Parking 'fine' at a Lidi car park by a company called Athena

[NathanGunn]

A few weeks ago I got a charge certificate well that's what they called it for over staying at a Lidi car park by a company called Athena. So as soon as i got it i thought it was a joke after all it looks so fake. But anyway something told me I did not really have to pay it. So i looked on you tube and found a video say there really have no powers to do this sort of thing, and after doing a little more research i found this was pretty much true. So I'm not going to pay it. So move forward a few weeks, I now have a second letter saying I now have to pay the full price and if not they will send around a debt collection company to get it . So now I have a few questions

 

1 If the debt collection company come to my door how can i stop them from getting in

 

2 How long will this go on for

 

3 And is there any one in these forums that has had this sort of thing happen, and what was the out come

 

thanks to anyone who can help. I will keep you up dated

[huggys boss]

1) If a DCA turns up at your door, tell them to get lost - they have no powers at all.

2) How long is a piece of string?

3) Loads of people have experienced this (up to now I have been lucky) and I am sure that somebody will be along soon to point you in the right direction.

 

 

Welcome to CAG

[dx100uk]

ignore

 

and it is NOT a fine

 

its a speculative invoice

 

dx

[Old Snowy]

As hungry boss has said there really is nothing to worry about. Athena are a regular amongst the private parking brigade and we have heard from them on numerous occasions. Their claim - which is nothing more than a speculative invoice. I'm quite sure that if I was to send you an invoice for £75 simply because you share the same air as I breathe you'd not pay it. That's about the strength of the PPC argument.

 

You can safely ignore their demands and move on with your life.

 

To answer you questions:

 

1. If a DCA actually turns up at your address (extremely unlikely for the size of debt they are alleging - and who says that the debt exists?) simply invite them to go forth and never to darken your door again. DCA's have absolutely no more power to enforce debts than you and I - but they want you to believe otherwise. In the modern vernacular tell them to "do one".

2. You will probably get a few more letters. Some will use block capitals and red ink (woooo) and threaten that they may do all sorts of things. The reality is that they will do nothing.

3. Yes, and the vast, vast majority have safely ignored these demands without any issue whatsoever. I have a old yellowing series of letters from a PPC just waiting for the day when they issue the court proceedings they threatened. I gave up holding my breath a long time ago.

 

Some PPC's do occasional issue proceedings but Athena is not one of them.

 

Just to help things move along quickly - i.e. for the letters to stop sooner rather than later - do not reply to them verbally or in writing. Getting a response is what they want as they then know that they hooked a live fish and the number of letters actually increases. Also make sure that you do not ever get sucked into the idea of appealing. There isn't a PPC that has an appeals process worthy of the name and the process is about extracting more details from you - such as an admission that you or your other half, for example, was driving.

[Jamberson]

 

1 If the debt collection company come to my door how can i stop them from getting in

 

 

Don't invite them in. What are they going to do? Force their way in? No way - and what if they did - what would they do then? Get themselves arrested for tresspass and get the sack too. These guys are just goons with no legal powers whatsoever, and if they were ever to take someone's property it would be theft, just as if you or I did.

 

 

2 How long will this go on for

 

 

Until it gets through to them that they are wasting their time and you're not paying.

 

 

 

3 And is there any one in these forums that has had this sort of thing happen, and what was the out come

 

 

Nothing. Nothing happens. They can't do anything. It's a bluff to get you to cough up. Don't!

[Old Cogger]

it is an implied notice - ignore

[NathanGunn]

Hello again

 

First of all I would like to say thank you to everyone who replied to my message, well since then i have got another two letters one reminding me to pay the out standing fine which i have not done and the second one telling me its gone to a debt collector if full payment is not made in 7 days after which the debt (which debt i owe them nothing) will go up they have also said failing to pay may result in a county court judgement that would affect my credit rating.

 

The following action following a County Court Judgement is a follows

 

1 Bailiffs

2 Attachment of Earning Order

3 Third Party Debt Order

 

So all I what to know is were do I stand now.And just for the record I'm still not going to pay at this time,will keep you up to date thanks again for the replies

[Jamberson]

You stand where you always stood. You should expect letters deliberately intended to make you worry, and this is one of them.

 

You have another bit of paper. That's all. Line a hamster cage with it and get on with more important things.

[dx100uk]

its all bluff and bluster

 

totally ignore

 

dx

[brassnecked]

Hello again

 

First of all I would like to say thank you to everyone who replied to my message, well since then i have got another two letters one reminding me to pay the out standing fine which i have not done and the second one telling me its gone to a debt collector if full payment is not made in 7 days after which the debt (which debt i owe them nothing) will go up they have also said failing to pay may result in a county court judgement that would affect my credit rating.

