PPC (Local Parking Security) [UPDATE] Recieved County Court Claim - please help!

bobd0le

Hey all,

Longtime reader here, first time poster! And im a tad worried -

(add the www. to the front links)

Earlier this year, near my place of work i got a parking ticket -

[Front]
images.redial.net/LPSTicket-front.jpg
[Back]
images.redial.net/LPSTicket-back.jpg

I was in a rush and didnt get a ticket, so yes, it was my fault at the time - but in addition the parking machine was new there and the only sign around at the time was ontop of the ticket pay machine (more recently they've hammered one in nearby a path).

I was about 2 hours later than the time they clocked me, and they wanted me to pay £40 for 2hours overdue when the normal cost i £1 an hour? Alarm bells were ringing my friends.

So after some google-ing (mainly leading to this site) and further reading (again on this site), i realized it wasnt anything to be too worried about, so i ignored it (ive also spoken to a local business owner and she claims to of had dozens of tickets off them and ignored them all).

Then, MONTHS later at the start of this month i recieved this letter -
images.redial.net/LPS-FinalDemand.jpg


At first i was a tad worried since they had my name, and my address! - But after again researching, i found out that they could just buy my details off the DVLA, so again - i ignored it, filed it away and stood my ground.



And more recently i received this letter -
images.redial.net/LPS-Solicitor.jpg


After some more careful research the solicitors "Geoffrey Parker Bourne" appear to have murky dealings to do with PPC's before, so now i come to you fellows -


Im slightly worried, very confused and unsure what to do -

I have had a total of 3 parking tickets off them (ive started paying for the machine now), and two "Final Demand" letters, and that Solicitors notice.


Any advice would be greatly appreciated, i dont really want to go to court and i am currently considering ringing up to pay it off - but on the flip side this all seems like scaremongering.

Thanks in Advance Chaps - i've uploaded the pics to give as much information as i can / they can be used for future reference if you want.


P.S. - If you look at the bottom of the Solicitors letter, just under the signature, its got (LPS) in brackets, does this mean the same person runs Local Parking Security (LPS) that does Geoffrey Parker Bourne?




Oh Drat, i cant post links as a new user? - Anyway round this so i can link the images?

bobd0le

Ive got an idea, if an older member wishes to help i could PM them the image links and they could post them on my behalf?

Sirdan

Don't worry about the images , not needed ..advice remains the same ..unless you receive court papers (snowballs chance in hell) just IGNORE..the Solicitors letter is just the same as any other letter ...meaningless threats telling you what they could try but won't.

bobd0le

Sirdan wrote: »

Don't worry about the images , not needed ..advice remains the same ..unless you receive court papers (snowballs chance in hell) just IGNORE..the Solicitors letter is just the same as any other letter ...meaningless threats telling you what they could try but won't.

I've sort-of linked the images now, just without the www.

Sirdan

bobd0le wrote: »

I've sort-of linked the images now, just without the www.

Look at how weak and drivelling the Solicitors letter really is :-

"we have been instructed to consider the instigation of legal proceedings"

Having considered it ..they will do NOTHING ..or maybe write another stupid letter.

"failure to respond could leave us with no alternative other than to take legal action"

Could ?? Could ???!!! What the hell does that mean either it does or it doesn't.
Fact is they know it doesn't, there is an alternative and it is the one they will take i.e. drop it and move on to some other mug who may cave in and pay .

Coupon-mad

Here are the links in clicky format, and thankyou to bobd0le for any more you can add in due course, to help others ignore this letter-chain:

Front of LPS bogus PCN: http://images.redial.net/LPSTicket-front.jpg

Back of LPS bogus PCN: http://images.redial.net/LPSTicket-back.jpg

'Formal Demand' bogroll from LPS: http://images.redial.net/LPS-FinalDemand.jpg

Geoffrey Parker Bourne letter: http://images.redial.net/LPS-Solicitor.jpg

As others have said, these letters are no different from those shown in our top thread except that GPB are a new player jumping on the money-making bandwagon that is PPC World.

