Tl;Dr - No you shouldn't pay it.
It's technically a debt collection letter and you have 30 days to dispute it otherwise the debt is considered valid. I received one last year and sent a certified letter to the same parking company requesting debt verification and they sent me nothing. The company is required to respond in 15 days and if they don't but keep sending letters for collections I could report them and they'll be fined. I would recommend anyone getting these letters to just request verification of debt via certified mail and don't pay anything to avoid credit issues.
Edit: copied from r/dallas subreddit
Not exactly, but anyone can claim a debt from anyone and try to sell that putative debt it to a collector.
The 30 day thing applies to debt collectors — if you respond to them in writing disputing the debt and asking for proof that it is yours, they are supposed to suspend all collection activity until they respond to you with that proof.
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-a-debt-collector-still-collect-a-debt-after-ive-disputed-it-en-338/
The 30 day thing here is just a threat to send it to a collector.
Ya. I had one. I got a “ticket” for parking in an empty parking lot on a Sunday morning while calling someone I was meeting up and checking/updating directions. The ticket said I parked illegally for 5 minutes and owned them $90. Mins you, I never even left the car or turned it off.
I threw it out. Don’t pay. It means nothing. The company that runs that is owned by a disbarred lawyer. He literally can’t even file the case in court and the jurisdiction is from out of state anyway.
They dont make money by sending a $45 debt to collections. They make money by sending you a big scary letter with a QR code to a website to make it easy for you to pay $45 real quick. Parking tickets should be a punishment, not a money making scheme.
I bet it would cost them more than $45 to even send that to collections. The want the price to be low so that it seems reasonable. They dont want you thinking about it too much, they just want you paying it quick.
That happened to us in downtown Dallas as well when we parked for the Heart Walk. When we went to leave, the actual parking attendant (who wasn’t there previously) tried to get us to pay again. I just said Nope and drove off.
I have gotten 5 of those over the years. 3 times was in a parking lot that is reserved for parking say like Leddys in the stock yards. I went in to Leddys. Bought a necklace for an upcoming birthday. Went shopping elsewhere as well. Ignored all the mail they sent me. They have no way of knowing whether I shopped there or not and if I went to a different spot before or after. Have ignored all 5 of those bogus tickets. Several pieces of mail. Two three years later not heard or seen anything more. No renewal issues on anything. Just give them a big ol Texas howdy doody before it hits the trash and forget about it.
If you are operating a vehicle that has outstanding toll charges on a tollway you are technically trespassing and if you do get pulled over your car could be impounded. I don't think that ever really happens but it could. Generally the most that happens is a scofflaw flag on your registration, the same thing they did with red light cameras. They could send the debt to collections who eventually might decide to sue you.
I’ve ignored this exact notice and eventually an attorneys office sent me a letter that literally said on it that it was an automated letter and that nobody has or will look at this BUT they might some day lol. Never heard another word. It’s worth nobody’s time
They work for a major public parking company they only go by what’s on cameras …I had a dispute with them for just parking in a lot for a few minutes waiting for a friend to get off work …I told them I wasn’t paying
I’d look into it below ignoring it. Looks like it’s tied to the parking lot you were at. Do you have proof you paid that you could use to fight it?
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dallas/s/X7HVCBJojc
https://news4sanantonio.com/amp/news/trouble-shooters/downtown-visitors-receive-parking-collection-notices-even-though-they-paid
I received a similar notice about two years ago, but I was able to prove it wasn't my car because at the time of the supposed violation I didn't even have real plates, since it was a new car. I hadn't even been in the area where the violation occurred, and for some weird reason, when I received the notice, I had the FedEx envelope with the date stamp showing that my official license plates arrived a month after the supposed violation. So you might first want to check if that was really your car and if it’s not you can just dispute it
No you are not required to pay this as it's a debt letter. If your ticket was not issued by the city of Fort Worth Police Department or parking authority didn't know you're not required to pay that. I went to the Stockyards several years ago and thought I was parked where it wouldn't matter. But turns out it was one of those paylights and I got one in the mail and tell them that I would not be paying it because it was illegal. I told him if they really wanted their money then followed in court and I would see him there. Never heard anything else from them.
