If you’ve been issued with a parking ticket, you’ve probably wondered how it can affect you. You might have found yourself asking if it will affect your credit score. Or, you might be asking whether you can end up witha CCJ for a parking ticket? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one! In fact, hundreds of thousands of people in the UK get a parking ticket every day!
We’ve created this article to talk about whether or not you can get a CCJ for a parking ticket in the UK and what you can do to make everything easier on yourself. Let’s dive in!
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What is a CCJ?
A County Court Judgment (CCJ) is a type of court order. It is used when you owe money to creditors or in this case, a parking ticket in the UK. It turns what might not have been a legally enforceable fine into one that forces you to pay.
Can you get a CCJ for a private parking ticket?
Not to begin with. A private parking ticket, otherwise known as a parking charge notice isn’t legally enforceable when it’s issued. It’s more of an “invoice” for breaking rules and regulations set out by private parking operators when you park on their land.
However, if you don’t pay, they might choose to take you to court. And, if you haven’t appealed or have simply ignored the ticket, the judge is likely to rule in their favour. This means you’ll then be issued with a County Court Judgment (CCJ), which then forces you to pay the fine you owe.
What are the rules if it’s a penalty charge notice?
The rules are a little different when it comes to penalty charge notices, which are issued to motorists who break parking rules in council owned car parks. If you ignore a council parking fine, you won’t be issued with a CCJ. However, you’ll be issued what’s known as an order of recovery.
This is a type of court order, and it gives you a further 21 days to pay the fine that you owe. If you still ignore the fine, you can expect bailiffs to show up at your home to recover possessions to sell to cover the fine.
Remember that you are able to appeal an order of recovery if you’ve got an appeal in process, or if you don’t think you should have gotten it in the first place.
What happens if I don’t pay my parking charge notice?
If you decide not to pay your parking charge notice, the issue won’t just disappear. In fact, the private parking company or landowner might take you to court, and if they win, you’ll receive a court order (CCJ) that will compel you to pay the fine.
Failing to pay that fine within a month could impact your credit score and stay on your record for six years, visible to creditors. Therefore, if you do get a court order, it’s best to pay your fine promptly.
Additionally, if you ignore a court-ordered fine, bailiffs could come to your door to recover belongings to settle the debt.
However, it’s worth noting that sometimes a private parking company or landowner might not pursue legal action for a small amount. Still, it’s generally not wise to take that risk. It’s better to either pay the fine or go through the appeals process.
Will not paying a parking ticket affect my credit score?
No, not paying a parking ticket won’t show on your credit report. However, if you are issued with a CCJ because of not paying your parking ticket, it will then show on your credit score, and will stay there for six years!
This might make it more challenging to obtain credit for that period of time, which could affect other areas of your life too.
Source: Money Saving Expert
As you can see, private parking operators like Parking Eye can be relentless when it comes to retrieving fines that are owed to them. This motorist has recently tried to get a mortgage and because of the CCJ, they are unable to go through with the process.
If you want our advice, don’t ignore a parking ticket. You’re going to be better off in the long run simply paying up, or starting an appeals process. We’ve got a free and easy to use parking ticket appeal letter template that will help you create a solid appeal!
We have full guides on penalty charge notices and parking charge notices on this site. Feel free to take a read and clue yourself up so that you know what your rights are if you ever receive a parking ticket!
