Graham White Soliciters Over Apcoa Parking Fines

bunnyvee

I received 4 parking fines in as many days back in november parking at the hospital where i work. When I started work at the hospital i obtained a permit for parking and requested the charge was deducted monthly from my salary. I started back at work in August and signed up for a 12 month permit which i went to collect in person. The parking fines then appeared in November stating i was not displaying a valid permit, which as far as i was concerned i was the money was still being deducted and 12 months wasnt up. On the 4th day i actually caught one of the attendants slapping a fine on my car who kindly informed me that the "12 months" was actually from October to October which no one had bothered to tell me at the time of collecting my permit on pointing this out i was told to contest the 4 fines, which i did. I have never heard back directly off Apcoa Parking despite requesting their response to my appeal, who have then fowarded my details onto Roxburghe Debt Collection Agency who i again appealed to and requested a response but again they have now passed my details onto Graham White Soliciters who again have ignored all my letters and now the most recent letter states the will refer the matter in 7 days, they have fulfilled all legal requirements in relation to commencing litigation and if i dont wish to incur the consequences i must pay immediately. How many more appeal letters can i send, i am determinded to stand my ground at the end of the day they were happy to continue debiting my salary to pay for my permit so as far as im concerned i was in possession of a vaild permit. The letters are getting more menacing now but dont know where i stand legally? Anyone help me?? Much appreciated

tomstickland

My advice is not bother replying, just keep the letters and don't pay.

I'm not an expert though. Others here know more and also on Pepipoo forums.

Crabman

Hi bunnyvee, welcome to MSE

A private company can not 'fine' you. They can't take you to court for a random figure they've just plucked out of thin air. Just like I can't 'fine' you for starting a new thread on MSE.

'Appealing' to them is useless, they are scammers and they want one thing - your money. If they accepted 'appeals' they wouldn't make any money.

It seems they're still intimidating you with threats of court action. If they actually had any chance of winning a case you can bet they'd have filed a case by now instead of continually writing to you.

I'd suggest you ignore them until they realise you're not going to pay and leave you alone. By the way their 'debt collectors' have no special rights so don't feel intimidated, this is just another scare tactic.

In the very unlikely event you do actually receive court papers, please post back and you'll get further help to get it laughed out of court.

bargepole

bunnyvee wrote: »

.... How many more appeal letters can i send, i am determinded to stand my ground at the end of the day they were happy to continue debiting my salary to pay for my permit so as far as im concerned i was in possession of a vaild permit. The letters are getting more menacing now but dont know where i stand legally? Anyone help me?? Much appreciated

Don't send any more letters, it's like arguing with the speaking clock. Roxburgh and Graham White "solicitors" are well-known scam artists who won't go anywhere near a court, because their paperwork is completely fraudulent.

These are not fines, the whole thing is just a mail-based fraud in which they send you increasingly threatening letters to try and scare you into paying up. A bit like the Nigerian government minister who has millions of dollars to send you, and just needs your bank account details. Don't fall for it.

If they really were going to take you to court, they would have done so by now.

pogofish

Has anyone any idea what might happen with disciplinaries and these jokers?

Just that my work is planning on introducing a very similar scheme soon, although we are not on NHS property, we do share a few sites with them. The contract is already out.

Is there any remote chance of the parking contractors passing it back to an employer to raise a disciplinary if you don't pay and what chance of that progressing/succeeding with the otherwise unenforcable nature of their activities?

sarahg1969

Goodness knows why Michael Sobell, sole practitioner, calls himself Graham White Solicitors. Could be to confuse victims with Graham White and Co, a well-respected law firm with a similar name?

Michael Sobell is also a solicitor at Hackney Council. Do they know he's moonlighting, I wonder?

keithb1888

Hi there!

typed "Graham White" into google and this thread came up!

In November, i received a parking ticket beside a hospital as i left my car there for literally 10 minutes. when i returned there was i ticket saying to pay £10!
Since then (as i have not decided to pay it) i have recieved letters from Graham White Solicitors saying to pay £50 or i will be taken to court.
Yesterday i received my 3rd letter from them saying i had one more chance or the court will get involved or they could visit my property.

should i be worried and what should i do as they say this is the last chance!

any advice would be great.

Keith

Spartacus_Mills

keithb1888 wrote: »

Hi there!

typed "Graham White" into google and this thread came up!

In November, i received a parking ticket beside a hospital as i left my car there for literally 10 minutes. when i returned there was i ticket saying to pay £10!
Since then (as i have not decided to pay it) i have recieved letters from Graham White Solicitors saying to pay £50 or i will be taken to court.
Yesterday i received my 3rd letter from them saying i had one more chance or the court will get involved or they could visit my property.

should i be worried and what should i do as they say this is the last chance!

any advice would be great.

Keith

Don't worry, just ignore, if they were going to take you to court they would not be still writing to you.

If they visit your property they have no right of entry and they know it. It would be a wasted journey. That is why they will not.

It is a mail scam relying on compliance with authority and intimidation. You can safely ignore.

keithb1888

thanks! ive been a little worried for the past little while but im sure (as i have your support) that nothing will happen!

Can i say - very good site, quick reply and seems to be very freindly. Wont hesitate to visit again with any problems.

thanks again

keith

dacouch

Keith have a look around the site and forums as there is great advice on saving money.

Have a read about private parking tickets and then make sure you tell as many of your friends as you can about how they don't have to pay them. If your a member of facebook why not join one of the groups so you can spread the word even further http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q=facebook+don%27t+pay+parking&btnG=Google+Search&meta=&aq=f&oq=facebook+don%27t+pay+parking&fp=a844f24e725f0939

keithb1888

i certainly will mate.

thanks again for everything - no need for me to worry!