Well clearly the OP’s question regarding the enforcement provision by a private company makes one assume that there’s a difference in their mind about paying an overage fee from a municipality vs. paying one from a private company. If it’s your debt, it’s your debt.
How do they know who to bill? Is the tag receipt a public document? And while that will show who owns the vehicle, are they always responsible for paying the parking fee to a private company?
In the link I provided above, the company in question gives that information. They sync with government agencies and use available tools and databases to track that information. Basically, they use the same methods that a government parking agency uses.
The question you have to ask yourself is: is your integrity worth more than $25?
And a less philosophical question: Are you willing to bet your peace-and-quiet and your credit report against $25? Because one of the worst First World problems to have is a collection agency chasing your ass.
Don’t pay it.
And keep us posted, okay?
I would love to try this experiment, but I’m not risking my credit rating over $25. Doesn’t seem worth it. Although I’m 98% sure no one will bother collecting $25.
You’ve had multiple people mention they do bother. I’m sure they have a very easy and defined method to turn them over to collections which they routinely do. Why would you doubt what we are telling you? If it’s only a 2% chance that they actually would, seems like a pretty good gamble to save you $25!
Serious question - other than insurance companies can other private entities buy/access license plate/address info from the government?
From what I know, it depends on the state. There are 50 answers to this. Here’s one example: CBS Texas - Breaking Local News, First Alert Weather & I-Team Investigations
Different jurisdictions are going to have different rules, but I think Kansas is fairly typical: here, anyone can buy the information if they declare they intend to use it for a purpose authorized by Kansas law. The records request form (PDF) includes such authorized purposes as investigation in anticipation of litigation.
The people that mentioned it seem like they are theorizing on a possible method of enforcement, but haven’t actually seen that method of enforcement put into practice.
Has anyone actually seen a $25 go to collections?
I’ve seen a debt go to court for less than that. (The creditor can add costs onto the bill, so if they think you’ll have wages or accounts they can garnish, it’s not a huge gamble.)
My sister had this exact thing happen to her – never bothered to pay a “ticket” from a private lot and it went into collections (with late fees on top of the original “ticket” amount).
My understanding is that debt collection companies buy up these past-due debts in bulk for pennies on the dollar such that collecting on that $25 fine actually works out financially for these companies.
Yeah. A video tape (what’s a video tape, grandpa?) that I knew I had never seen, but my daughter might have, gave me several years of intermittent dunning notices, amount maybe $27, before I finally gave in and just paid it. It’s an industry. And they will follow your ass to hell. But I’ll give you that it was $27, not $25. So maybe you’re okay.
My bet would be that if anyone sells their $25 unpaid bills it would be a parking lot operator.
Sells to a collection agency.
if u dont pay it, they may use that as an excuse to tack on no-show/unpaid fine charges. could turn it into way more of a mess then it needs to be. specially if they get a collection agency gets involved
Dude, I wasn’t theorizing in post 13. Yes, I was talking from personal experience. I have seen both private lots and cities send parking tickets to collections. Quickly. I have yet to see an unpaid parking ticket NOT end up in collections. I think the city parking ticket was $15.
Luckily, my reckless, youthful scofflaw days are behind me.Oh wait - Maybe I was just broke 
Bumping because I just overheard a coworker making a collection call to someone who owes money for a parking ticket at the airport five or six months ago.
The person owes $15 and change.