Varies, can be non existant because they do not always pursue the charge. However, worst case is probably a year. Its just junk mail through the post. TFT

Always good to here from a troll lol. In a way it is good to hear that PPC's exist because it does provide employment for those who are so mentally restricted that they cannot seek work in any other walk of life. You may think you are scary with your clamps but I have a little thing called an angle grinder Have a good Christmas TFT

Firstly, it is very gracious of you to offer to pay 10 pounds for advice; however, that is not the ethos of this site. We try and help one another out for the good of each other, not any rewards. Secondly, there are some guys on the forum that know a lot about Local Authority PCN's, namely Green and Mean and Pat Davies. They should be along to help fairly soon. In the mean time, are you able to get any pictures of the area where you parked - signage etc. This will help the others to determine if you have any chances of appeal. Furthermore, having blanked out all personal details, I would suggest posting a copy of the PCN you recieved (front and back) so that it can be checked for accuracy. Occassionaly, they can be unenforceable due to errors. Best Regards, TFT

What an absolute joke. I can really imagine the courts handing out five year sentences - it will be more like community service for four weeks. Even then, cowboy clampers still have three strikes before facing prosecution. Do motorists get three strikes before they park? Do they hell. The answer is easy, ban clamping like our Scotish friends. Also, this legislation will do nothing to address the PPC [problem] invoice industry that is fast overtaking clamping it seems. This not enough to deter me from cutting any clamps off, criminal damage or not. TFT

I think that if you understood the implications of the law in this area and the County Courts system then you would understand just how impossible it would be for UKPC to obtain a CCJ against you. The County Court is about recovering loss or damages and not about profit. These companies can claim whatever money the like from you, it is up to a judge whether they are awarded. Anyway, even if they did win against you you still have 28days to pay before a CCJ is recorded against you. I do understand though, conventional wisdom is that you shouldn't ignore companies demanding payment. However, you must remember that any one can set up a company and send out meaningless threats. You are not dealing with anyone that is of authority or in a position of power. This matter is simply a contractual dispute, it is up to UKPC to take people to court to prove their case. The fact of the matter is that UKPC wont take you to court because it is a costly and time consuming process, the chances of wining are remote and than are more than enough people who buy in to this whole [problem] and cough up. It is simply not a commercially viable option to sue people. There is literally greater chances of you being hit by a bus or winning the lottery than ending up at the court. BTW, don't take my word for it, there are hundreds of people on here who will tell you much the same. Do some research on PPC's and I promise you that you will look back and laugh at this situation. Best Regards TFT

Because we have an idiotic Prime Minister and an equally idiotic government. There seems to be two issues here (1) appealing against the clamping and (2) claiming damages for the damage to your car. Firstly, have you/can you get any photos of the nature and location of signage so that we can evaluate the situation? Regards, TFT

Please do not take this the wrong way but get a grip of yourself. All you need to know is that should UKPC file a county court claim against you, the law is heavily on your side and you will be able to mount a very strong defence. If you lost the judge would make you pay back in installments that are based on your financial circumstances. In reality, the chance of you gonig to court is less than half a percent. All you are getting are bits of paper with words on - they mean nothing so how on earth can these people be terrifying you? The worst they could ever do is get a CCJ against you which would damage your credit for six years. It is not exactly having your fingernails pulled out or your ears cut off. My advice to you is collect the mail you recieve from UKPC and their agents and keep it safe but disregard what it says. Relax and ignore it. It is a [problem] and nothing more. By the way, the only court cases PPC's tend to win are those that are either poorly defended or not defended at all. I guess what I'm trying to say is that even if they do their worst they still will not win. All of us on here have had dealings with these companies and know the score. Take our advice, you wont regret it! Sorry to be blunt but what I have said is in your best interest. TFT

I think they have 40 days to comply with SAR TFT

Barclay Hunter, the loan period is getting on for 9 years. That is a very long time to have who £277 hung around your neck. Really, you need to have someone who really knows the CCA to cast their eye over the agreement to spot for any issues. TFT

Some good news for you. This company is based in Bournemouth, Dorset which is quite a way from where you are. Secondly, in the County Court system the case is nearly always heard at the defendants local court. Meaning, it would be heard in Wales not Bournemouth. With this said, chances of getting to court are less than half a percent so I wouldn't worry. Just another unenforceable invoice. Regards, TFT

I like that lol, very good TFT

I agree, this would be brilliant before a Judge. Would make the G24 look incredibly stupid. TFT

Of course, but I seldom see a Tesco that has a full car park even at peak times. In any case, if it is the case that supermarket car parks are getting to busy I would venture that it is the fault of the supermarket for making the car park too small to cope with the volume of customers rather than because of people abusing the facilities. The only purpose PPC's serve is to catch genuine customers out for very minor errors and I cannot accept that a company as large and savvy as Tesco doesn't see this. What is even more amusing is that recently a car was abandoned at my local ASDA but the people that "manage" the site Town and City are powerless which means that ASDA themselves have to do the leg work to get rid of the vehicle in the one case that their land is being genuinely abused. This means that they now have to go to court and foot the bill. PPC's are purely scaming customers, damaging the reputation of their clients and creaming off the top and landowners/tenants seem to dim to realise this. TFT

