Should I ignore Euro Car Parks parking charge notice?

glasgowlass_2

I recently received 2 parking charge notices from Euro Car Parks in a retail park in Glasgow. It's a free car park, but now has a 2 hour limit to do all your shopping, apparently! They took a picture of my number plate with the time and date of entry and exit, but no proof of who was driving. I've also had a letter from Roxburghe debt collectors and now the most recent one from GPD Solicitors LLP. I've read on other threads on this forum that it is safe to ignore these as they aren't enforceable, but I wanted to double check that the law was the same in Scotland. Can anyone help?

wiogs

In a word - Yes.

The law in Scotland is different and you can safely ignore it.
Which car park was it - might have to go and park there?

pogofish

Yup - POFA 2012 does not apply in Scotland and NI, so ignoring is the best option.

However, if you have been reading threads relating to England and Wales that say ignore, you have not been reading outdated info, or they have related to non-BPA AOS members, so you need to keep up to date!

glasgowlass_2

The west end retail park - Sainsburys, Marks and Spencer, Cafe Nero, Boots, among others. Heaven forbid you want to do your shopping and have a coffee!
Thanks for the advice. I was ignoring them on principle until the solicitors letter arrived.

pogofish

In Scotland, any "solicitor's" letters will have all the threat-value of toilet paper! So ignore them too. In fact, don't respond to anything except properly issued court papers - but don't hold your breath as the chances of that happening in Scotland are next to nil!

zzzLazyDaisy

Just a 'heads up'

Is the solicitors letter headed 'letter before claim' or 'letter before action' or something like that?

It doesn't change the advice, but it does suggest that they are considering starting court action - which would be pointless as English Courts have no jurisdiction in Scotland, but it might not be a pleasant experience for county court papers to come through your door (PPCs have been know to try get round the jurisdiction point by missing off one little word from the address... 'Scotland' which has resulted in Northampton CC serving papers on addresses in Scotland in error).

So just be alert to this and if you do get a claim form contact the court immediately and explain the situation - do NOT ignore it otherwise they will get judgement in default against you.

glasgowlass_2

There's no heading 'letter before claim' or 'letter before action' thankfully. Only that "Due to the absence of payment or a valid appeal, our Client has instructed us to recover the total amount due as shown above (£108)"
It goes on to say that "Euro Car Parks may instruct us to take legal action and to prevent such action we invite you to contact Roxburghe on 01932 332048 to confirm your proposals in respect of this debt."

The rest of the letter describes the costs involved in going to small claims court and says in the "event of a Decree being obtained and registered by the Registers of Scotland it could seriously affect your chances of obtaining credit in the future."

Still ignore??

wiogs

Ah the car park on Crow Rd.

I often shop there but have never been there that long, might have to leave my car for some fun.

As regards the "heads up" above you can ignore that too.

They have no idea who was driving so have no clue as to to pursue.

glasgowlass_2

Indeed on Crow Road!

Until Cafe Nero arrived I don't think anyone would have reason to say there for more than 2 hours, unless you like to take your time on your McDonalds!

Thanks for all the advice everyone. My first time posting and you really put my mind at ease.

Iceweasel

Yes - continue to ignore.

This is all bluff.

They can only take the driver to court and unless you are foolish enough to tell them who was, they can do absolutely nothing.

You are under no obligation to reply to them and/or tell them who the driver was.

That is the big difference between Scotland and England - in England you would become liable for pursuit if you did not reveal the driver. So advice in England is not to ignore.

No Scottish court will do anything - you can get no bad credit rating or anything like that at all.

However if they try pulling a fast one by missing Scotland off your address and asking an English court to issue papers in an attempt to scare you into paying you must then contact the court and explain the keepers full address (still don't reveal the driver) and they will immediately drop it like a hot potato.

Coupon-mad

glasgowlass wrote: »

Indeed on Crow Road!

Until Cafe Nero arrived I don't think anyone would have reason to say there for more than 2 hours, unless you like to take your time on your McDonalds!

Thanks for all the advice everyone. My first time posting and you really put my mind at ease.

I would be assertively complaining to the Retail Park owner or managing agent though (Google to find them). Email or write and say how angry you are, as a family, that you are having to put up with threatogram debt collector letters just for 'the driver and passenger' daring to actually shop at their retail park. Demand that the thing is cancelled.