Advice needed - Trethowans say they haven't received cheque

BensonBunny

Ok so trying to cut a long story short - on 17th June I got a ticket on my car at work (hospital) for parking on a double yellow line. Someone is always parked there and it was my bad luck to be the person there on the day they came round handing out tickets. I have a lot of traumas going on at home at the moment and didn't want any more stress so sent off the form and cheque for £25 on 20th June. On Friday (2nd July) I came home to find a letter from Trethowans to say as I haven't paid within 14 days I now have to pay £50. I tried to phone them but everyone had gone home apparently (at 4.30 pm) so I left a message telling them to call me on Monday at work to confirm that they had received my payment. I posted several other letters at the same time as the fine and I have had confirmation that they all reached their destinations so I find it difficult to believe that this one letter has been lost. I don't know how I stand on this and could do with some advice please.

Jenny

taffy056

I gather that the hospital is using a private parking company, you have paid them £25 so make sure the cheque has been cashed, if not stop the cheque if you can as these tickets are just invoices not enforceable in law, its safe to completely ignore them from this point forward as they will not take you to court.

The only tickets you need concern yourself with are ones issued from the council or police, if you don't see that on your ticket completely ignore.

BensonBunny

Thanks, I've already checked and the cheque hasn't been cashed. I've never tried to stop a cheque before so have no idea how to do this! I have seen a thread elsewhere on the web where Trethowans did go to court with one of these tickets which is why I just wanted to get it sorted. I'm not prepared to send them more money though.

taffy056

BensonBunny wrote: »

Thanks, I've already checked and the cheque hasn't been cashed. I've never tried to stop a cheque before so have no idea how to do this! I have seen a thread elsewhere on the web where Trethowans did go to court with one of these tickets which is why I just wanted to get it sorted. I'm not prepared to send them more money though.

You may have seen a thread where they went to court, if it was properly defended they would have lost. On cashing your cheque, phone your bank and ask them to stop it, they may charge a fee for doing so, but it will be less than the money you would have paid, and if you are persistent they may waver it on good will

taffy056

also see this video by watchdog, look what the legal expert says in regards to these kinds of tickets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAIcdi9niHA

peter_the_piper

It may well be cheaper to ask the bank to stop the cheque as its been lost in the post. if they think you just changed your mind they may well charge more.

Coupon-mad

Yep, some Banks will put a free stop on a cheque that has been lost in the post. So call your Bank in the morning and tell them that it has indeed been lost in the post and you need it stopped as you are concerned. Don't say anything different or the Bank may charge you a tenner or so!

And pleeeease don't pay these scammers! You do not have to take a private parking ticket seriously.

In your case though, I would write tomorrow once you've spoken to the Bank, to tell Trethowans that you have stopped the cheque as it was lost in the post (so that they don't try to cash it if they suddenly 'find it'). Say that the cheque is null and void and is no admission of liability because you are aware that no offence has occurred. I think it would be reasonable to write as such, better than waiting for them to get the cheque, present it and have it bounce.

Did you realise double yellow lines mean nothing on private land? You work there so presumably you have a permit to park in that car park but not enough spaces were available? Then the hospital - and Trethowans - surely have no case against you because the fact that one of their staff had to park against a kerb instead of in a bay has caused them no loss!

Why would you fear any sane judge finding otherwise? In any case, it's extremely unlikely to go to Court, Trethowans Court cases are as rare as hen's teeth and they lose if they bother to take things that far (and you can get a solid defence from pepipoo.com forums if you need it, so no worries there at all). I would really not worry, ignore any letters in the absence of sealed, genuine Court papers (ignore threats of Court, they are normal in this sort of mail scam).

Keep a copy of your letter and theirs, and DO NOT REPLY AGAIN after that.

Then they'll no doubt revert to the usual threatogram letter-chain but DON'T be scared of it! Everyone gets the same letters talking about litigation etc. but these letters are hot air. Trethowans have tried Court but have lost. Be confident in your own rights - it is perfectly reasonable for an employee to park there without having to fear an illegal 'fine'!

BensonBunny

Thank you all for you useful advice. Trethowans call me this morning to say that they did recieve my cheque on 23rd June but hadn't processed the ticket at that point so didn't match the two up. They are apparently sending me a letter of apology for their error! Interestingly the cheque still isn't showing up as cashed from my bank account but she did say they have presented it so I assume it is too late to stop it.

Sir_Roger_deLodger

BensonBunny wrote: »

Thank you all for you useful advice. Trethowans call me this morning to say that they did recieve my cheque on 23rd June but hadn't processed the ticket at that point so didn't match the two up. They are apparently sending me a letter of apology for their error! Interestingly the cheque still isn't showing up as cashed from my bank account but she did say they have presented it so I assume it is too late to stop it.

Ring your bank and ask them. If it hasn't reached your account yet it might not be too late!

AlexisV

Sod Trethowans, the scamming bast*****.

Get your bank to cancel the cheque and do not communicate with the scamsters again.

Double yellow lines have no legal basis on private land and any alleged contractual charge is an unenforceable penalty.

Coupon-mad

You can stop a cheque as long as it hasn't reached your Bank account.

Never mind the fact that the scammers have presented it. This is YOUR money! :mad:

Oh why did you pay, it makes me so mad when the scammers rip someone off, please stop the cheque!