Excel Parking - A New tactic?

tommypickles1984

I've successfully dealt with unfair PCN's from various companies in the past by ignoring them. Typically I get 2 or 3 letters from the company, the final one threatening court action, before they give up and disappear.

I've been advising my friend on how to handle her PCN from Excel Parking Services, but a tactic that's new to me has been thrown into the mix. I was hoping you could shed some light on what the best approach is...

There was 1 letter from Excel Parking Services which encouraged early settlement at a reduced rate (which we're well aware is always the first way they play it).

We were expecting a 2nd letter from Excel, but that's not what's happened. Instead, we have received a letter from a debt recovery company chasing down the 'money owed'.

The Creditor: Excel Parking Services Ltd
The Agent: Debt Recovery Plus Ltd

Is this a legitimate play as I wasn't expecting this (and haven't seen it yet... although I've never dealt with Excel Parking Services until now)?

The letter states...

"Our client, EXCEL PARKING SERVICES LTD, has written to you recently about the unpaid paking charge shown above. As they have not received payment, they have referred the matter to us...

*Then some info on how you can pay...*

... If you do not pay the full amount by 21/01/2014 or if you have not agreed a payment option with us by then, we will recommend to the creditor's solicitor that court action should be taken to recovery what you owe."

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

bod1467

Read the NEWBIES thread. This is all standard.

PS - if this was England or Wales then the Ignore advice was wrong, as this could have been nipped in the bud MUCH earlier.

spacey2012

Put some dates to the timeline, ticket NTK

tommypickles1984

bod1467 wrote: »

Read the NEWBIES thread. This is all standard.

PS - if this was England or Wales then the Ignore advice was wrong, as this could have been nipped in the bud MUCH earlier.

How could it have been nipped in the bud much earlier?

The parking fine was issued late November 2013.

zoonyx

tommy, you fell into the same trap I did.

Ignore is BAD advice. Deal with it, and even if your appeal to the car park terrorists fails, POPLA probably won't.

spacey2012

Have a good read around and think if you made a mistake, where you driving ?, people do get mixed up.

Redx

tommypickles1984 wrote: »

How could it have been nipped in the bud much earlier?

The parking fine was issued late November 2013.

the newbies sticky thread explains it

and yes this is the new method since oct 2012 when POFA 2012 came in

the umkomaas walk through in the NEWBIES sticky thread explains the time line

soft appeal , popla code , popla , would be getting towards the finish line now

Hot_Bring

tommypickles1984 wrote: »

How could it have been nipped in the bud much earlier?

The parking fine was issued late November 2013.

On the windscreen or just via the post ?

You really need to read the Newbies thread as IGNORE is NOT the current advice and has been for ages.

tommypickles1984

Redx wrote: »

the newbies sticky thread explains it

and yes this is the new method since oct 2012 when POFA 2012 came in

the umkomaas walk through in the NEWBIES sticky thread explains the time line

soft appeal , popla code , popla , would be getting towards the finish line now

Is it too late now than? Can I back track and kick off from a soft appeal? Or would you say another step makes more sense?

Redx

the NEWBIES thread clearly states what can or should be done , depending on circumstances and who was driving etc , also what to do if time has passed and DR are dealing with it, like yours

here is an example of how it should have progressed right from the start, with Excel , this one is the Peel Centre , Stockport, which features on here every week

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4793386

that is a typical start to finish that is just waiting for popla

as to if you can reset the clock ? only you can know this depending on the circumstances