You got a private parking notice, you tossed it on the kitchen counter, and now it's been sitting there for two weeks. You're wondering: what actually happens if I just ignore this thing?
We're going to give you an honest answer. Not the "just ignore it, they can't do anything" advice you see on Reddit. And not the scare-tactic language the parking companies put on their notices. The truth is somewhere in between.
Nothing Happens Immediately
Let's start with the good news. When you ignore a private parking notice, nothing dramatic happens right away. No police will show up. No warrant will be issued. Your license will not be suspended. Your car will not be impounded (unless you return to the same private lot, where they may tow or boot you).
Private parking companies have none of the government's enforcement tools. They cannot access DMV systems, they cannot add points to your record, and they cannot involve law enforcement. This is fundamentally different from ignoring a government-issued parking ticket.
The Typical Escalation Timeline
Here's what most private parking companies do when a notice goes unpaid:
Initial Notice Period
You receive the original notice (on your windshield, in the mail, or via the app). The company expects most people to pay during this window. Many add 'late fees' or 'escalation warnings' to create urgency. Some send a second reminder letter.
Reminder Letters
The company sends one or more follow-up letters, often with increasingly urgent language. These may threaten collections, credit damage, or additional fees. The letters are designed to pressure you into paying. The threats are real but the timeline is flexible.
Collections Referral
This is the critical window. Most private parking companies send unpaid notices to a third-party collections agency after 60-90 days. Some companies handle collections in-house. Once a collections agency is involved, the dynamic changes because federal debt collection laws (FDCPA) apply.
Collections Activity
The collections agency contacts you by mail and possibly by phone. You have 30 days from their first contact to demand debt validation under the FDCPA. If you don't respond, the collector may report the debt to credit bureaus.
Potential Credit Impact
If the debt is reported to credit bureaus and you haven't disputed it, it can appear on your credit report and lower your score. This is the most consequential outcome of ignoring a private parking notice. A collections entry can remain on your report for up to 7 years.
The Credit Threat Is Real
We want to be straight with you: the credit impact is not a bluff. Collections agencies do report private parking debts to credit bureaus. Not every company does it for every unpaid notice, but it happens frequently enough that you should take it seriously.
That said, the impact depends on several factors:
- Amount: A $50-$100 collections entry has less impact than a larger debt, but it still appears on your report
- Your existing credit: If you have excellent credit, a single small collections entry may have a larger percentage impact than if your credit already has issues
- Scoring model: Newer FICO models (FICO 9, FICO 10) and VantageScore 3.0+ ignore paid collections accounts and weight small debts less heavily
- Lender policies: Many mortgage lenders disregard small collections accounts under $250
How to Protect Yourself Even If You Dispute
The biggest mistake people make is confusing "ignoring" with "disputing." These are very different strategies with very different outcomes.
Ignoring means doing nothing. No response, no paper trail, no documentation. If the debt goes to collections and then to your credit report, you have no record of having contested it.
Disputing means formally challenging the notice in writing, keeping copies, and creating a documented record of your objections. If the debt goes to collections, you can demand validation under the FDCPA. If it appears on your credit report, you can dispute it with the credit bureaus under the FCRA with documentation to support your case.
Even if you believe the notice is completely invalid, the correct approach is to dispute it formally rather than ignore it.
An Honest Risk Assessment
Here's our balanced take on ignoring vs. disputing vs. paying:
Ignoring
Easiest in the short term, riskiest in the long term. You have no paper trail if it hits collections or your credit report. We do not recommend this approach.
Disputing
Requires effort but protects you. Creates documentation, invokes federal protections, and often results in the notice being dropped. Best option if you have any basis for dispute.
Paying
Quickest resolution. Makes sense if you genuinely violated clear terms, the amount is reasonable, and the hassle of disputing isn't worth your time.
The Bottom Line
If you're going to ignore a private parking notice, at least understand the risks. The company probably won't sue you over $75. But they may send it to collections, and collections may report it to credit bureaus. That's a real consequence that can cost you thousands of dollars in higher interest rates over time.
The better path is to formally dispute the notice if you have any basis to do so. It takes 30 minutes and a stamp, and it dramatically improves your position if the company escalates. And if you don't have a basis to dispute? Paying promptly is better than ignoring and hoping for the best.