Here's what they don't want you to know.
BBB Rating
A-BBB Complaints
400+Typical Fine
$40–$65States Active
46+Enforcement Method
attendants + LPR + collectionsCan Affect Credit
YesCan Boot
YesCan Tow
YesSP Plus is a legally registered private parking management company — not a government entity. Their parking notices are civil demands, not government-issued citations. This is an important distinction that affects your rights and obligations. Here's the difference:
| Government Ticket | SP Plus Notice | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Police / Meter enforcement | Private company |
| Legal status | Criminal/civil citation | Civil demand letter |
| Affects license | Yes | No |
| Affects driving record | Yes | No |
| Court enforceable | Yes | Rarely |
| Can go to collections | N/A | Yes |
| Can affect credit | Via court | Via collections |
The key takeaway: a notice from SP Plus does not carry the same legal weight as a ticket from your city or county. It is essentially a bill from a private business claiming you owe them money. Whether you actually owe it depends on the specific circumstances, the signage at the location, your state's laws, and whether you entered into a valid contract by parking there.
For comparison, most local parking management companies have fewer than 50 BBB complaints. SP Plus's complaint volume of 400+ is significantly above industry norms and suggests a pattern of consumer dissatisfaction.
Inconsistent enforcement across locations
Disputed violation notices
Slow dispute resolution process
If your notice is sent to a collections agency, you have 30 days from their first contact to demand debt validation. The collector must prove the debt is valid and that you owe it. During this time, they must stop collection efforts. This is one of your most powerful tools.
If the debt appears on your credit report, you can dispute it with all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) under 15 U.S.C. § 1681i. The bureaus have 30 days to investigate and must remove any entry that cannot be verified.
Under 18 USC 2721, private companies have limited rights to access your personal information through DMV records. If a company obtained your information improperly, you may have additional legal recourse.
A notice from SP Plus may look official and use urgent language, but it is not a government citation. You will not be arrested. Your license will not be suspended. Take a breath and approach this methodically.
Collect everything that supports your case: payment receipts or confirmation emails, photos of the parking location and signage (or lack thereof), timestamps showing when you arrived and left, screenshots of any app payments or errors, and any correspondence from SP Plus.
Submit your dispute in writing. Send it via certified mail with return receipt requested to SP Plus Corporation, Attn: Customer Service, 200 E Randolph St Suite 7700, Chicago, IL 60601. You can also submit online at https://spplus.com/contact but always keep a paper trail. Include your notice number, a clear explanation of why you are disputing, and copies (not originals) of your evidence.
If a collections agency contacts you, send a debt validation letter within 30 days via certified mail. Under the FDCPA (15 U.S.C. § 1692g), they must provide proof that the debt is valid and that you owe it. They must stop all collection activity until they provide validation.
If SP Plus ignores your dispute or the collections agency fails to validate the debt, escalate. File a complaint with your state Attorney General's consumer protection division and with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. These agencies track complaint patterns and can take enforcement action.
Based on public BBB complaints, online reviews, and regulatory filings, common complaints about SP Plus include:
Inconsistent enforcement across locations
This is a commonly reported issue with SP Plus. If you've experienced this, document everything and consider filing a formal dispute.
Disputed violation notices
Consumers report that disputes submitted through official channels are automatically denied without meaningful review. Sending disputes via certified mail and escalating to your state AG can produce better results.
Slow dispute resolution process
Consumers report that disputes submitted through official channels are automatically denied without meaningful review. Sending disputes via certified mail and escalating to your state AG can produce better results.
Or get your complete Defense Package for $9.99