G24 Limited and Advantis Credit

Red_Elle

I received a parking 'invoice' from G24 about 6 months ago, followed by about another 5 letters, all of which I ignored after reading information on here and a consumer website.

The initial letter stated that I was outside of the 2 hours parking allocation, but the timeframe that they included on the arrival and departure pictures that they include, was actually within the 2 hours by about 15 seconds. So even if I could be held to this I was within the 2 hour timeframe.

Nevertheless, they have now appointed Advantis Credit to acquire this debt from me. They have been calling me every single day and as I'm not around I just have a message left daily. It's automated, saying to call them urgently.

Yesterday I emailed this to them:

"I am writing to express my serious concerns regarding the telephone calls that I have received from your company on a daily basis to this number.
I am now formally requesting that all further correspondence be made in writing only.
If you have a legitimate reason for calling me and, knowing that I do not have any debt, I do not believe that you do; then this should not be an issue.

Can I remind you that under the Section 3.1 of the OFT guidelines examples of unfair practice include:
Businesses should have appropriate processes in place with a view to ensuring that customer data is accurate and take reasonable steps to ensure that it is adequate, with a view to only the actual debtor and valid debts being pursued for repayment.
I demand that these phone calls stop immediately. I am familiar with the terms of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1970 and I believe your harassment places you in breach of these acts.

If you continue to call, you will also be in breach of the Wireless Telegraphy Act (1949) and, as such, I will report you to both Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading.
Take further note that continued telephone calls after the receipt of a request not to call may constitute a criminal offence under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.
You will be deemed to have been served notice of my request and I will deem it served by 18th March 2013. I am advising you that any calls received after this date will be recorded with the intention of them being used as evidence."

They have responded today to say,

"We can confirm that we will hold your account for 14 days to allow time for you receive our letter and to contact us accordingly. Please be advised that if you fail to contact us within 14 days, your account will be automatically returned to our collections process."

Not sure what to do. Shall I ignore them, shall I send them the original pictures with the times showing that I was within the 2 hour timeframe? I thought that G24 could not enforce this anyway. It's frustrating that I have to take time to deal with this or I'll receive calls every day that then ask me to call them back. So I have to spend money calling them to dispute a debt? Seems crazy.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Stroma

Complain to the oft as they must stop calling you . Also as there is no money outstanding on the letters they provided, I would complain to the dvla (foi@dvla.gsi.gov.uk) with a scan of the letter asking them why they have provided RK details to company who admit there was no reason to issue this invoice.

I would also send them a letter before action saying that if they don't immediately drop this issue as you left the car park within the stipulated 2 hours you'll sue them under protection of harassment act 1997, for £500 plus court costs, copy in the dca as well

Stroma

By the way or ignore

Red_Elle

Stroma wrote: »

Complain to the oft as they must stop calling you . Also as there is no money outstanding on the letters they provided, I would complain to the dvla (foi@dvla.gsi.gov.uk) with a scan of the letter asking them why they have provided RK details to company who admit there was no reason to issue this invoice.

I would also send them a letter before action saying that if they don't immediately drop this issue as you left the car park within the stipulated 2 hours you'll sue them under protection of harassment act 1997, for £500 plus court costs, copy in the dca as well

There is money outstanding according to them. They simply made a mistake, saying I am outside of the 2 hours, but quoting times that are inside the 2 hours (seems like the admin person dealing with it couldn't add up).

Should I write back to G24 with a copy of the original letter basically telling them to get their facts straight and call off their debt collectors or deal with Advantis? I'm annoyed I have to do anything when I've done nothing wrong.

I'd love to send them a LBA to be honest as I'm so irritated by their actions.

Stroma

Red_Elle wrote: »

There is money outstanding according to them. They simply made a mistake, saying I am outside of the 2 hours, but quoting times that are inside the 2 hours (seems like the admin person dealing with it couldn't add up).

Should I write back to G24 with a copy of the original letter basically telling them to get their facts straight and call off their debt collectors or deal with Advantis? I'm annoyed I have to do anything when I've done nothing wrong.

I'd love to send them a LBA to be honest as I'm so irritated by their actions.

