Threatening solicitor letters

simon.seabiscuit

Dear all,

Would be greatful if you can give me some advice. I got a pvt car parking ticket a few months back from parking in the wrong car pack bay (not in my own space). I had around the same time changed my DVLA address so didn't get the threatening letters till recently when I went back and visited my folks. Reading this forum I decided to ignore the letters by the pvt company and their so called debt collectors, roxburghe.
However, after visiting my folks last night it seems I have received a couple of letters from a Graham Whits solicitor sent via DHL.The last one served me a notice of intended legal action and incurs a cost of about £150 in doing so!!! I'm now slightly worried as I am in the process of trying to buy my first home so don't want my credit rating affected. Can anyone give me any advice??

Thanks

bargepole

simon.seabiscuit wrote: »

... I'm now slightly worried as I am in the process of trying to buy my first home so don't want my credit rating affected. Can anyone give me any advice??

Your credit rating can only be affected:

1) If they take you to court;
2) They win the case and get a judgement against you
3) You fail to pay the judgement

As Roxburghe / Graham White are well known in these parts and don't do court, the chances of all the above happening are slim and none - and slim just left the building.

molerat

Yes, ignore the letters from their so called solicitors (the third desk along in the shared portakabin / room above chipshop) as well. Your credit rating would only be affected if they took you to court, if they won and if you then failed to pay the court imposed judgement.

sarahg1969

We hear about Graham White a lot. "Graham White" is, in fact Michael Sobell, who in his other life works for Hackney Council.

I've never heard of anyone receiving court papers from them.

trisontana

sarahg1969 wrote: »

We hear about Graham White a lot. "Graham White" is, in fact Michael Sobell, who in his other life works for Hackney Council.

I've never heard of anyone receiving court papers from them.

Is Michael Sobell an actual employee of Hackney Council, or is he a freelance? If the former, surely he shouldn't be moonlighting like that. There must me some clause in his employment contract preventing this.

Coupon-mad

Simon, maybe you didn't notice but you have already been given the answers here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1363455&page=7

...and that was before you posted a new thread this morning.

Anyway, the answer is still the same, IGNORE it all.

simon.seabiscuit

Sorry still a newbie and couldn't find my posting from last night so started a new thread.......... tahnks for pointing that out

simon.seabiscuit

Thanks all................ Has anybody seen any litigation action from these people?? I think I've got quite a good defence if it comes to it as I can prove I live in these flats so have got a right to park here and I'm pretty sure they have no prove I parked in the wrong bay..............

trisontana

simon.seabiscuit wrote: »

Thanks all................ Has anybody seen any litigation action from these people?? I think I've got quite a good defence if it comes to it as I can prove I live in these flats so have got a right to park here and I'm pretty sure they have no prove I parked in the wrong bay..............

The only thing they have to "prove" is the actual material loss suffered by the land-owner. As this amounts to a big fat nothing they are on to a loser.

johidd

I have just posted this as I have had dealings with the wonderful Roxburghe and Graham Smith. I didn't ignore as I unfortunately have plenty of time to play cat and mouse with them. But once you get your two letters from each, things go quiet for eight months to a year when you may get a phone call as they go through their death throws !!!

My vehicle received a parking ticket back in February this year and I was not the driver, which fortunately I have concrete proof. Having read this forum and others I knew I would be getting the two letters from Roxburghe and two letters from Graham Smith Solicitors. I received the two from Roxburghe but was slightly dissappointed to only get one letter from Graham Smith Solicitors. I thought that it might be as result of me ending my last letter thus:- "Please be aware I shall deem any further correspondence to be harassment. I will report not only you and your company, but also your client APCOA Parking Services (UK) Ltd to Trading Standards Institute, The Office of Fair Trading, CSA, BPA, CCUA and if necessary the Police, should you contact me again." Which I actually did (but not the Police bit) following Graham Smith's first letter.
Imagine my surprise (and secret delight) when today, 8 months after the incident, I receive a phone call from Roxburghe asking for their money! Fortunately I kept my calm, repeated that I was not the driver and said I had no obligation to tell them who the driver was etc etc etc ....you all know the score. I actually ended up begging them to take me to court, but they would have to confer with their client.
Is this Roxburghe in the death throws in attempting to extort money or new tactics that they are trying out???
Anyone had similar experience?

Memmybear

I have had a very similar (probably the same) letter today and have reported Graham White/Michael Sobell to the SRA, as my parking ticket had been cancelled, back in January and I now feel I am being harrassed and chased for a non existent debt...
Memmybear