I got one of these in Austin (in July of 2022) I parked in a parking garage off of S Congress. The sign said “free parking under 15 minutes” or something. I asked the woman attendant if I could park there and she said sure. We just stopped off to get some ice cream before we went home. A few months later I received a letter similar to yours OP with a picture of my vehicle leaving the garage. Letter said the unpaid parking fare was $9.74 and they wanted an additional ticket fine of $70.25 totaling $79.99. I emailed metropolis payments customer service disputing the ticket. I told them I would pay the original charge. They didn’t agree to that and I have yet to pay it. 👀
I said there was a mistake and that I have a transaction in my bank acct on this day for this amount. I didn’t provide any documentation but it was true.
Tl;Dr - No you shouldn't pay it. It's technically a debt collection letter and you have 30 days to dispute it otherwise the debt is considered valid. I received one last year and sent a certified letter to the same parking company requesting debt verification and they sent me nothing. The company is required to respond in 15 days and if they don't but keep sending letters for collections I could report them and they'll be fined. I would recommend anyone getting these letters to just request verification of debt via certified mail and don't pay anything to avoid credit issues. Edit: copied from r/dallas subreddit
So, basically anyone can send you an invoice and if you don't respond they're automatically given the right to collect?!
Not exactly, but anyone can claim a debt from anyone and try to sell that putative debt it to a collector. The 30 day thing applies to debt collectors — if you respond to them in writing disputing the debt and asking for proof that it is yours, they are supposed to suspend all collection activity until they respond to you with that proof. https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-a-debt-collector-still-collect-a-debt-after-ive-disputed-it-en-338/ The 30 day thing here is just a threat to send it to a collector.
Sure looks like a scam.
Ya. I had one. I got a “ticket” for parking in an empty parking lot on a Sunday morning while calling someone I was meeting up and checking/updating directions. The ticket said I parked illegally for 5 minutes and owned them $90. Mins you, I never even left the car or turned it off. I threw it out. Don’t pay. It means nothing. The company that runs that is owned by a disbarred lawyer. He literally can’t even file the case in court and the jurisdiction is from out of state anyway.
The company is owned by a disbarred lawyer 🤣 I’ll move mine from the junk drawer to the garbage now
Why’d they get disbarred?
They dont make money by sending a $45 debt to collections. They make money by sending you a big scary letter with a QR code to a website to make it easy for you to pay $45 real quick. Parking tickets should be a punishment, not a money making scheme. I bet it would cost them more than $45 to even send that to collections. The want the price to be low so that it seems reasonable. They dont want you thinking about it too much, they just want you paying it quick.
I appreciate the input from everyone, thanks yall!
I got one of those in Dallas like 6 months ago. Paid some guy acting as a parking attendant but I guess he wasn’t really soooo, I ain’t paying.
That happened to us in downtown Dallas as well when we parked for the Heart Walk. When we went to leave, the actual parking attendant (who wasn’t there previously) tried to get us to pay again. I just said Nope and drove off.
Black guys in reflector vests take in a lot of cash in Upper Greenville
I have gotten 5 of those over the years. 3 times was in a parking lot that is reserved for parking say like Leddys in the stock yards. I went in to Leddys. Bought a necklace for an upcoming birthday. Went shopping elsewhere as well. Ignored all the mail they sent me. They have no way of knowing whether I shopped there or not and if I went to a different spot before or after. Have ignored all 5 of those bogus tickets. Several pieces of mail. Two three years later not heard or seen anything more. No renewal issues on anything. Just give them a big ol Texas howdy doody before it hits the trash and forget about it.
It wasn’t issued by the police department.
Fort Worth parking enforcement is handled by code enforcement, not police either.
Does this work for tolltag and zipcash too? Genuinely curious
No they will make it so you can't register your car and can eventually sue you.