 

The following action following a County Court Judgement is a follows

 

1 Bailiffs

2 Attachment of Earning Order

3 Third Party Debt Order

 

So all I what to know is were do I stand now.And just for the record I'm still not going to pay at this time,will keep you up to date thanks again for the replies

 

The demand will be shot through with Ifs Buts and maybes, they are highly unlikely to take you to, court as it means they have to justify to a judge that their unlawful civil penalty is proportionate to their loss, which as Lidl normally has free parking is NIL so it is best to follow the established pack drill, Ignore

[spikes62]

Ok now we get onto serious advice as you have got to Debt collectors.

Step

 

1. Ignore

2. make a cup of tea and watch Corrie ( if your into that sort of thing) Oh and ignore

3. if all else fails goto 1

 

My daughter have loads and she has

 

Contacted them 0

appealed 0

dealt with debt collectors 0

Dealt with Baliffs 0

are you seeing a trend yet ??

Been to court 0

And finally

Paid any money to a PPC 0

 

Enjoy the free fire lighters when they come. But pls goto 1

[NathanGunn]

Hello again just a little up date regarding my so called parking fine. I got a letter today by a debt company calling them self Legal Recoveries & collections Ltd (LRC) saying if I don't pay the outstanding fine they will start Court proceeding. I'm still standing my ground and refuse to pay it, Unless the replies on this blog tell me differently.

 

Thanks again for all your help so far

 

Nathan Gunn

[Old Cogger]

Hello again just a little up date regarding my so called parking fine. I got a letter today by a debt company calling them self Legal Recoveries & collections Ltd (LRC) saying if I don't pay the outstanding fine they will start Court proceeding. I'm still standing my ground and refuse to pay it, Unless the replies on this blog tell me differently.

 

Thanks again for all your help so far

 

Nathan Gunn

 

Short of loo paper?

[DBC]

It's not a FINE!

[Jamberson]

It's all going like a dream. We were expecting them to do nothing except send you a letter - and sure enough, that's what happened. Exactly as predicted.

[spikes62]

Well done pls keep us all informed never got passed this stage as they gave up or were short of paper but continue to ignore.

[NathanGunn]

I have just received another letter from Legal Recovers & Collections Ltd (LRC) saying this is a Final Demand and if I don't pay it they will consider Court action to recover the debt, by way of issue of a County Court Claim Form. So what do i do, do I just wait for this so called form to turn up or hope they know the're wasting their time and don't send one. I'm starting to get a little worried now so if anyone can help that would be great.

 

Thanks again to everyone who has replied to all my messages

[SURFBOY]

Dont worry, just IGNORE , it is all part of the plan designed to frighten you into parting with YOUR money.

It seems to be working, dont let it work!

IGNORE !!

[ashmk]

If you get worried they are winnning and your falling for their trap.

 

Ignor this letter, ignor the next and ignor the next.

 

The ONLY exception to the ignor rule would be a letter that has a court stamp on it (extremly unlikely that will happen).

For everything else the ignor rule applies.

[Cardiff Devil]

The county court form will not turn up. Some PPCs have been known to send out fake forms to scare people but there haven't been any documented instances of this happening for quite a while. You can quite safely continue to ignore these jokers and laugh at how much paper and stamps they are wasting. Given the tone of their letters, you may well be nearly at the end of the "chain". Just hang in there and don't be tempted to send them anything.

[Jamberson]

Goto post 15

[dx100uk]

I have just received another letter from Legal Recovers & Collections Ltd (LRC) saying this is a Final Demand and if I don't pay it they will consider Court action to recover the debt, by way of issue of a County Court Claim Form. So what do i do, do I just wait for this so called form to turn up or hope they know the're wasting their time and don't send one. I'm starting to get a little worried now so if anyone can help that would be great.

 

Thanks again to everyone who has replied to all my messages

 

:lol:not the one with the pretty looking scales of justice on it

 

they've never ever gone near court

 

silly beggars

 

dx

[hessey50]

The key word was "consider" they will spend one nano second considering how unpleasant for them to have to be at the receiving end of a judgement against them. When you go through these splendid letters deleting every action modified by a may might could possible etc you are left with Dear xxx We want you to give us huge amounts of money otherwise we will scream and scream till we are sick.

They are not fines and if the document put on the vehicle pretends to be a statutory notice or they claim to have any powers to fine ape the appearance of a real PCN then they are breaking he law.