Driver chased over £170 debt ‘never received parking notice’

Katy Fallows said she started receiving demands from a debt collection company for a parking infringement, and then queried why the initial fine had not been sent. 

The letter dated June 2 from Debt Recovery Plus over parking at Burnley Retail Park claimed she had not paid an initial £60 fine to Smart Parking Limited.

She said the letter had led to her being ‘stressed and anguished’, especially during the period following her treatment for cancer.

She revealed that over the summer she had attempted to speak to the companies involved.

Katy said: “They claimed that this was the fourth letter they had sent to me, as well as the original PCN (Penalty charge notice) from Smart Parking.

“I hadn’t received any of their mail. It’s been incredibly stressful. 

“The first call agent accused me of lying about the letters. I have contacted them several times. 

“I have contacted Royal Mail to question where my mail has been sent.

“I just had a radical hysterectomy as a preventative treatment for cervical cancer progressing.

“I am off work on SSP, all this has been explained to both companies over and over again. Yet they still demand £170 from m,e or I will face legal action.”

She said she had offered to pay £60 over the past month and settle the parking notice.

“They are still chasing this, they have sent another letter demanding the £170. They will not accept my offer of £60 and won’t accept that I haven’t received the other letters.

“It has caused a lot of stress and upset. I have now just returned to work after my surgery and I don’t feel like myself at all.

“I read many similar reviews of the company on Trustpilot. I feel it’s the public’s right to have the companies questioned to find out why this is happening.”

Debt Recovery Plus and Smart Parking Limited were approached for comment.