A London firm is to go on trial accused of fraud after allegedly sending parking charges to Scottish motorists knowing they were invalid.
Civil Enforcement Ltd is alleged to have sent letters to drivers, demanding that they pay penalty charges after parking at various addresses across Aberdeenshire.
The company allegedly claimed the notice was enforceable under schedule four of the Protection of Freedoms Act, which covers the recovery of unpaid parking charges.
Prosecutors in Scotland say the firm did this in the knowledge that the legislation does not apply to residents north of the border.
The case called at Aberdeen Sheriff Court yesterday and a trial was set for later this year.
No one from the business was present in court and not guilty pleas were tendered by a solicitor acting on the company’s behalf.
The business faces 11 charges relating to Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading legislation and one charge of running a fraudulent scheme.
It is claimed one driver was sent “persistent and unwanted” solicitations by letter between December 2013 and April last year.
The charge states that James Stewart, of Inverurie, was sent mail after notifying the business he was not the driver of the vehicle concerned.
Another motorist, Kenneth Montgomery, of Kintore, is alleged to have been sent a letter stating that proceedings would be taken against him if he did not pay cash that was due.