Frequently Asked Questions

We are members of relevant industry associations for the different services we provide.

For private parking (relating to Parking Charges for parking on private land) Trace Debt Recovery Ltd is a member of the International Parking Community, an Approved Service Provider, and a corporate member of the British Parking Association.

Trace Enforcement Services is a member of the British Parking Association’s Approved Operator Scheme.

Click here to visit the International Parking Community’s website, and click here to visit the British Parking Association’s website.

The IPC and the BPA administer a joint Code of Practice for private parking. You can find out more about this by clicking here.

For enforcement of road traffic offences (e.g. Penalty Charge Notices, unpaid tolls) we are members of the British Parking Association and the Civil Enforcement Association. Click here to visit the Civil Enforcement Association’s website.

We are a member of the Credit Services Association which oversees debt collection by its members. Click here to visit the Credit Services Association’s website.

To see memberships and accreditations of our law firm Moorside Legal please visit its website by clicking here.

A Parking Charge is issued where parking rules have been breached on private land or a car park which is managed by a private landowner. It can be fixed to a windscreen or sent via the post. The majority of charges are issued under contract law and it is the responsibility of motorists to check they are permitted to park there and the requirements for parking in that location.

Penalty Charge Notices are issued by local authorities for contravening parking regulations either on-street (parking bays, yellow lines etc), off-street (in council owned car parks) or for moving traffic or road charging schemes (yellow box junctions, bus lanes, Low Emission Zones or toll roads or bridges operated by a local authority).

An Unpaid Toll Charge Notice is issued when someone fails to pay the required toll by the deadline after travel. If you have questions about Tyne Tunnels’s toll please visit their website by clicking here.

Please contact us so we can update our records if we have incorrect or our of date information. We appreciate this might be a nuisance but the sooner we can resolve it the less chance there is of you receiving any contact that isn’t meant for you.

Our contact centre team can be reached on 0333 577 4447 and are available Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

There are several methods available to pay your outstanding debt.

Online: Payment can be made using our secure online payment system. Click here

Set up a payment plan: Use our secure Customer Portal to manage your case online and set up an affordable payment plan. Click Here

Telephone: Credit and debit card payments can be made by calling 03300 080 477. Please note this is a secure 24-hour automated service for card payments only.

Once a Parking Charge has been passed to debt recovery the opportunity to appeal it has passed. Appeal information is clearly stated on the initial notice from the Private Parking Operator responsible for managing the private car park.

If you have received a Penalty Charge Notice issued by a local authority you will have had numerous opportunities to pay or challenge it through:

informal and formal representations to the local authority

escalation to an independent tribunals service if you are unhappy with their decision. There are two independent tribunals services. Click here to see details of London Tribunals, which relates to Penalty Charge Notices issued in London and by Transport for London. Click here to see details of the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, which relates to Penalty Charge Notices issued outside London.

The Traffic Enforcement Centre based at Northampton County Court, by making an Out of Time Witness Statement following the issue of a Charge Certificate. Click here for more details.

We have no involvement in these appeal processes, and can only act on the instructions of our client or of the court.

Private parking operators and local authorities are permitted to apply to the DVLA for vehicle keeper details when a contravention has occurred.

This takes place via a secure link and the private operator or local authority are provided with the last known registered keeper’s name and address.

Initial correspondence from the operator or local authority will be sent to the address provided by the DVLA. These details are passed to us when the case progresses to the debt recovery stage.

We may use other tracing services to obtain contact details and any forwarding address.

If you believe you have already paid, please contact us and we can check this for you.

Our Contact Centre Team can be reached on 0333 577 4447 and are available Monday to Friday 09.00am – 5.00pm.

What will happen if I do not pay this outstanding charge?

We strongly recommend you do not ignore this outstanding debt. If you do, it is likely to escalate.

If you owe money to a private parking operator, they will consider a range of circumstances to decide how to recover the unpaid debt. They may choose to issue a County Court Claim to recover the debt, which can result in a County Court Judgment (‘CCJ’) being obtained against you. A CCJ will usually include the additional fees and costs of the Claim and may affect your ability to obtain credit in the future (such as a mobile phone contract, car loan or mortgage).

A County Court Claim can be issued for up to six years after the debt accrues, and a County Court Judgment can potentially be transferred to the High Court for enforcement by a High Court Enforcement Agent.

For local authority debts a Warrant of Control issued by the Traffic Enforcement Centre can be obtained for the recovery of the sum outstanding. Enforcement Agents (formerly known as bailiffs) will be instructed to attend the premises and if necessary remove goods to cover the debt.

This action will incur additional charges, these are clearly stated on the documents provided along with payment options. If enforcement agents are unable to collect the sums due there are further measures available to local authorities, should they wish to use them, including the transfer of cases to the County Court for enforcement.

You must call the mobile number straight away. Our Enforcement Agents have a legal power to collect debts by removing your goods for sale at Public Auction if necessary. They may be able to allow you a small amount of time to raise the funds. You should arrange a convenient time for the Agent to revisit you to discuss your options.

Removing goods is the last resort, but if your debt has reached Removal / Sale Stage it is because you have either not contacted us to arrange repayment or because you have defaulted on an agreed payment plan. Your debt must be paid in full to stop the removal of goods.

If a debt is enforceable by court order, fees set by law will apply.

Schedule Fees recoverable under regulation 4

Enforcement other than under a High Court Writ (for example, in relation to enforcement of an unpaid Penalty Charge Notice or unpaid Council Tax debt)

Enforcement under a High Court Writ (a potential method of enforcing a County Court Judgment. Where this applies, it will be clearly set out to you in writing)

We cannot offer financial advice but will signpost you to organisations qualified to help you.

Get free, confidential and independent advice on dealing with debt problems.

This list covers UK-wide organisations and ones based in England and Wales. Find out about debt advice in Scotland by clicking here or debt advice in Northern Ireland by clicking here.

You can also use the Money Helper website (click here) to find more free debt advice services.

National Debtline

National Debtline (click here) offers phone and webchat services in England and Wales.

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice (click here) offers phone and webchat services. They also have advice centres in England, Wales and Scotland.

PayPlan

PayPlan (click here) offers phone and webchat services.

Community Money Advice

Community Money Advice offers phone, email and face to face services in England, Wales and Scotland.

Find a Community Money Advice centre in your area by clicking here.

StepChange Debt Charity

StepChange Debt Charity (click here) offers phone and online services.

MoneyPlus Advice

MoneyPlus Advice (click here) offers phone and email services. They also have an online debt advice service.

Money Wellness

Money Wellness offers phone services.

Debt Advice Foundation

Debt Advice Foundation offers phone and webchat services.

TRACE aim to achieve the highest possible standards in all our services. We have a stringent complaints procedure, please click here to learn more, or you can email us at [email protected]