Debt Recovery Plus are after me. what do I do?!

Roger_123

Hi,

I got back from my honeymoon last week and as usual, one of the first things you do when you get back from being away is open your post. To my dismay I had a letter from a company called Debt Recovery Plus demanding £160.00 from me (on behalf of UKPC). The incident dates back to the beginning of November, when I had parked on a hashed bay in a private retail park. Classic case of being in a rush and thought I could get away with it. This letter is the first I knew about it. I had a quick google of the company and quickly come across the threads on this site. I've been spending the past few evenings swatting up on the procedure. The number 1 being don't pay. I then wrote a letter to the head of customer services with a copy of my receipt showing the goods I bought asking for a reversal of the fine. Their response was that they are not the owners of the land and referred it back to DRP. I think that it has something to do that with the fact that a few retailers also use the site. So I then wrote a letter to DRP basically copy and pasting a letter template i'd seen on here which closely resembled my case. I basically stated that I had not received any NTK yet and that without that I could not request a POPLA code. I also said I was appealing on the basis that they had not incurred any loss equivalent to the amount of money they were demanding from me. Their response was rather long winded but basically said that they had stuck a ticket on my windscreen (they also attached photo evidence). All I know is that I never had anything on my windscreen when I drove off. It feels wrong that I can't appeal this one.

Ps I haven"t disclosed who the driver was.

Anyone have any thoughts?

bod1467

#1 Read the NEWBIES thread.

#2 Search this forum for Debt Recovery Plus - you'll quickly discover that they are toothless idiots.

Redx

read this for starters https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822

DR+ wont do anything for you, you need to appeal to the PPC and argue your case there and try and hook a popla code by any means possible

also try a direct complaint to the landowner !

Roger_123

How do I reply to UKPC? I've been on their website and there is no email address to send anything to

Big_Bad_Dad

Hi Roger.

You're safe to ignore everything until such time that court papers arrive but I have good reason to believe this won't happen.

Legally, the maximum a parking company (and therefore any crony collection agency) may seek according to the Protection of Freedoms Act is the figure that was on the Notice to Keeper, and seldom does this increase from the upper signage figure (i.e. not the discount), and even less frequently does it remain the same once they involve third party collection agencies.

In short, it is probable the UKPC charge was £100 or less and the demand has taken an arbitrary leap at the hands of a nexus of private enterprises. If this is so, they have already stuffed themselves.

Redx

write a letter to UKPC, denying the debt and stating you have had no Notice To Keeper about this and that the first you hear about it was from debt recovery

deny the debt and insist they use proper BPA procedures

get proof of posting from the PO, but dont send recorded

Roger_123

@ Red X


Are you saying that I have to write an actual letter not an email?

@ Big Bad Dad

Are you saying to ignore it? I always thought that was not the correct thing to do. I see what you are saying though - if it does go to court, its only a £100 pound fine

Redx

Roger_123 wrote: »

@ Red X


Are you saying that I have to write an actual letter not an email?

yes, ( how quaint eh ? )

Roger_123

@ Red X

OK that is what I shall do. Thanks for the advice!

DalePie

Big_Bad_Dad wrote: »

Hi Roger.

You're safe to ignore everything until such time that court papers arrive but I have good reason to believe this won't happen.

That's what i thought really. These parking fine companies are after the easy money not hardship. If you don't pay it's very unlikely they will take you to court and if they do you can fight it and get it thrown out.

Take it easy, these companies are toothless as someone else said.

Roger_123

Thanks Dalepie,

it's still not easy to relax. Its a great help reading everyone different advice on here though