I would, simply tell them that their letter states that you were inside the 2 hours, so basically take a hike! But if you are going to issue a threat be prepared to actually issue a small claim to them, also include the dca and landowner/ retailers

And can I say the place where you parked, complain to the retailer/s involved, and the landowner, also include the local press, they would love something like this. Basically embarrass the hell out of all who is concerned.

Red_Elle

This_is_DAFT wrote: »

Ignore G24 as they are a bunch of scammers that never do court !

I have ignored them. The result of that is constant calls from the debt collection company, which is why I am asking for advice. I don't want to receive these annoying calls every single day. I have no doubt that they cannot do anything, as detailed above, but that doesn't stop them harassing.

Coupon-mad

Red_Elle wrote: »

I have ignored them. The result of that is constant calls from the debt collection company, which is why I am asking for advice. I don't want to receive these annoying calls every single day. I have no doubt that they cannot do anything, as detailed above, but that doesn't stop them harassing.

This debt collector firm have NOT 'purchased the 'debt', there is no debt. All they are doing is trawling through old cases for their client and trying to force payment out of the more gullible motorists. The alleged debt has never changed hands or anything.

But this harassment is easily dealt with and knocked on the head. Normally crops up with Roxburghe Debt collectors - so just Google and read results:

'Roxburghe phone calls fake PCN debt is denied'

By the way, that letter chain from that debt collector is a new one so please take scans of the new letter chain and submit them to pepipoo on this link (or to Crabman on MSE and ask if he can please liaise with pepipoo if you don't want to register there as well):

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=63

The letter chains are only there because people like you have been kind enough to supply them to help to inform others.

Red_Elle

Thanks, will do when it comes through. I've read loads of the threads about Roxburghe, but cannot find what to simply send to Advantis to get them to stop contacting me basically.

I've also looked through past paperwork.
The first letter says: permitted free parking (minutes): 130.
Stay time (minutes): 130.
Stay time was actually 129 minutes and 33 seconds.
I just cannot fathom how stupid they are, so it's making me question myself. Even if it was 130 minutes, it states that 130 minutes it allowed. I know it's by the by, as not enforceable, but why would they not notice that?

Incidentally, it seemed strange when I received it as it is clearly an invoice from a limited company, but with no VAT number. That is what prompted me to look online. That was from G24.

Then I had 3 letters from CCS collect back in June and July and now Advantis Credit are in touch.

I do want to complain to the DVLA for supplying my details to them, and to Wickes for using this company, but most importantly I just want to know what to put in an email to stop Advantis Credit calling me. I am heavily pregnant and keep jumping up for the phone, only to find it's them calling me! Thanks for everyone's help so far.

Red_Elle

This_is_DAFT wrote: »

G24 are tax evaders who have been reported to HMRC.

They also break BPA rules on discounts payments and broke their contract with Nominet. Not very nice people G24 !

Interestingly I reported them to HMRC as soon as I received their invoice without the VAT number on it.

I've just written a letter to the head of customer services at Wickes basically telling him that I'm going to make it my mission to make people aware of their practices and also to deny the debt. I'm not going to communicate with G24 or the debt companies.

Coupon-mad

Wrong approach re the debt firm - you DO need to answer the phone and DENY the debt to the debt collector next time they phone.

That's why I suggested the search of other cases on Google - they all tell you what to do, it's been discussed to death on forums TBH. You'll have seen what to do from the Google results? This debt collector is no different than the Roxburghe callers, same scam, easily stopped.

Don't just ignore the phone calls as they will just keep on and on. Stop them.

Red_Elle

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Wrong approach re the debt firm - you DO need to answer the phone and DENY the debt to the debt collector next time they phone.

That's why I suggested the search of other cases on Google - they all tell you what to do, it's been discussed to death on forums TBH. You'll have seen what to do from the Google results? This debt collector is no different than the Roxburghe callers, same scam, easily stopped.

Don't just ignore the phone calls as they will just keep on and on. Stop them.

Thanks, but as I mentioned, there is no-one on the end of the line, just an automated message telling me to call them. I have read to deny it if they call and if a person was on the line, then I would! However, I've been reluctant to call the 0845 number back and provide them with personal details when they have left no reference number or anything.

That is why I emailed them and asked for them to correspond with me in writing. I am waiting for the letter. Once I have the letter I will email them back with the reference number and deny the debt and tell them to refer it back to their client.