Another APCOA thread

socks_uk

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Don't waste your stamp because they will automatically reject any appeal. Proceed straight to police, do not pass go and don't go to jail.(getting in the spirit for Christmas) Just ignore apcoa and their invoices. They will get stronger and more threatening but as these firms work on percentages, once they realise you won't bite they give up.

Maybe I should forget the stamp! Then they will also have a charge from Royal Mail!

HO87

The number of cars genuinely cloned each year is very small indeed and, with due respect to the OP's daughter, usually involves vehicles of a greater value than the type identified. Furthermore, given the efficiency and accuracy of PPC's I would suggest that it is far more likely that the number has simply been misread/misrecorded rather than having been cloned and on that basis I would suggest that it is not reported. Besides, reporting the matter will require much liaison with APCOA - because the police will not do it - and open the OP's daughter up to a greater level of hassle.

Although I would always recommend the "ignore" route, I believe that this may be one of those very few occasions when a put-up or shut-up letter is warranted. As the OP's daughter knows exactly where the vehicle was on the day in question and, presumably, can adduced evidence to support that if required throwing down the gauntlet may well bring things to a speedier conclusion. Along the following lines:

Dear Sirs

Re: Ref. No. XZXZXZXZXZX

I refer to the above matter and your letter of XX December 2010.

I deny absolutely that any debt is owed to your company or that the vehicle identified was at the location alleged. If however, you believe that you have sufficient cause to pursue the matter then I invite you to issue proceedings immediately. If I have not received papers within the next 10 days I will consider the matter closed.

I will not enter into any correspondence on the matter and will regard any further contact from yourselves or your agents as harassment within the terms of the Protection from Harassment Act and reserve the right to issue proceedings without recourse to you. If you are in any doubt as to the potential seriousness of actions taken under that act I invite you to refer to the case of Ferguson v British Gas Trading Ltd [2009] EWCA Civ 46.

Please also note that the implied licence at Common Law for any person to call at these premises for the purposes of, inter alia, making enquiries insofar as it extends to your company, staff, contractors or agents is hereby withdrawn in its entirety.

Yours faithfully

socks_uk's daughter

peter_the_piper

Follow HO's advice, I think he may well be right in this case.

socks_uk

Thank you HO87. We greatly appreciate your help and I have printed off the new draft letter.

My daughter even says she will probably be able to get CCTV from the car park at the school she works in for that day if it is needed, which we hope, with your letter, we won't do!

bromsgrovebarry

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Can you clarify please. I thought it was sensible for the plod to ask for details incase anything crops up from a cloned car.

I mis read the post to which I was responding. I shall put it down to chronological enhancement. (old age to the less enlightened).

HO87

socks_uk wrote: »

Thank you HO87. We greatly appreciate your help and I have printed off the new draft letter.

My daughter even says she will probably be able to get CCTV from the car park at the school she works in for that day if it is needed, which we hope, with your letter, we won't do!

Bear in mind that recorded CCTV footage is generally written over fairly frequently it might, therefore, be better that she obtain it now rather than trying to obtain it in a month or two.

peter_the_piper

You are not alone. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2732581

robredz

After receiving the letter, they may well back down and not bother, as there are plenty more green punters to harrass, who may just pay up imho

socks_uk

HO87 wrote: »

Bear in mind that recorded CCTV footage is generally written over fairly frequently it might, therefore, be better that she obtain it now rather than trying to obtain it in a month or two.

Thanks for that... good point. My ex-husband (my daughter's father) works at the same secondary school and is one of the caretakers and he is going to talk to whoever is in charge of security about the CCTV.

esmerobbo

Forgive me if I missed it, but did the letter just quote the reg number or did it quote the vehicle make?