Have you been issued with a CCJ due to an unpaid parking ticket?

If you have parked your vehicle in a car park without purchasing a valid ticket, parking companies will make a note of the offending vehicle’s registration plate and check with the DVLA for the name and address of the registered driver.  The car parking company will then send the registered driver a penalty notice at the address held by the DVLA.

If the penalty remains unpaid after the time for payment has expired, the car parking company may issue court proceedings against the registered driver in respect of the notice plus interest and costs.

If the court proceedings are not acknowledged to the Court within 14 days of the proceedings being served, then the car parking company is entitled to request Judgment in Default against the registered driver (i.e. without the need for a hearing).

If the court grants a Judgment against you, you will be required to pay the amount of the Judgment. A CCJ will remain on your credit record for six years if it is not paid off within 1 month of the date of Judgment - this will negatively impact your credit rating.

If you have moved address and you have recently become aware that a CCJ has been registered against you in respect of an unpaid parking fine, this may have been because the parking company sent the penalty notice and the court proceedings to your old address. If the penalty remained unpaid/proceedings unacknowledged, it is likely that Judgment in Default was obtained against you, as stated above.

Sometimes car parking companies will not issue proceedings until several months or even years after the penalty notice has been sent.

What you can do about County Court Judgments

If you have found yourself in the unfortunate position of having a CCJ issued against you without your knowledge, speak to one of our experts at the earliest possible time to ensure the best possible outcome. We have a 92% success rate in setting aside numerous CCJs.

For more information on these issues, contact Asa Cocker on 0161 785 3500 or email the team at enquiries@pearsonlegal.co.uk

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Please note that the information and opinions contained in this article are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to provide legal advice. No responsibility for its accuracy or correctness is assumed by Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers Ltd or any of its members or employees. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking, or refraining from taking, any action as a result of this article.

This blog was posted some time ago and its contents may now be out of date. For the latest legal position relating to these issues, get in touch with the author - or make an enquiry now.