistance and thanks again to the consumer action group website and it's users!! My message to you: Don't give up because they don't have a leg to stand on.