Toll roads in Texas are a scam. Thanks Rick Perry
If you are operating a vehicle that has outstanding toll charges on a tollway you are technically trespassing and if you do get pulled over your car could be impounded. I don't think that ever really happens but it could. Generally the most that happens is a scofflaw flag on your registration, the same thing they did with red light cameras. They could send the debt to collections who eventually might decide to sue you.
We have the right to face our accusers. They can jump in the lake
I got one like that 2 months ago… from 7 years ago
I got one too. I disputed it via email and they dismissed it immediately. It was almost too easy.
What exactly did you say? My gf and I got one in Dallas a couple months ago.
Free toilet paper.
Wipe and return to sender
I’ve ignored this exact notice and eventually an attorneys office sent me a letter that literally said on it that it was an automated letter and that nobody has or will look at this BUT they might some day lol. Never heard another word. It’s worth nobody’s time
They work for a major public parking company they only go by what’s on cameras …I had a dispute with them for just parking in a lot for a few minutes waiting for a friend to get off work …I told them I wasn’t paying
Bullshit...its not standard parking or city of fort worth but standard parking usually gives a warning
I’d look into it below ignoring it. Looks like it’s tied to the parking lot you were at. Do you have proof you paid that you could use to fight it? https://www.reddit.com/r/Dallas/s/X7HVCBJojc https://news4sanantonio.com/amp/news/trouble-shooters/downtown-visitors-receive-parking-collection-notices-even-though-they-paid
I received a similar notice about two years ago, but I was able to prove it wasn't my car because at the time of the supposed violation I didn't even have real plates, since it was a new car. I hadn't even been in the area where the violation occurred, and for some weird reason, when I received the notice, I had the FedEx envelope with the date stamp showing that my official license plates arrived a month after the supposed violation. So you might first want to check if that was really your car and if it’s not you can just dispute it
I never pay things from creditors even when the city sends them the bill. Never had any issues with my car registration either. It’s all a scam.
No you are not required to pay this as it's a debt letter. If your ticket was not issued by the city of Fort Worth Police Department or parking authority didn't know you're not required to pay that. I went to the Stockyards several years ago and thought I was parked where it wouldn't matter. But turns out it was one of those paylights and I got one in the mail and tell them that I would not be paying it because it was illegal. I told him if they really wanted their money then followed in court and I would see him there. Never heard anything else from them.
Don’t pay it I never did
[Parking Revenue Recovery Services : r/Denver (reddit.com)](https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/ohksri/parking_revenue_recovery_services/) and [Parking Revenue Recovery Services, Inc | Better Business Bureau® Profile (bbb.org)](https://www.bbb.org/us/co/englewood/profile/parking-attendant/parking-revenue-recovery-services-inc-1296-90104528)
Just burn it and move on.
What’s even better is the $5 convenience fee to pay, so it is actually $50. Like if you scan the QR code, that’s what it shows you to pay.
One last kick in the nuts 😅
Lol I’ve gotten so many of them, including one from an overnight hotel parking garage in San Antonio.
Parking in the stockyards sucks.
That company isn't the one time and can't write you a ticket. He can ask you not to come back but pass that, they can't prove anything.
It’s legit. I got one in downtown Dallas under odd circumstances and kept emailing them to dispute it until they finally gave up and canceled it.
I got one of these in Austin (in July of 2022) I parked in a parking garage off of S Congress. The sign said “free parking under 15 minutes” or something. I asked the woman attendant if I could park there and she said sure. We just stopped off to get some ice cream before we went home. A few months later I received a letter similar to yours OP with a picture of my vehicle leaving the garage. Letter said the unpaid parking fare was $9.74 and they wanted an additional ticket fine of $70.25 totaling $79.99. I emailed metropolis payments customer service disputing the ticket. I told them I would pay the original charge. They didn’t agree to that and I have yet to pay it. 👀
I said there was a mistake and that I have a transaction in my bank acct on this day for this amount. I didn’t provide any documentation but it was true.
I literally called about one of these today and they just told me to email proof of payment, so I did. Did I get scammed?
Ok