Cpm uk ltd and debt collectors..... Help!

Gemm

Hi, I received a letter from a debt recovery company today claiming to represent car park management uk and demanding £149 by 6/8/13 for a ticket I supposedly received in January. I looked on cpm's site (paymyticket.co.uk) and they allege that I was parked outside my flat without a permit late at night. The car is registered to me but I wasn't the driver at that time. It would have been parked there but there also would have been a permit displayed as there always has been. I have had no ticket left on my car and no letters from cpm. Also, there are several photos that are pitch black and don't show the whole dashboard just parts of it and all you can make out is frost! How can I prove with these pictures that the permit was there?! I called the company who wrote to me who said they don't need photographic evidence to take me to court and ill get a ccj if I don't pay. What should I do?

Stroma

Don't bother just ignore them, it's highly unlikely to go to court, and if it did they'd be stuffed, its your parking bay, have you suffered a financial loss by you parking there ? Thought not ! Claim dismissed

Coupon-mad

Gemm wrote: »

Hi, I received a letter from a debt recovery company today claiming to represent car park management uk and demanding £149 by 6/8/13 for a ticket I supposedly received in January. I looked on cpm's site (paymyticket.co.uk) and they allege that I was parked outside my flat without a permit late at night. The car is registered to me but I wasn't the driver at that time. It would have been parked there but there also would have been a permit displayed as there always has been. I have had no ticket left on my car and no letters from cpm. Also, there are several photos that are pitch black and don't show the whole dashboard just parts of it and all you can make out is frost! How can I prove with these pictures that the permit was there?! I called the company who wrote to me who said they don't need photographic evidence to take me to court and ill get a ccj if I don't pay. What should I do?

Read other threads on the forum and realise this is a bunch of ex-clampers and it's all a scam. This is the same firm under their previous name (CPM)when clamping was allowed, clamping cars displaying Blue Badges (against SIA licence rules):

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?307027-Clamped-by-CPM

We all have debt collector letters to show for any fake PCNs like this we have ignored (when ignore used to be the advice, as it was in January). I have ignored two myself and got a third one last month. Don't phone anyone. Stop. They WILL NOT be able to just 'get a CCJ' against you, LOL, get real!

See it as the scam it is and only take seriously real small claim papers (which are VERY RARE and would come from a central court at Northampton, not from some random pen-pushing 'call centre' debt collection firm!).

Gem1979

Hi, thank you for responding. I had also asked my managing agent for support as I hadn't received a ticket or anything else before the debt collection letter and so had been unable to appeal but they are refusing to help because I didn't appeal!!!! They are claiming that cpm have incurred considerable cost chasing me with letters that I have 'ignored' and are supporting them. I know you say not to worry but if they did chance it and take me to court this will obviously be the case they try to make and they have quoted dates that letters were supposedly sent but even the photos they sent don't show a ticket left on the car. I know I'm probably giving this way too much importance but I'm pregnant and could really do without the stress. If I was taken to court I can't prove that I didn't have any knowledge of this prior to the debt collectors letter.

Stroma

It won't go to court unless you take them there, you could sue the parking company, the debt collectors and the management company for harassment, there is no financial loss! This company have never done court, do you want some proof that they have not been there since pofa 2012 has been in force ?

Gem1979

Thank you, I had read a lot about LBC and LBA etc and scared myself! Have people been successful in suing for harassment? Id actually consider it if they carry on. I'd post the email they sent my managing agent about me which was appalling and I don't think they intended for me to read but I'd rather not put anything on to ID me.

Gem1979

Just in case it makes a difference, the bay isn't mine but is a communal first come first served parking area for residents and visitors. If you are unable to find a space you just have to park (for free) further away. I'm guessing the no loss still applied?!

zzzLazyDaisy

You don't need to worry about LBA/LBC until you get a letter before action, which isn't likely to happen with this lot, but if it does, come back and post again on this thread (don't start a new one).

Otherwise, just ignore them, the debt collectors are toothless and, after sending you a number of threatening letters, will eventually go away.

Daisy

Custard_Pie

The only word of warning here is if you have something in your lease that states that for that parking space you must display a permit at all times.

It would also have to state that The PPC can charge you a fee and collect on behalf of the landlord, including chasing you through the Courts.

As has been stated though, even if this was the case, the chances of you being taken to Court are minimal. These companies rely upon threats and intimidation to get paid.

Gem1979

Thank you all of you. I own the flat and the parking company was employed some time after we moved in. I don't remember exactly what wording they sent when permits were issued but there was definitely no mention of court action. My biggest concern is that there was no ticket on my windscreen and I didn't receive anything from the ppc until the debt recovery letter 6 months after they claim to have issued the ticket and they seem to think they have a good case because I didn't follow the process and appeal. Just one last question and then I promise ill stop worrying until I need to.... As a pregnant woman how am I covered by the equality act? Is it only relevant if my pregnancy in some way caused me to have the ticket issued i.e I over stayed on a carpark because I was feeling unwell?

Gem1979

Just an update, I had a 2nd letter this morning giving me a further 2 weeks to pay debt recovery plus the money or they will recommend to their clients solicitors that they take me to court and inviting me to view details on their site of others who have been successfully prosecuted. It is headed 'notice of intended court action' are they just trying to disguise this as something official or is this a letter before action that isn't correctly worded. Sure it's a bully boy scare letter but I don't want to ignore the wrong thing!