Just ignore them and please update with any other letters, to help others. Nothing will happen, look at all the 'ifs and buts' in that pathetic threatogram from GPB. Very similar to other threats from similar solicitors like Graham White as shown in our top thread 'PPC letters, what to expect':

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163

BTW many thanks for posting the links for our forum future reference. I have taken the liberty of adding them as a reply on the top thread. This will be picked up by Crabman at some point and LPS' latest letter-chain will appear in the first post, thanks to you.

emkayemkay

Hi bobdole,
New user here in an identical situation to yours after receiving a parking ticket from LPS.
I have been steadfastly ignoring any correspondence from LPS after following advice on this forum.
This morning I received a letter from gpb solicitors that is identical (word for word) to yours.
I'm in a dilemma as to what to do next. I could really do without any bad credit references or other records against my name, and I'm also slightly wary of the (welcome) advice received here as I'm sure its easier to tell others to ignore letters when it's not your name on the letter or credit rating / record at stake.

Does anyone have any solid advice on the legal situation here or any direct experience on the outcome of ignoring this type of solicitors letter?
I detest the idea of paying a fine that is not actually a fine just because of the fear factor theses operators depend on, but am still concerned about the possible outcome.
Any / all advice greatly appreciated....

Thanks in advance

trisontana

emkayemkay wrote: »

Hi,
New user here in an identical situation to yours after receiving a parking ticket from LPS.
I have been steadfastly ignoring any correspondence from LPS after following advice on this forum.
This morning I received a letter from gpb solicitors that is identical (word for word) to yours.
I'm in a dilema as to what to do next. I could really do without any bad credit references or other records against my name, and i'm also slightly wary of the (welcome) advice received here as I'm sure its easier to tell others to ignore letters when it's not you're name on the letter or credit rating / record at stake.

Does anyone have any solid advice on the legal situation here or any direct experience on the outcome of ignoring this type of solicitors letter?
I detest the idea of paying a fine that is not actually a fine just because of the fear factor theses operators depend on, but am still concerned about the possible outcome.
Any / all advice greatly appreciated....

Thanks in advance

Don't be intimidated by these hollow threats. As you have not communicated with them, they have no way of identifying the driver. Without that knowledge they are stymied.

As for your credit rating the case would have to go to court (very unlikely) you lose (very, very unlikely) and then you don't pay whatever the judge orders within 28 days. That chain of events is so remote it's not worth worrying about.

And, by the way, it's not a "fine", it's an invoice. A complexly different kettle of fish.

Coupon-mad

emkayemkay wrote: »

I'm in a dilema as to what to do next. I could really do without any bad credit references or other records against my name, and i'm also slightly wary of the (welcome) advice received here as I'm sure its easier to tell others to ignore letters when it's not you're name on the letter or credit rating / record at stake.

Debt collectors writing to you about a private parking ticket does not result in any black mark whatsoever, nothing at all can go on your credit rating about this matter without the company winning in Court and then you defaulting after judgment, to boot. How likely is that then?

Most of us here have had these fake PCNs, me included, That's why we are so passionate about stopping people falling for this scam - I came on this forum every day off my own bat. I have the letters here that I got 3 years ago, with my name on them, from a PPC. I followed advice and ignored them and nothing happened, like thousands of other people can tell you they have done too.

emkayemkay wrote: »

Does anyone have any solid advice on the legal situation here or any direct experience on the outcome of ignoring this type of solicitors letter?
I detest the idea of paying a fine that is not actually a fine just because of the fear factor theses operators depend on, but am still concerned about the possible outcome.
Any / all advice greatly appreciated....

As I said above, yes, we have experience on here of ignoring these fake PCNs. Many, many people have ignored and are ignoring solicitor's letters from Graham White, and your solicitor's letter is no different. It's just a new solicitor jumping on the PPC money-making bandwagon, as times are hard in property/investments at the moment.

Look at all the ifs and buts and maybes in that pathetic threatogram! It's no better than the usual rubbish letters shown already in our top thread.

Oh and if you want a solicitor's take on the matter then you need look no further than Tim Cary on Watchdog last year:

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

Stop worrying about a private firm using threats to try to scam you. That is what PPC World is all about.

AlexisV

Note that the solicitors letter contains no details of the alleged debt and is templated in nature.

An 'Excess Charge Notice' is something issued by councils under The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. That letter is potentially committing fraud as well as breach a raft of other regs.

bobd0le

AN UPDATE:


A woman just phoned me from Geoffrey Parker Bourne Solicitors (she used my name), i said it was me, she then asked me to confirm my Address and Telephone number - i hung up.

I presume that was the right thing to do? / Did i do anything wrong? / What can i expect next? - More calls?