Debt Recovery Plus: Should I pay unpaid parking fines?

Take a walk around any city centre in the UK and the chances are you will see some unfortunate driver receiving a parking ticket. What many people don’t consider is how difficult it can be for some to repay expensive parking fines, which are often sold on to debt collection agencies like DRP (Debt Recovery Plus).

Who are Debt Recovery Plus?

Debt Recovery Plus are the leading collection service for parking charge notices in the UK, which are among the most commonly issued penalties in Britain. The company name is often abbreviated to DRP or DRP debt.

As well as collecting money from parking violations, they also work on the recovery of County Court Judgments (CCJ) related to unpaid parking fines.

Who owns Debt recovery Plus?

Debt Recovery Plus Limited are owned by the Bristow & Sutor’s group, a UK enforcement agency (or debt collectors) that specialises in the enforcement of debts from council tax to parking fines.

DRP Debt Recovery operates all across Britain from its head office in London, and boasts of the highest recovery rates in the UK private parking industry.

According to the DRP debt collectors website, their duties go beyond simple debt collection. They try to offer advice to clients on the best way to repay money owed, and they also claim they are regularly audited by the DVLA to ensure they customer data is dealt with correctly.

How do Debt Recovery Plus collect unpaid debts?

Parking charge notices

Debt Recovery Plus primarily concern themselves with collecting debts related to the Parking Charge Notice, or PCN.

A parking charge notice is another word for a parking ticket. In the UK it generally costs £60 to repay, although if you pay the fine within 14 days of receiving it, you can settle the charge at the discounted rate of £30.

Debt letter

Debt Recovery Plus tends to get involved when you have failed to repay one or more parking charge notices.

Like most debt collection companies, at the beginning of the debt collection process they will generally send you a debt letter detailing the amount of money owed, as well as your case number and personal information.

Repay online

DRP also allows you to pay via their website.

If you search ‘Debt Recovery Plus’ online and click ‘pay now’ on their homepage, you will be diverted to this page, where you can enter your case reference number, look up your case, and make a payment towards what you owe.

What to do if you owe money to DRP debt collectors

As mentioned previously, you can visit the DRP debt recovery website for more information on repaying money owed in unpaid parking charge notices.

If you can afford it, you can either repay your full balance via the website, or contact Debt Recovery Plus over the phone to set up a payment plan that allows you to deal with the debt you owe more gradually.

As long as you indicate a willingness to repay the money you owe, creditors may be happy to work with you on an affordable repayment plan, even if it means waiting longer for the balance to be repaid in full via smaller payments.

How to contact Debt Recovery Plus about a parking fine

You can call Debt Recovery Plus (DRP) directly on 01828 7334 to speak to a consultant, or get in touch by leaving a message on their ‘Contact Us‘ page.

According to the DRP Debt Recovery website, DRP debt collectors try to respond to enquiries by clients within 14 working days.

What happens if I can’t afford to repay DRP debt collectors?

If you owe them money in unpaid debts, DRP debt collectors should notify you in writing if they intend to proceed with the process to recover money from you.

Depending on how much debt you have accrued, you may not have the money to repay your total balance. Even if that’s the case, it’s important not to ignore letters or communications from DRP.

Tempting as it is, ignoring your debt problems won’t make them go away. The longer you ignore your debts, the worse they get, especially if the creditor begins to apply interest fees and charges.

Can a debt collection agency like DRP take you to court?

It is possible for Debt Recovery Plus (DRP) to take you to court over unpaid debts. Creditors typically initiate court action against debtors if their clients have shown no inclination to repay loans they have borrowed or credit they have accrued, and DRP may make the case that forcing repayment by law is the only answer.

The most likely legal vehicle for recovering your money is through a County Court Judgment, a court order creditors can apply for in order to force debtors to repay what they owe as a way of avoiding further legal consequences.

If at all possible, you should make sure your debt is paid before DRP can apply for a CCJ. Not only will the notice force you to repay what you owe in full, a CCJ will be visible on your credit file for six years.

This will make things like opening a new bank account or applying for a debit card more difficult for you, and is likely to make your financial situation even worse.

What happens if I ignore a County Court Judgment?

It’s important to state upfront that you should never ignore a County Court Judgment (CCJ). Ignoring a CCJ won’t make the associated debts disappear – your creditors and the courts will simply use other methods to force you to repay what you owe.

The most likely scenario should you choose to ignore a court order like a CCJ is that your creditors (in this case Debt Recovery Plus) will send bailiffs to your home in order to recover money and goods to the value of the debt owed.

Can I make a complaint about a debt collection company like DRP?

Even if you are visited by bailiffs as a result of an unpaid debt or loan, bailiffs still have a legal obligation to make sure you are treated correctly.

Bailiffs and debt collectors can visit your home and ask that you repay the debt you owe. If you allow them in, they may have the right to seize certain possessions, but they have absolutely no right to force entry.

If a representative of a debt collection company tries to force entry into your home, you are well within your rights to call the please. Alternatively, you can lodge your complaints with the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Where can I get more information on dealing with debt collectors like DRP?

Dealing with debt is stressful. If you owe money to Debt Recovery Plus over an unpaid parking ticket, or debt collectors are threatening you with court action, we can help.

At Creditfix, we’re one of the UK’s leading providers of debt solutions like Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs). They can help people deal with their unaffordable debt, avoid court action, and keep bailiffs at bay.

If you’d like more information on paying parking arrears, or you’re considering a formal debt payment plan and you would like further details, get in touch with one of our team today on 0800 0431 431.