Parking fines in a previous apartment

[chilllyboi]

Hi,

I used to live in this apartment 2 years ago for 2 years in total. I have received multiple fines for parking in this apartment without a permit from 2021. I lived there with one other occupant. I was the sole owner of the parking permit for the apartment and my housemate used a resident permit that he had applied for.

I have now received more than 7 fines from 2021 regarding parking without a permit - I received no letters at the time or on my car indicating this had happened despite leaving the property in 2023! I am certain I had a permit during those days. I've received letters from debt collection agencies but wonder what the best way of settling the incident may be.

I would be grateful if you have any advice on how best to proceed / defend myself .

[des8]

Produce the permit or request a copy from the issuer.

Did your lease say anything about parking?
What were the parking signs?
Can you post up a redacted copy of any documents received?

[chilllyboi]

Hi DES8,

I just received my service access request. I am parked in the appropriate bay with the permit however, the permit has moved to the side of the dashboard when driving and is partially obscured. It says the correct bay (which I am parked in ) however the rest of the permit is partially obscured by the dashboard. The letters were also unfortunately sent to an old address.

The signs say "Parking is permitted for permit holders when displaying a valid permit in the windscreen with all details clearly visible".

I am receiving letters from debt collectors - do you think it is better to just pay it off or would you request the permit or copy from the issuer?

Many thanks

[des8]

Debt collectors are toothless, and I would ignore them.
Letters headed "letter of Claim" or "letter before Action" might need a response.

So who supplied the photo showing your partially obscured permit?

How many parking charges (NOT fines) are they chasing?

Why were notices sent to a previous address? Did you fail to update the V5 with DVLA?

Can you obtain a photo of the parking signs, with all the wording legible?

What did your lease say about parking?

Who are the debt collectors (DCBL?) and which parking company?

[chilllyboi]

The parking company is UKCPS who also supplied the photo showing the partially obscured permit and the photo of the parking signs

They are chasing 7 parking charges. There was also a 2 week period between the first charge and the 2nd-6th which occurred on a daily basis with a further 4 day gap between the final charge.

The notices were sent to a previous address as I had failed to update the V5 with DVLA however, there was no PCN at any point.

The debt collectors are Moorside legal

I've attached a picture of the sign. I can't find any downloaded documents of the lease as they were online forms we had to sign however, I will chase this up and send it once I have received this.
.

[des8]

Moorside Legal are actually a firm of solicitors, but they act in the same way as most bottom feeding debt collectors.
Often threaten and start court action, but also often discontinue at the last minute.

When communicating with them or UKPS do not identify the driver of the vehicle.

[chilllyboi]

Thanks DES8 for all of your help.

I've had a look at the tenancy agreement and there's no mention of parking on that but will try to get a copy of the permit.

As I've had several fines in 5 consecutive days, there is a 2 day delay before I receive any letter so there's no way for me to be aware that my permit was not entirely visible during that time (even if it was sent to the correct address).

Do you think it's worth a shot if it gets to court action and if so, what would you try to claim - the original fine charge or try to get it waived entirely?

[des8]

In the face of a robust defence a lot of these court claims are discontinued.
But even if they do proceed to court the chances of winning are good.(altho' small claims is a bit of a lottery!)

The letters from these outfits get more and more pressurizing, but at the end they may try and settle for a reduced amount, rather than go to court

I would see them in court, but i am retired and it makes a day out! You might feel differently if it means a day off work
Your choice

[JK2054]

Thanks DES8 for all of your help.

I've had a look at the tenancy agreement and there's no mention of parking on that but will try to get a copy of the permit.

As I've had several fines in 5 consecutive days, there is a 2 day delay before I receive any letter so there's no way for me to be aware that my permit was not entirely visible during that time (even if it was sent to the correct address).

Do you think it's worth a shot if it gets to court action and if so, what would you try to claim - the original fine charge or try to get it waived entirely?

let them take it all the way