Playing the PPCs at their own game

bazster

Lynnzer wrote: »

I think they've reached the end of the road then.
Might be a good time to set the debt collectors on them.

He already did. What he needs now is a fake solicitor.

ManxRed

I know one. Used to work for Hackney Borough Council.

bargepole

Today another DR+ letter dropped on the mat, this one the standard "Reduced Payment Offer" in which they are prepared to accept £120 within 7 days instead of the £150 they claim I owe.

This is what I've fired off to them by email:

Dear Mr Grantham,

I have today received another letter from you, headed "Reduced Payment Offer", regarding the above. I note that you are still mis-spelling "principal" as "principle" despite my having previously pointed this out to you. Should any of your staff require remedial English lessons, I will be happy to provide these at reasonable rates.

With regard to the content of your letter, my first thought was to raise another invoice to UKPC as per the contractual terms of my letter dated 11 June. However, in a spirit of goodwill, I have decided not to do that.

Instead, I will make an offer which I would like you to refer to your client. Their current indebtedness to me stands at £450, comprising 5 x invoices at £90 each as per the contractual terms. I am prepared to accept a reduced payment of £350 in final settlement of the outstanding balance, providing this amount is paid within the next 7 days. If payment is not received, the outstanding balance will become payable in full.

I will seek to recover:-

The principal sum shown above
Interest at the County Court rate of 8% per annum
Court costs, which may include:

£35 court fee to issue
£55 hearing fee
£18 per hour Litigant in Person rate

(Note: These are the actual rates as per HM Court Service document EX50, not the made-up ones in your letter)

Finally, and for the avoidance of doubt, my thanks for your reduced offer, but as thousands of others have discovered, this amount will eventually reduce to £0, due to the unlawful speculative invoicing / impersonation of authority scam being perpetrated by your client. The only record of a court appearance by UKPC is when they were being prosecuted by Trading Standards in Hull Crown Court in 2011, where they were convicted of "Engaging in a commercial practice which was a misleading action contrary to Regulation 9 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008".

Regards

ripped_off_driver

When the debt gets to £750 you can issue a winding up petition. In my experience this is a great incentive to pay.

bazster

Priceless, bargepole, priceless!

grumpyawldwifey

Lynnzer wrote: »

I am giving out small leaflets in several private car parks (Metrocentre mostly) advising of this topic in this forum and to take no notice of UKPC who monitor it for their financial gain.
I have a sample of the sort of leaflet I give out if anyone needs one to copy. They're business card size, double sided and with all the relevant info for drivers.
I usually stick them into the bag holding the ticket.
I do this as a hobby while I wait for the wife to finish shopping and it helps me amuse myself by following the parking "attendants" around.

could you send me a copy of your template Lynnzer & I'll print some off & join you. I'm also in the process of writing to Mr Gavin Prior, Metrocentre's General Manager whose testimonial endorsing UKPC is shown their website, to complain about the infringement of the Equality Act regarding blue badges and parking for people with disabilities.

Kite2010

Off-topic, but when I was watching Watchdog this week about how Travelodge can "fine" visitors £150 if they deem they have broken the T&Cs via a debt collector, it was very much like the PPC scam.

Both unlikely to visit a small claims court anytime soon, although some of those pictures were amazing, a random picture of a bag over a smoke detector. Easy way for Travelodge to raise a bit of extra money from guests which the staff deem to be "rude" or "unpleasant".

Lynnzer

sueyw wrote: »

could you send me a copy of your template Lynnzer & I'll print some off & join you. I'm also in the process of writing to Mr Gavin Prior, Metrocentre's General Manager whose testimonial endorsing UKPC is shown their website, to complain about the infringement of the Equality Act regarding blue badges and parking for people with disabilities.

Try this. Just add http:// to the front of the text below and you'll get through to see the tickets.
forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=17361
I can't add a link directly yet. Don't have enough posts.

HardWorker2010_2

Kite2010 wrote: »

Off-topic, but when I was watching Watchdog this week about how Travelodge can "fine" visitors £150 if they deem they have broken the T&Cs via a debt collector, it was very much like the PPC scam.

Both unlikely to visit a small claims court anytime soon, although some of those pictures were amazing, a random picture of a bag over a smoke detector. Easy way for Travelodge to raise a bit of extra money from guests which the staff deem to be "rude" or "unpleasant".

Travelodge = Scum company with dirty doss houses for lodges.

PremierInn = The exact opposite.

I've honestly chosen to sleep in my vehicle when Travelodge was the only other option..

bargepole

Latest instalment: Had a letter yesterday from Zenith Collections, headed "Notice of Debt Recovery Assignment". They have very kindly offered to accept a reduced settlement figure of £80, "to avoid the possible necessity and expense of legal action". I was all choked up when I read that.

BTW, Zenith are, according to the small print at the bottom of the letter, a trading name of Debt Recovery Plus (or should that be Debt Non-Recovery Minus). So it looks like Shaz has passed the file to Trace at the next desk, where she keeps the different stationery. Still, I suppose it keeps them out of the Jobcentre queue.

This is the reply I've sent them:

Dear Sirs,

I have today received a letter from you, relating to an alleged "Parking Charge" issued by UKPC on 05/05/2012.

You state that you will accept a "reduced settlement figure" of £80.

As I have already explained to both UKPC and Debt Recovery Plus on numerous occasions, the so-called parking charge has no lawful basis and would not be recoverable in a county court.

The actual settlement figure, therefore, is precisely £0.00.

Please take note that:

• I deny any debt in the sum stated, or any amount at all, is due to UKPC, DR+, or Zenith.
• I now require you to cease and desist from contacting me any further regarding this matter.
• I will only respond to a properly stamped County Court claim, which will be defended.

Yours faithfully