Please help, problem with FPN

[edcrfv]

Hi Barnsley Boy and friends, I wonder if you can help? I too have been having problems with a company called Rossendale Collects. In Feb, I parked in a DFS car park in Carlisle. I'm not from the town and I genuinely did not see signs displaying the usual messages. I returned to the car to find a fixed penalty notice, for 1 hr 15 mins parking, and a fine of £30 rising to £80. To be honest, I didn't think the DVLA would hand out private details to these sort of companies (just shows how naive I am) and waited, but sure enough a letter came saying "despite previous requests for payment" although this was the 1st request for payment. I feel the fine is far too high for 1hr 15mins. When I returned to the car park for a second time (just to look) I noted that the nearest sign to where I parked was about 25 yds away and side on, not facing. There are no fences round the car park, so you can easily leave without passing a sign. I have had various requests for payment via phone and mail. I unfortunately on one occasion told one of their operators the nature of my grievance and after about the 5th phone call and letter sent them the following

"Dear Ms. B, As I told your representative who phoned the first time, I deny that a debt exists between us, because I had no contract with the landowner. The signs in the car park are totally inadequate and I did not see them. I have been back to the car park and taken photographs, which I will use as part of a vigorous defence, should you choose to instigate legal proceedings", Yours sincerely,

 

I realise now that this was probably a bad move. The letters stopped for a short while, but I had a phone call yesterday, saying that the signs have been checked, are fine and bailifs would call for payment. I know legally they can't do anything without a court judgement, but do you think given the nature of our exchanges that they will instigate proceedings against me? and if they do can I still get away with no more than £80, Yours with thanks in advance, Pete

[havinastella]

Ignore threats and file letter.

 

It's that simple.

[Barnsley Boy]

I concur, No point in "appealling" to these people. The most efficient thing to do is ignore completely. The phone call as you admit, not the best of ideas, the idea is to get them to spend their money. No matter, just ignore from now on, it will go away.

 

Rossendales are just debt collectors. THEY AREN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING. They can't, they have no powers whatsoever. Eventually, when they tire of you ignoring them, they will refer the matter back to the PPC [which company is it?].

 

There is a vanishingly small chance that the PPC will issue court papers [about 1 in 10,000 chance or less]. If they do, rejoice, laugh out loud, you will get a cast iron defence courtesy of the legal eagles who fly over this and other forums.

 

Honestly, this is absolutely nothing to be concerned about. Most of us have been there, initial feelings of being intimidated soon turns to indignation. I now find any PPCs threats to be completely pathetic, you will get there too.

[edcrfv]

Thanks for your help. The PPC in question is Car Parking Management Cumbria.