sorry guys there's no judgment yet (I'm still waiting for a small claims judgment against someone I sued last january)

it goes "your case has been passed to **** debt recovery UK ....to avoid further action.... if you do not pay.... we will be forced to take further action.... our solicitors might be instructed....Please note it is too late to appeal the original ticket.... our client might initiate legal proceedings at any stage....

NOW THEN I understand there is some sort of cut off point after which you cant appeal but I can prove I paid for the cotton-pickin' parking anyway AND this is literally the first I've heard off them
Much appreciated thankyouplease

A company simply cannot state there is a debt and hire a collection company to collect it unless there is an actual debt ratified by a court.

They absolutely can and regularly do. You can though ignore them or tell them to take a running jump. They cannot send in bailiffs with powers to seize property etc but mere debt collectors who hassle and implicitly threaten are a commonplace escalation for debt owed.

If there is a CCJ, and it would be remarkably quick for an infringement at Christmas 2020 it would show up if the OP used a credit checking app such as Credit Karma. Unless there's some discontinuity around his address there should have been a claim and various other correspondence from the County Court.

My guess is that it's simply been passed to a debt collector in the hope that OP will pay up.

If the OP has the time and patience then it's probably worth making inquiries of the Car Park Operator as to the precise details of the infringement and when notices were sent to you.

Sorry Bromptonaut, my terminology is incorrect. Of course they can state whatever they like but without a judgement they cannot enforce the debt. I always though a debt was money owed, not just money said to be owed. For it to be owed you need an invoice completing the contract or a judgement declaring it a debt owing. These unscrupulous types will try scare tactics at the first opportunity hoping it will result in payment. Should be stopped. My apologies for the confusion.

Cheers Concrete