DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
FreeTrafficLegalAdvice
HTML https://ftla.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Private parking tickets
*****************************************************
#Post#: 105613--------------------------------------------------
Smart Parking Notice to Keeper - Debt Recovery Plus
DIR By: Sweets
Date: January 12, 2026, 5:37 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I'd appreciate some help with a couple of Notice to Keeper
parking charges I received regarding parking in Cradlebridge
Retail Park in Trowbridge.
The site operates ANPR cameras at the entry and exit of the
site. They changed the parking period from 3 hours to 1 Hour in
the months prior to the parking charges I received. We had no
idea they'd made this change, it's also not obvious ANPR cameras
are used here. My vehicle overstayed the 1 hour time on site by
11 and 12 mins on two occasions.
I haven't responded to the Notice to Keeper and I am now being
chased by Debt Recovery Plus for £170 for each charge. I'm
willing to fight the charges on the basis of poor signage and
the historical 3 hour free parking period changing to 1 hour.
Advice on what to do next would be appreciated. Should I
continue ignore the correspondence and wait for Letters of Claim
or should I formulate a response to Smart Parking or Debt
recovery plus. I tried speaking to Marks and Spencer who occupy
the main retail unit on the site - their manager was rude and
unhelpful. Amazing how many people are complicit to these
nonsensical charges.
#Post#: 105625--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smart Parking Notice to Keeper - Debt Recovery Plus
DIR By: DWMB2
Date: January 13, 2026, 2:39 am
---------------------------------------------------------
If the matter is now with debt collectors, it is essentially a
case of waiting for a letter of claim. There's little benefit to
engaging with Smart in the meantime.
Whilst waiting for a letter of claim, you can do a couple of
things to prepare you for any subsequent claim:
- Get some photos demonstrating the poor signage point that you
wish to argue. You should get some photos showing a close up of
the terms and conditions, and some showing the
placement/visibility of the signage - including the entrance,
and in relation to where the vehicle was parked
- Try to find out who owns the retail park and contact them.
There's a fair chance it isn't M&S who own the site and
therefore, despite the rudeness of the manager, it may well be
outside of M&S' influence
So that we have a record of them for future advice, it would be
useful if you could upload images of both the notices you
received from Smart, showing us both pages of each.
#Post#: 105628--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smart Parking Notice to Keeper - Debt Recovery Plus
DIR By: InterCity125
Date: January 13, 2026, 3:00 am
---------------------------------------------------------
One hour seems ludicrously short for such a large site
containing multiple retail units.
The parking operator is required to place additional temporary
signage (for four months) when there are changes to terms and
conditions at the site - can you narrow the dates down to work
out if they may have complied with the requirements?
I'd definitely be going back to M&S and having another go with
management.
#Post#: 105703--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smart Parking Notice to Keeper - Debt Recovery Plus
DIR By: Sweets
Date: January 13, 2026, 9:00 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for the advice so far. As requested, here are the links
to Smart Parking correspondence.
HTML https://freeimage.host/i/f8zb7xs
HTML https://freeimage.host/i/f8zbRbn
HTML https://freeimage.host/i/f8IIcUN
HTML https://freeimage.host/i/f8IIalp
#Post#: 105712--------------------------------------------------
Re: Smart Parking Notice to Keeper - Debt Recovery Plus
DIR By: InterCity125
Date: January 13, 2026, 9:49 am
---------------------------------------------------------
The second one is out of time for keeper liability.
The first one is questionable for keeper liability since the
'issue date' may not be the date which it was sent.
*****************************************************
Page 1 of 1