Seriously, here is the advice and reasoning behind it. Firstly, the advice is ignore them. Secondly, the reasoning behind this is that they only way they can enforce this charge is by taking you to the county court. This is not only costly but also very time consuming for them. Consequently, the cases that arrive at court are typically less than 1%. The law a private parking company relies on is contract. LDK would have to convince a judge that you saw the signs and that by parking your car had entered in to a contract with them. The first issue is that they would have to prove that you could have reasonably seen the signs. The second issue is that it is unlikely that they even have the agency rights to offer parking on the land at a charge. The third issue is that they can only recover the true cost you have caused them which is probably about 50p. The fourth issue is that the charge is unlawful within the meaning of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999. The fifth issue is that the charge is a penalty at common law and is therefore unenforceable. The sixth issue is that the paperwork that PPC's often chuck out is so misleading, fraudulent and deceitful that you would need balls of steel to let a judge see it. I could go on but by now I think you are starting to get a good idea of which side the law is on. Please, please, please do not think that a private parking ticket is anything to do with a Local Authority Penalty Charge Notice - they could not be more different. Regards, TFT

Also, look at the height of impact side of things. This might help you to demonstrate that it was less likely to be any old car that hit yours rather than the milk float. TFT

Can we see the reg of the Police car and then send him a private parking ticket TFT

Most Tesco's I know of are in the middle of nowhere. I can't possibly understand why people would wish to park their if they weren't using the store. Come to think of it, I can't imagine why anyone would want to go to a supermarket other than to shop, it's hardly a day out is it? TFT

If you are a bit of a joker like myself you could write back and thank them for their comments and then say that you regret to advise them that there is no charge to cancel . Seriously though, ignore them and they will scurry off in to the gutter once more. TFT

I think so, you simply cannot reason with unreasonable people. PPC's break all sorts of rules, regulations and laws but expect you to give them the earth. Only if there is a level playing field can you ever think of engaging with them. It's a bit like asking a mugger not to steal your wallet because it is a criminal offence - they don't care and will do it anyway. TFT

160 hours unpaid work - that will stop him:rolleyes:. How can this be any form of punishment? It is good that he has been prosecuted but come on.......... TFT

I'm afraid that double yellows are there to prevent obstructions. As I am sure you can imagine some vehicles have quite large overhangs so can still cause an obstruction even if their wheels are not on the double yellow's. That said, in your son's case he only has a small car so this is not the case; however, as has been said the issue of the the PCN looks legally correct. Unfortunately, you might have had a go at an informal appeal but I assume that you have recieved your NTO now. I would suggest paying ASAP because LA fines don't go away they just get bigger. Besides, I am sure your son wont want the hassle of this hanging over him whilst studying. In future, make sure you send any appeals via recorded/signed for post. Phone the LA a couple of days after sending to check that they have recieved it and be careful exactly how you park. Obviously, this is advice to your son. Regards, TFT

I'm sure that will impress the judge, more snide tactics from this band of parking cowboys. Check the signage for any fraudulent or misleading claims e.g. threatening to prosecute you or stating that the RK is responsible. Find anything you can to show them up to be the idiots they are. Best Regards, TFT

Hello Abi, I too am currently in the process of ignoring a private parking charge. In my case, every letter I get from the ppc I forward on to the managing agent of the site pointing out any issues of law breaking by the PPC. Eventually, even the managing agent said to me ignore the PPC. Quite amusing. Private parking companies are typically made up of individuals who are not able enough to do real work, convicted criminals or a combination of both. They completely rip off the decriminalised parking scheme that the LA's operate. You can usually tell when you have a PPC ticket, LA's tend to be considerably more professional in their approach. To get your money, a PPC would have to take you to court and win and boy is this a challenge - I dare say that it is easier to moonwalk up Mount Everest. The reason being is that PPC's have to rely on an argument that is legally flawed in every way. It is because of this that they try and scare people in to paying with their fraudulent threats. I have ignored in the past, I am ignoring now and I will ignore in the future. I only wish they would follow through with their threats of sending a debt collector round. They are a cowardly bunch of half wits who when confronted run away. Please ignore them and their threats, they cannot do anything to you and they know it. TFT

OMG they even say that you have to make a Statutory Declaration if you wish to defend a County Court summons against you - lying b%^stards! TFT

Interesting site. Everything on it is grossly fraudulent - disgustingly so. They are simply ripping of the decriminalised parking legislation and then trumping it up. The way they refer to these charges is illegal, the language they use is threatening and designed to scare. You are only legally obliged to inform the LA of who the vehicle ownership/registration has been transfered to so that they can transfer the liability for a penalty charge notice. PPC's have no right to demand this. TFT