What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
How can I defend myself against a car parking enforcement company that has wrongly identified me?
I have been contacted on three occasions by a company asking for payment for a private parking fine. They are threatening to take a court order against me, and name and shame me on their website for non-payment. I have been baffled by their requests as the incident occurred in Devon and I have never been to Devon. I have written to them saying that I was not the driver and that they should stop harassing me otherwise I will contact the BPA. I have since contacted the BPA as they have written to me again asking for payment or face the prospect of a court order.
They have also sent through photos of the alleged contravention. It turns out that the picture is not of my car as I have never been to Devon. The company has mistyped the letters on the licence plate and sent the fine to me rather than the owner of the car in question. I would like to fight back against this company. What would you advise?
They have also sent through photos of the alleged contravention. It turns out that the picture is not of my car as I have never been to Devon. The company has mistyped the letters on the licence plate and sent the fine to me rather than the owner of the car in question. I would like to fight back against this company. What would you advise?
Asked on 4 September 2011 by AA, London E6
Answered by
Honest John
Litigate against them for damages. They have seriously libelled you, and threatened you with no just cause. So sue them for £4999 damages using the small claims track of the County Court. Unless someone does this and sets a precedent, these predatory bastards will simply carry on extorting money from people with threats. And if they are members of the BPA and the BPA does not do anything about it, you should write to your MP demanding that such a disreputable shower be prevented from obtaining any keeper details from the DVLA. You can find the BPA Code of Practice at: www.britishparking.co.uk/Approved-Operator-Scheme-...e .
Possibly as a result of our campaigning, the BPA is now running a pilot appeals scheme here: www.parkingforum.co.uk/adjudication_pilot / It states, “This pilot is designed to test the principles behind formalising such a service and may form the basis of a statutory appeals service when the Government legislates to introduce one.”
Possibly as a result of our campaigning, the BPA is now running a pilot appeals scheme here: www.parkingforum.co.uk/adjudication_pilot / It states, “This pilot is designed to test the principles behind formalising such a service and may form the basis of a statutory appeals service when the Government legislates to introduce one.”
Similar questions
I am the registered keeper of a car that was given a private parking ticket. I was not driving the vehicle at the time and I supplied the driver’s name and address as requested. The parking enforcer has...
I have corresponded on a previous occasion to you regarding a ticket issued on December 21 2010 and you advised me accordingly. Just for your information I thought you may be interested in the current...
So far I have not been caught by private parking enforcers, but I have some ideas if I ever am. For example, if I'm in breach of contract with anyone, it's with the owner of the supermarket or whatever,...
.jpg)
