Lawyers have branded private parking charges “unenforceable” and urged their clients to rip them up without paying, a Courier investigation has revealed.
Hundreds of thousands of charges have been slapped on cars but only a tiny number have resulted in legal action, despite official-looking penalty notices and threatening legal letters.
Our probe found only three cases in Scotland of motorists being taken to court. Even where the finding has been in favour of the private parking firm, legal opinion suggests the verdicts may have been wrong.
The Courier could uncover no evidence of a motorist being taken to court for failing to pay a single fine.
Unlike official fixed penalty notices issued by the police or local authorities, refusing to pay private tickets is not a criminal offence.The Courier is unable to advise on individual cases. Please contact a solicitor.Of the 1.8 million tickets issued in the UK each year, around 600,000 go unpaid.
Dundee solicitor William Boyle said: “There’s no legal way they can levy fines, there’s no authority.”
Over the next three days The Courier will outline why legal opinion is stacked against the private parking companies and highlight local people who have fought the firms and won.For news of what is coming up on Day Two of our investigation, click here.